Stain on Skimmer

[ald2002]

Mine comes in via the added salt. I learned by getting distracted and not brushing the salt around one time. It was easy enough to remove the stain with ascorbic acid, and I learned where it's coming from, which was a positive. I likely get a wee bit from surface runoff during heavy storms as well.

Interesting, I did not think of the salt. Thanks.

If you're ever thinking about exchanging the water, that's a good time to do an ascorbic acid treatment to the pool. You may find you can remove enough iron by just focusing on the plastic which really attracts it (weir door, skimmer basket, intake and return fittings, pump basket (if you see any of those turning brown)). You can use the vitamin C bucket method to remove the iron, whiten everything up, and discard the water in the bucket. Each time they stain, followed by removal, takes out a wee bit of iron.

You'll read on the sequestrant bottle that the iron will be trapped in the filter after sequestration. IMO, that's manufacturer/marketing over-stating reality, but I suspect you will trap some. The cartridges can also be rinsed to get rid of some iron.

If it gets much worse, consider the whole pool ascorbic acid/sequester/drain/replace method. How much $ was your delivered water? For now, it's kinda good to see it in an obvious and easy to treat place. It's now your canary in the coal mine for iron.

Thank you. I may need to drain some water soon since my CH IS @400 and I suspect it is causing scale. Also want to be mindful that summer may not be the best time for an AA treatment.

 

[ald2002]

You can try the sequestrant but also try a skimmer sock and polyfil in the skimmer for when the sequestrant breaks down.


View attachment 430084

Thanks. I will look into this too.

 

[Orion7319]

Follow-up question. What is the possible source of iron? I am not on a well. My fill water was add by way of a water truck.

Our soil is almost completely red clay in our area. It’s red because of high iron content. I get a slight bit of muddy run off into my pool during heavy rains. I get the exact same staining in my skimmer and on my thermal plastic steps. It doesn’t affect my liner at all, just my skimmer and steps. The runoff is directly onto my steps from underneath a flower bed. Pool deck is always a bit muddy there as well. I just wipe everything down once in a while with a sock with crushed up vitamin C tablets. If it’s just affecting your skimmer and no other surfaces, just spot treat it. An AA treatment sounds like it has the potential to introduce some problems and if it’s just the plastic pieces in the pool, it’s going to be much easier to simply spot treat those.

 

[ald2002]

Our soil is almost completely red clay in our area. It’s red because of high iron content. I get a slight bit of muddy run off into my pool during heavy rains. I get the exact same staining in my skimmer and on my thermal plastic steps. It doesn’t affect my liner at all, just my skimmer and steps. The runoff is directly onto my steps from underneath a flower bed. Pool deck is always a bit muddy there as well. I just wipe everything down once in a while with a sock with crushed up vitamin C tablets. If it’s just affecting your skimmer and no other surfaces, just spot treat it. An AA treatment sounds like it has the potential to introduce some problems and if it’s just the plastic pieces in the pool, it’s going to be much easier to simply spot treat those.

Hello neighbor! Thanks for sharing. My plan is to spot treat and maybe use a sequestrant. I have not noticed run off but will check.

 

[needsajet]

Thank you. I may need to drain some water soon since my CH IS @400 and I suspect it is causing scale.

unlikely that 400 ppm CH would be problematic. If there's any sign of scale, take a look at your CSI number in pool math. Let me know. Including full test results is always helpful

 

[ald2002]

unlikely that 400 ppm CH would be problematic. If there's any sign of scale, take a look at your CSI number in pool math. Let me know. Including full test results is always helpful

Thanks. Attached test results and some photos - not the best photos. Btw the salt is 3000 not 300.

 

[needsajet]

Oh OK. So as far as scale, you're meaning the bit above the waterline? I just flick that off with my fingernail now and then, and/or use some diluted acid in a squeeze bottle. If your water was causing scale you'd see it below the waterline, sometimes just a roughness initially, then gradually becoming more visible. I don't know the chemistry of the above water deposits, but I assume it's because of splashing and evaporation after. Your pool water is just fine.

 

[ald2002]

Oh OK. So as far as scale, you're meaning the bit above the waterline? I just flick that off with my fingernail now and then, and/or use some diluted acid in a squeeze bottle. If your water was causing scale you'd see it below the waterline, sometimes just a roughness initially, then gradually becoming more visible. I don't know the chemistry of the above water deposits, but I assume it's because of splashing and evaporation after. Your pool water is just fine.

Thank you!