AA treatment and Borates

[Katodude]

So I am looking to do an AA treatment on the pool. I have borates now, and was going to add a bunch before I start to try to help inhibit algae growth. Will the borates interfere with the AA treatment?

I was going to do a water exchange as well, but have decided against that since the fill water is probably my primary source of iron. I will do it in the spring before the rainy season and just manage a water exchange through rain. Based on what I have seen with CH and Salt I can probably get a 50% water exchange with rainwater though the summer.

 

[Leebo]

If it were I,

Unless you’re wanting to add borates to assist with pH I’d pass on adding them. At normal levels they do very little to prevent algae. Instead I’d opt for some polyquat 60 and some phosphate removers to help avoid algae during the AA treatment. While normally these two chemicals aren’t needed, they do make sense to me when removing stains with the AA process.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

If you do it when the water is still cold enough (< 60F), then the chance of an algae outbreak is minimal. As @Leebo said, opt for lowering phosphates first (that can be done at any time) and then, after you get the phosphates reduced and the filter backwashed, use PQ60. An AA treatment shouldn’t need more than 24 hours to be effective so if your stains persist after that, you’ll need to consider other options.

Also, bypass the heater. AA is not good for the heat exchanger.

 

[Katodude]

There is no such thing as <60F water down here. Right now the water is 74. I will wait for a dip into the 60’s. So no to the additional borates. Will get some PQ60. Already have SeaKlear, so will do that first.

I do have a heater bypass, so all good there.

Sounds like I have a plan.