I thought I'd report a mini experiment for spot treatment of iron staining on stairs that IMHO is easier than full AA treatment and far cheaper, but thoroughly effective.
Background: I am on well with 2 ppm iron in source water. I use softened water, which reduces iron to .5 ppm, then 10" Blue Pentek filter with 25-1 reducing mcron filter, which gets it down to about .2 ppm.
I had trucked fresh water in August during a liner change that was almost iron free...but later discovered a corroding old ladder that contributed to new iron in water.
I am running the pool throughout winter inside an air dome. Due to some of the mechanics involved in cycling part of the water for an air warmer blower and putting an extended valve on my stair return that forces water against the stair wall (for I suspect an isolated ph increase), plus a reduced usage of sequestrant, I've gotten mild-to-moderate staining in the stair area.
Experiment:
Ingredients:
1. Small package AA - eg Amazon pound from Duda Diesel
2. Dishwasher application wand...the kind with the hollow handle you can put soap in, with scrubby pad on face.
3. Small funnel
4. Phosphonic sequestrant of choice, eg. Half bottle (Jacks, Metal Magic)
Directions:
Pour a few ounces of AA into the applicator reservoir, eg 60%
Add water, cap
Shake
Note...even if it doesn't all mix right, more water will get in from the tiny pinprick hole beneath the sponge, so no worries.
Don't bother adjusting any water parameters...but know your starting FC so you can adjust for any loss.
Smooth applicator pad over stairs. Will be brilliant white in no time.
Add sequestrant to keep the iron from depositing elsewhere. I added 16 ounces.
Check FC. Increase slightly via runtime for swg or addition if manual...eg maybe 1 ppm.
Forgot to take before and after shots...sorry. Will try to grab pic this am
Cheers
Here's a pic...realize the water looks "blue" but that's the reflection when stairs are properly white...pic is inside dome before it got too steamy
Background: I am on well with 2 ppm iron in source water. I use softened water, which reduces iron to .5 ppm, then 10" Blue Pentek filter with 25-1 reducing mcron filter, which gets it down to about .2 ppm.
I had trucked fresh water in August during a liner change that was almost iron free...but later discovered a corroding old ladder that contributed to new iron in water.
I am running the pool throughout winter inside an air dome. Due to some of the mechanics involved in cycling part of the water for an air warmer blower and putting an extended valve on my stair return that forces water against the stair wall (for I suspect an isolated ph increase), plus a reduced usage of sequestrant, I've gotten mild-to-moderate staining in the stair area.
Experiment:
Ingredients:
1. Small package AA - eg Amazon pound from Duda Diesel
2. Dishwasher application wand...the kind with the hollow handle you can put soap in, with scrubby pad on face.
3. Small funnel
4. Phosphonic sequestrant of choice, eg. Half bottle (Jacks, Metal Magic)
Directions:
Pour a few ounces of AA into the applicator reservoir, eg 60%
Add water, cap
Shake
Note...even if it doesn't all mix right, more water will get in from the tiny pinprick hole beneath the sponge, so no worries.
Don't bother adjusting any water parameters...but know your starting FC so you can adjust for any loss.
Smooth applicator pad over stairs. Will be brilliant white in no time.
Add sequestrant to keep the iron from depositing elsewhere. I added 16 ounces.
Check FC. Increase slightly via runtime for swg or addition if manual...eg maybe 1 ppm.
Forgot to take before and after shots...sorry. Will try to grab pic this am
Cheers
Here's a pic...realize the water looks "blue" but that's the reflection when stairs are properly white...pic is inside dome before it got too steamy
