Something in Pool that Keeps Coming Back, Maybe Sand?

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npdavenport

Member
May 19, 2022
13
North Carolina
Hello. I have a Permasalt pool system that uses a Pentair Sand Dollar filter. At the end of last season I started noticing something accumulating on the pool floor. I would vacuum the stuff up, but the next day it would be back. I thought maybe it was filter sand getting into the pool so I drained my filter and replaced the sand and the piping assembly. Fast forward to this year and the same problem is persisting. I don't know what the substance is, but it comes back after vacuuming in about a day. If it's not cleaned up it just keeps accumulating. I tested the pool water and all the levels are spot on so I don't think it's algae, but I honestly don't know.

I am attaching two images, but it is hard to tell from them what it is. Any ideas? I've owned the pool for a few years now but I'm by no means an expert. Thanks in advance!
 

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Looks like algae. Please provide a full set of test results. Your permasalt system is probably failing you. If you do not have a Taylor test kit, you should get one. It's the absolute best investment you can have for your pool. Others are going to encourage you to purchase one so we can help you. It will be very eye opening for you to actually see your pool numbers. The only thing it will not test is metals. Your copper is probably very high from your system. I'd recommend the TF100 from tftestkits.net.
 
Casey said:
Looks like algae. Please provide a full set of test results. Your permasalt system is probably failing you. If you do not have a Taylor test kit, you should get one. It's the absolute best investment you can have for your pool. Others are going to encourage you to purchase one so we can help you. It will be very eye opening for you to actually see your pool numbers. The only thing it will not test is metals. Your copper is probably very high from your system. I'd recommend the TF100 from tftestkits.net.
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I will do another test today so I can get the actual numbers.
 
Strips are as useless as testing by the pool store -- you may as well take a guess at your numbers.

Get a good test kit, either the TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006C, and report back with actual numbers in the format

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

We can't advise you based on test strips or pool store tests.
 
Wobblerlorri said:
Strips are as useless as testing by the pool store -- you may as well take a guess at your numbers.

Get a good test kit, either the TF-100 or the Taylor K-2006C, and report back with actual numbers in the format

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

We can't advise you based on test strips or pool store tests.
Click to expand...
What about the salt levels? I have a Perma Salt System. Is there a specific test you would recommend for that?
 

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The "Perma Salt" system is horrible marketing gimmicks at its worst. It is a hunk of copper that is charged to disperse copper ions into your water. It can/might kill existing algae but not oxidize and destroy it. It's not hard to have algae grow fast enough to overcome it and that's likely what's going on here. You need an oxidizer (chlorine) to keep the algae at bay. If your test strip is anywhere near accurate, you have basically no chlorine and no CYA to protect the chlorine.

Problem with that copper ionizer is that when you do add chlorine, you are likely to get blonde hair turning green, etc. that people mistakenly blame on chlorine, when it is the copper that is doing it.
 
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jedigrover said:
The "Perma Salt" system is horrible marketing gimmicks at its worst. It is a hunk of copper that is charged to disperse copper ions into your water. It can/might kill existing algae but not oxidize and destroy it. It's not hard to have algae grow fast enough to overcome it and that's likely what's going on here. You need an oxidizer (chlorine) to keep the algae at bay. If your test strip is anywhere near accurate, you have basically no chlorine and no CYA to protect the chlorine.

Problem with that copper ionizer is that when you do add chlorine, you are likely to get blonde hair turning green, etc. that people mistakenly blame on chlorine, when it is the copper that is doing it.
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Ugh...feeling like I got ripped off by my local pool company. If I were to consider changing over to a standard chlorine pool, is it as simple as removing the ionization chamber and adding chemicals, or is there more to it?
 
npdavenport said:
Ugh...feeling like I got ripped off by my local pool company. If I were to consider changing over to a standard chlorine pool, is it as simple as removing the ionization chamber and adding chemicals, or is there more to it?
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Do some searching on here before you make your decision. There are some people who love the Perma Salt system. It just really isn't compatible with the pool care methodology we recommend here.

My personal gut reaction is that when I see something advertising "natural synergy" I immediately think "hokum". Most of these things like to talk about minerals, when they're really talking about metals: copper and silver in particular. Copper and silver DO have algaestatic properties. But it is hard to believe that in the small quantities they are used here that they'll do any effective sanitizing or algae prevention versus a traditional chlorine approach. (Chlorine is also "natural" and comes from a "mineral": salt).

Most people here just won't be able to advise you well on the use of that system, because it's different from the TFP method.
 
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jedigrover said:
Do some searching on here before you make your decision. There are some people who love the Perma Salt system. It just really isn't compatible with the pool care methodology we recommend here.

My personal gut reaction is that when I see something advertising "natural synergy" I immediately think "hokum". Most of these things like to talk about minerals, when they're really talking about metals: copper and silver in particular. Copper and silver DO have algaestatic properties. But it is hard to believe that in the small quantities they are used here that they'll do any effective sanitizing or algae prevention versus a traditional chlorine approach. (Chlorine is also "natural" and comes from a "mineral": salt).

Most people here just won't be able to advise you well on the use of that system, because it's different from the TFP method.
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I haven’t made a decision yet for sure, and I greatly appreciate the response. We got the system during installation as the pool company suggested it and since we knew nothing at all about pools we went with it.

I am curious though and do want to know what goes into a conversion.
 
I think the only thing to worry about would be levels of metal. It may not even be that high. You could try a sequestrate to try and reduce them. Other than that, I think it is as simple as starting to use the TFP methods.

The only other thing I can think of is whether you used their "shock" products. As I understand it, they use DuPont Oxone. That can interfere with the DPD tests for chlorine. Taylor has a reagent to counter it though.
Taylor has a write up on it: Monopersulfate — the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
 
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