Algae or other type of staining

[Catherineb]

Hello,
This is my first post in a few years.

PH 7.6
TA 50
CYA 40
FC 5
CH 160 I just tested for the first time this year and see it is low.

I did an asorbic treatment a couple of weeks ago which did nothing. I also did an citric acid treatment which did nothing. I felt sure one of these would work. think I have a couple of things going on 1) some type of staining which goes all around the pool and 2) what I thought was organic stains on steps and floor or perhaps it's the one issue.

Any ideas what I can try to remove the stains. On the floor the stains look like algae, a yellow color but shouldn't the asorbic acid worked for that?
Also I hope that black line in photo #1 is not a Crack. I can't brush the dirt out from underneath.

Many thanks for your suggestions

 

[ajw22]

Pic 1 looks like a crack.

Ascorbic Acid and Citric Acid do the same thing- treat iron stains. They do nothing for other types of stains.

The stain going around your pool looks like a scum line. Try using a Magic Eraser on it.

Magic Eraser on Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Catherineb]

Thanks ahw22. I will try the magic erasers around my tile as the tiles do need cleaning. Does spraying the tile with muriatic acid also work for dirty grout? I'll take a read of the link you sent.

What about the spots on the floor? I also completed the slam process and that didn't do anything on these algae looking spots (if algae) yellow looking.

Thanks.

 

[ajw22]

Spraying grout with muriatic acid to clean it will strip the grout off and weaken it. That will give you grout problems after a while.

Clean grout using a brass brush and pool water.

Does your pool pass a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test?

 

[Catherineb]

Spraying grout with muriatic acid to clean it will strip the grout off and weaken it. That will give you grout problems after a while.

Clean grout using a brass brush and pool water.

Does your pool pass a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test?

Yes, I had performed a slam a couple of weeks ago because we lost power for 5 days and the pool was green. It past the overnight test at the time of my slam .

Must I drop the water below the tile to use the magic eraser or it's no necessary, this is to do a test to try cleaning the concrete beneath the tiles

 

[ajw22]

Yes, I had performed a slam a couple of weeks ago because we lost power for 5 days and the pool was green. It past the overnight test at the time of my slam .

In a couple of weeks you can get algae again.

Were the spots on the floor there when you completed your SLAM?

Must I drop the water below the tile to use the magic eraser or it's no necessary, this is to do a test to try cleaning the concrete beneath the tiles

No.

 

[Catherineb]

Yes, they were there before and after the slam.

 

[ajw22]

Try sanding a yellow spot with 80/100 grit wet/dry sandpaper or a diamond pad.

Pool Plaster Stain Removal Block

Pool Plaster Stain Removal Block store. Remove topical stains from pool plaster in minutes. Pool Plaster Sanding Block can be use above or below water line.

drptools.com

 

[Catherineb]

I'll give that a try. Thanks.

 

[Catherineb]

Hello,
I tried the magic eraser but it made no difference to the tile area. It really is the grout that's dirty

I got into the pool and walked around. I have a lot of black spots on the plaster and the couple which I could reach i scraped off with my fingernail and were green when smudged on white paper (I can't go under the water to reach the others but when brushing they don't brush off. Some marks really look like the rebar coming through the plaster. I had this a few years ago and ended up replastering.

The yellow streaky/stains look like they are spreading around the pool. They are corrosive tea looking stains.

The yellow blotches on the floor look like algae but don't brush off and when I slammed the pool they didn't improve.

I'm at a loss as to what to do now? What are your thoughts?

Where can I buy the diamond pad block? I'd rather go buy at a shop, Leslies, Home Depot? instead of ordering online for quickness.

Next step?

Thanks,
Cathy

 

[Catherineb]

Good morning,
I shocked the pool last night with a couple of pounds. I realize this will raise my cya.my bleach arrives today. Still the yellow on the floor hasn't budged. I'm beginning to think it's the same staining which is on the walls

One bit of good news, I went and bought some sand paper and it is removing the stain or at least improved the look. What does this tell you if it sandpapers off?

 

[ajw22]

One bit of good news, I went and bought some sand paper and it is removing the stain or at least improved the look. What does this tell you if it sandpapers off?

It tells you the stain is not a major plaster problem.

 

[Catherineb]

Ok good. Any suggestions on how best to remove it other than sand papering blotch by blotch?

 

[ajw22]

Any suggestions on how best to remove it other than sand papering blotch by blotch?

Drain the entire pool and sand it with a power sander.

 

[Catherineb]

Who would I call to sand my pool as unable to do myself. What tradesman could do this for me, need to know who I would call.

 

[ajw22]

What tradesman could do this for me, need to know who I would call.

Plaster polisher maybe?