Question about metal sequestrant

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S

ssgonzalez

Well-known member
May 28, 2024
120
Canada
Pool Size
64000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-3)
Hey everyone just a small question, I have well water so I know I’ll need to use metal sequestrant every time I add new water to my pool. I just have a question, when do I add it? Is it before adding the water or after? Can I add water right away after the metal sequestrant has been added to the pool or do I need to wait? I don’t understand if the metal sequestrant is supposed to avoid coloration or take it away.

I’ve also bought a filter for my hose that says it eliminates some metals for extra precaution.

Also any recommendation for dealing with well water on a pool would be appreciated.

I’ll need to add more water to my pool this weekend because the water levels are a bit low, and I want to be prepared for this.
 
newdude said:
Those are basically screw on Britta filters and don't work as advertised.
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I bought one special for pools, reviews seem to indicate that it reduces the issue. It does not remove it entirely though, but it does seem to help. I am doing everything I can to reduce the issue.
 
ssgonzalez said:
thanks, I read that earlier when I was trying to find info, still it does not answer my question. Do I put it before adding the water or after? That is all I want to know.
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I also bought some CuLator that is coming in a few days. I think I am supposed to put it in the skimmer. Still I dont know if this is the way to keep metals at bay from my pool.
 
Read the full AA Treatment article. Particularly the After Treatment section.

If the chlorine is too high, it will oxidize the sequestrant too quickly and will also oxidize ferrous iron to insoluble ferric. If the pH is higher, then the metal ions will precipitate or stain as metal oxides-hydroxides.

So the usual sequence is to first get the chlorine to near zero and the pH low and use a stain remover such as ascorbic acid for iron stains or citric acid for copper stains. You may or may not have stains. Then one adds a metal sequestrant product and slowly raises the chlorine and pH to normal levels. One continues to add metal sequestrant product at a maintenance dose each week to replenish that lost by oxidation from chlorine. Metal sequestrants that use HEDP are more resistant to such chlorine oxidation (compared to, say, EDTA), but nevertheless they still get broken down.
 
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PoolStored said:
Read the full AA Treatment article. Particularly the After Treatment section.

If the chlorine is too high, it will oxidize the sequestrant too quickly and will also oxidize ferrous iron to insoluble ferric. If the pH is higher, then the metal ions will precipitate or stain as metal oxides-hydroxides.

So the usual sequence is to first get the chlorine to near zero and the pH low and use a stain remover such as ascorbic acid for iron stains or citric acid for copper stains. You may or may not have stains. Then one adds a metal sequestrant product and slowly raises the chlorine and pH to normal levels. One continues to add metal sequestrant product at a maintenance dose each week to replenish that lost by oxidation from chlorine. Metal sequestrants that use HEDP are more resistant to such chlorine oxidation (compared to, say, EDTA), but nevertheless they still get broken down.
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honestly, everything is easy when maintaining a pool. Is just this well water issue that is making it so hard. Okay so I low my ph and chlorine levels, then add the metal sequestrant and then add water? I still don't understand when to add water.
 

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Donldson said:
Have you had issues with metal staining in your pool before?
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this is my first year, I had brown water after shocking my pool this year. Previous owner told me that we have well water in the area. Same for the guys that came to install the pool, they told us there is well water. Previous owners did tell us they were using metal sequestrants. The pool structure is brand new, the equipment not. When we got the brown water, we added the metal sequestrant and backwashed the pool. I dont know if that is the right thing to do. This is what the pool store people advice us. I want to know if backwashing is neccesary or not, and since I put the sequestrant after we had brown water. I dont seem to understand if I need to do it before adding the water or after.
 
ssgonzalez said:
Okay so I low my ph and chlorine levels, then add the metal sequestrant and then add water?
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No. Read the full AA Treatment guide. Print it out. Read it three times. <---this is not angry, you need to read it and understand it.

ssgonzalez said:
I still don't understand when to add water.
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Add your water, then treat.

Did the brown water go away? Is your water clear? Do you have stains? If you aren't having problems, may be better to leave alone.

It may be that if you follow this. Link-->FC/CYA Levels instead of "shocking" you can avoid brown water. We don't advise weekly shock.

If that is the only time you have an issue, try following the FC/CYA guidance and stop shocking weekly.

Might read...Pool Care Basics
 
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PoolStored said:
No. Read the full AA Treatment guide. Print it out. Read it three times. <---this is not angry, you need to read it and understand it.


Add your water, then treat.

Did the brown water go away? Is your water clear? Do you have stains? If you aren't having problems, may be better to leave alone.

It may be that if you follow this. Link-->FC/CYA Levels instead of "shocking" you can avoid brown water. We don't advise weekly shock.

If that is the only time you have an issue, try following the FC/CYA guidance and stop shocking weekly.

Might read...Pool Care Basics
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I am good right now, no brown waters, it is clear, no stains, levels in check. but, I need to add more water to the pool cause my levels are low and I am worried that new fresh well water will cause my water to be brown so, do you advice not adding metal sequestrant after filling with new water? and do it only if i start getting water coloration? I havent shocked my pool since then, it was just at the beginning. and I wasnt planning to do it. I was just planning to add more water. Also, in case I do get brown water after adding my new water, and add the metal sequestrant. I am unsure if backwashing is neccesary. Pool store people advice that, I am not sure if that is accurate advice.
 
Yeah, just fill the water and see what you get. Where did the pool water that is in there come from?

Second rule of TFP. Know what you are adding and why. If you don't have problems, no need to treat.

If you have problems, then let's treat them.

BTW, the reason I wanted you to read the articles, is all the IMPORTANT details are in our articles. If you follow the details, they will save you headaches. You said lower FC and pH then treat. For the AA if you don't use the Polyquat, you will likely get algae, then you are back into a SLAM, high FC, and you'll lose all the work of the sequestrant. Anytime, follow the details in our content.
 
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PoolStored said:
Yeah, just fill the water and see what you get. Where did the pool water that is in there come from?

Second rule of TFP. Know what you are adding and why. If you don't have problems, no need to treat.

If you have problems, then let's treat them.

BTW, the reason I wanted you to read the articles, is all the IMPORTANT details are in our articles. If you follow the details, they will save you headaches. You said lower FC and pH then treat. For the AA if you don't use the Polyquat, you will likely get algae, then you are back into a SLAM, high FC, and you'll lose all the work of the sequestrant. Anytime, follow the details in our content.
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Makes sense yes. Low chroline makes bacteria and algae grow. One thing, AA treatment seems to be a different thing than sequestrant treatment. Seems like for both I need to have my ph and chlorine levels low and that’s why I need to add then Polyquat to avoid algae growth. Am I correct? In what circumstances one uses AA?
 
ssgonzalez said:
Makes sense yes. Low chroline makes bacteria and algae grow. One thing, AA treatment seems to be a different thing than sequestrant treatment. Seems like for both I need to have my ph and chlorine levels low and that’s why I need to add then Polyquat to avoid algae growth. Am I correct? In what circumstances one uses AA?
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By the way, they don’t sell Polyquat 60 in Canada, any alternatives? Seems like an algae preventive treatment.
 
ssgonzalez said:
In what circumstances one uses AA?
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Read the article. Iron staining. If you aren't having any problems, then I would no use the sequestrant.

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