New here... question about stains

[ailanthus777]

Hi all,

First time here and going on my third year of owning an in-ground pool. I do pretty well with keeping my water clear after opening, but I've noticed that there is a light brown stain on the walls, steps and floor (but oddly not on the floor of the deep end). I've already done a little reading here, so I placed a chlorine tab on one of the stained steps and left it there for about 10 minutes. After removing it, the stain was completely unchanged, so that rules out an organic stain, right? What should I do next?

Thank you!

 

[Butterfly]

Welcome to TFP

You can rub/hold a cheap vitamin C tablet on the stain for a few minutes. If it lightens, the stain is from metals.

 

[ailanthus777]

Thanks! Lemme go see if we have any.

- - - Updated - - -

Shoot... I've got multi-vitamins, pre-natal vitamins, vit A, vit D, and B-complex, but no vitamin C. I don't suppose an orange would work, would it?

 

[ailanthus777]

Okay, I finally obtained a vitamin C tablet. After holding it in the water until it dissolved, it did lighten the stain noticeably. Where do I go from here?

 

[Butterfly]

Where did the metals come from?

Have you added any algaecides that contain copper/metals?

How do you normally chlorinate the pool?

Do you have/use well water or municipal water?

Have you had your pool water tested for metals?

Gotta find the source, so that you know how to avoid it in the future.

Then, read this http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/137-metals-in-the-water-and-metal-stains

It would help us if you add your pool/equipment specs in your sig. Go to 'settings' (top right under Pool School button) the scroll down left side to 'edit sig'.