Charcoal Chunks Coming Out Of Returns?

You do not show what your TA is. Your CSI should be easy to keep below 0 with that CH.

Are you sure they are black, or really dark blue? Take some and put a drop of acid or vinegar on them. See what happens.

TA is 60.

I gathered some of the “black fleck” and put it on a white dish for contrast. (See new pic) There actually are blue flecks mixed in with the black. When I add vinegar nothing really happens but the vinegar does turn a slight blue hue. 🤔
 

Attachments

  • 58D9F871-3783-465F-999C-DAEC26A4BA01.jpeg
    58D9F871-3783-465F-999C-DAEC26A4BA01.jpeg
    202 KB · Views: 26
Have you used Dry Acid, sodium bisulfate to lower the pH of your water?
Any algaecides, shock, etc with copper in them? You have a heater, if pH was left below 7 for an extended period that also can add copper.
 
Have you used Dry Acid, sodium bisulfate to lower the pH of your water?
Any algaecides, shock, etc with copper in them? You have a heater, if pH was left below 7 for an extended period that also can add copper.
I don’t believe I use any of those to lower PH but I’ll check with my pool guy.
I had a guy a couple years ago who kept the ph at high 6 range for awhile. I fired him. 😂 Burned the finish off my cement deck and coping to where it revealed the aggregate.
is that TA reading too low?
 
The TA reading is OK. But you do not want to go much lower.

If you have a pool guy -- I will bet they add acid directly to the skimmer. I doubt it would be dry acid as that is more expensive.
 
Can you show a picture of the heater?

Does the heater have cast iron headers?

What is the exact model number of the heater?

Try a magnet on the pieces and the heater headers.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Looks like scaling in the cell. The blue color indicates copper.

You should clean the cell with dilute acid.

I suspect that the chunks are likely to be copper, but it’s hard to tell for sure.

The chunks might be coming out of the heater if it’s damaged for some reason.
 
Looks like scaling in the cell. The blue color indicates copper.

You should clean the cell with dilute acid.

I suspect that the chunks are likely to be copper, but it’s hard to tell for sure.

The chunks might be coming out of the heater if it’s damaged for some reason.
Here’s the heater. Can’t really see anything? I’d have to open the inside “pot” ya?
 

Attachments

  • BE3A7128-8B2E-453F-84C5-69A0443C76BD.jpeg
    BE3A7128-8B2E-453F-84C5-69A0443C76BD.jpeg
    197.1 KB · Views: 13
  • 22B1D3B5-61BC-4FDC-B82D-775B2BE61D5B.jpeg
    22B1D3B5-61BC-4FDC-B82D-775B2BE61D5B.jpeg
    306.3 KB · Views: 13
I’m not sure what the chunks are.

I wouldn’t start disassembling the heater.
Employee from my pool builder came today to replace the spa light which had burned out. I told him the story of the chunks...he said he noticed when he drained the spa and removed the light those “chunks” we in the cavity where the light sits. As fas as how they would get into the circulation of the system...I dunno?
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.