Finished slamming! Question about metals in the pool

[kevin11]

Opened the pool 6/14/18. Pool has not been opened in 2 years. I was beginning to wonder if it was ever going to clear up. The pool just did not act like the first 2 years I opened the pool. It has finally cleared and passed the slam but is a blue/green color. Started researching trying to figure what was going on last week. Finally figured I had metal in the pool. This was the reason the pool did not look right to me. Took a water sample to the pool store to be tested for metals. Sure enough, they said it tested positive for metals. Yesterday while vacuuming the pool I found a big washer that was rusted in half. This is the only thing I have found in the pool. The pool liner is very old and will have to be replaced next year. The liner came loose on the steps sometime during the 2 years it was closed. Had to drop the pool water down 16 inches for the pool people to try to get the liner back in the track. They were able to get the liner back in but it ripped in 2 small spots below the top of the pool because its old and brittle. I believe it will be fine for this summer as long as we stay off the top step on that side. I am not worried about any stains or the liner.
My question is, do I have to or need to treat the metal? Is it safe to swim in? Kids have been waiting patiently until this week. They keep asking when are we going to swim? I bought 2 bottles of ProTeam Metal Magic I can use. I also picked up one of the CuLator packs. Letting the chlorine levels come back down from the slam today.

 

[mknauss]

Metal in the water will not bother a person.

What metal is it? Iron or copper?

I would save the metal magic and not sure what the culator thing is for.

You can safely swim in a pool with the FC above the minimum and at or below SLAM level based on your CYA. You must also be able to see the bottom of the deep end of the pool.

 

[kevin11]

The pool store didn't say but I assume iron. The sides of the liner are picking up a rust color. The CuLator is the small pouch you put in your skimmer to remove metals. Read it worked for some people and some it didn't. Thought I would try it. Yes I can see the bottom of the deep end, held OCLT last night, and only 0.5cc. I did bump it back up to slam levels for one more day. I noticed a few brown dead algae spots or dirt in the pool. Going to vacuum the pool again and check it again in the morning. The color of the water is actually getting better by the day. Its getting less aqua green color and getting more clear blue looking. I removed the metal from the water yesterday and we have been having tons of rain everyday. I may hold off on using the metal magic and see if I can replace enough water to take care of it.

 

[mknauss]

You can filter out iron and must replace water to get rid of copper.

 

[DeanP66]

Once your FC drops below 10, test your pH and adjust it down to 7.2. That could help with the green tint. When metals are present in the water, keeping the pH on the low end of the scale can help keep the metal in solution when used with a sequesterant like Metal Magic.

 

[DeanP66]

Whoops, double post.

 

[kevin11]

You can filter out iron and must replace water to get rid of copper.[/QUOTE

Does the color of iron or copper stains differ in a vinyl pool? I have watched videos on people filtering iron with poly fill from pillows. The pool store did not tell my wife which one it was nor do I know if they have the test to differentiate between different metals. Its the only store locally and I try to stay out of there.

 

[DeanP66]

To find out, put some vitamin c tablets in a sock and hold them on the stain for several minutes. If the stain lightens or clears, it's iron. If it turns black, it's copper.

 

[kevin11]

Will get some vitamin c tablets and see. I am mainly concerned about being 100% certain I have this slam finished.

 

[DeanP66]

The other thing that can cause metals to precipitate out of solution is high chlorine levels, so once you are done with your SLAM, let the FC drift down to normal levels and be very vigilant about keeping your FC in the right range at all times so you don't have to SLAM again and risk the metals once again precipitating out of solution. If you can control your FC, and keep your pH in the lower end of the safe range (7.2-7.4), I bet your water clears right up once you add the Metal Magic. That's the game plan to follow.