First test results of "iced tea" colored well water fill

[Smurfy]

my test kit arrived and I've got my first results.

on another thread my iron water is clearing up using polyfill in the skimmer. unfortunately I already put 3 treatments of chlorox metal and stain control (96oz) before I learned that may only make filtering it out harder. (at least learning pool chemistry has been exciting)


[FONT=&quot]FC: .4ppm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CC: .2ppm [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]PH:7.4[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]TA:280[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]CH:200-225[/FONT]
CYA: 0

what's my first step?

 

[pooldv]

40 ppm of CYA in a sock or knee high hanging in front of a return. And FC to 3 ppm today and at target for your CYA from tomorrow on, [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

More here about adding chems, Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

Your TA is high and will push your pH up. More here, Pool School - Lower Total Alkalinity

Also good reading
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Pool School - Recommended Levels

 

[Smurfy]

thank you. will do. how does the high iron content effect pool chemistry?

 

[Smurfy]

can my kids swim while the CYA is dissolving? I realize "acid" and "kids swimming" may not be a good combination

 

[AftonJeeper]

You FC should be higher before you let the kiddos in there. With a cartridge filter it's okay to put the CYA in the skimmer basket and it won't be harmful to the kids.

Manage FC and pH daily, Ta can be worked on over the next couple months. Hi TA will drive your pH up, if it isn't driving pH up you don't really need to work on it with a vinyl pool. Check you CSI level in pool math once a month to make sure your not at risk for scaling.

 

[Mr Bruce]

My favorite way to distribute CYA is it to pull the sock around the pool manually (I think I stole that from KimKats) squeezing it as I go. So it's fine to swim with, as long as pH is in the 7s, there is sufficient chlorine and you can see the bottom. Wanted to stress that considering you mentioned "iced tea" water.

 

[Smurfy]

this forum is immensely helpful...I can indeed see the bottom and added the appropriate bleach to get FC up to 3ppm prior to letting the kids in. I'll put the CYA in the skimmer

 

[pooldv]

No CYA in the skimmer unless it is in a sock or knee high. More here, Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

Yes, it is fine to swim with the CYA sock.

Iron has no impact on water chemistry and it is fine to swim in an iron stained pool. It is purely a cosmetic issue.

 

[AftonJeeper]

No CYA in the skimmer unless it is in a sock or knee high. More here, Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

Thanks pooldv, I should have clarified that.

 

[Smurfy]

Re: First test results of "iced tea" colored well water fill

since I have the polyfill in my skimmer I hung the sock in front of my return. it dissolved within 2 hours. the 1.5 hp pump is moving some serious water

- - - Updated - - -

I'm leaving for a week tomorrow with the family. not exactly great timing. What should I do with the chemistry for things to be okay while I'm gone? I have a timer for the pump so I can have it run a set amount each day. The pool is covered with a clear solar cover.

 

[pooldv]

Lower the pH to 7.2 and raise the FC up to shock level for your CYA, [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

 

[Smurfy]

will do!

I'm thinking that with my iron issue I'd set the pump to cycle through the water 2x/day which is about 6.5 hours?

does it make any difference at which time I run the pump?

 

[pooldv]

No, not really. I run my pump during the day when I'm trying to heat the pool up and at night when I'm trying to cool it off. 6.5 hours sounds fine.

 

[Smurfy]

all set for vacation...PH 7.3ish, CYA 36-37, FC 14. (after only testing 3 times I'm not exactly precise yet) pump set for 6.5 hours of run time (2 cycles) during the day. solar cover on.

the polyfill is definitely doing it's thing.

thank you for the help.

 

[pooldv]

Alright! That's looking pretty good.

 

[Smurfy]

unfortunately, it looks like there was more iron in the water yet to be oxidized. a friend checked on the pool for me today to change the polyfill in the skimmer and sent me this picture. He said the bottom is barely visible and described the water as "dark gray green."

does it make sense that the increased FC (increased to 14ppm from 3ppm) oxidized more iron? I think I also read on TFP somewhere that high levels of FC will start to breakdown any sequestrant in the water as well. Before I knew better, I'd already put 96 oz of chlorox metal out product.

I've got the pump running 24/7 again and polyfill being replaced daily.

sound right?

 

[pooldv]

Yes, chlorine will break down sequestrant. We always recommend to kill the algae first and then deal with the metals. Proteam Metal Magic is a better choice of sequestrant going forward. But, for now focus on passing the SLAM Process.

 

[Smurfy]

Happy 4th! I'm not sure I have an algae problem...I added chlorine up to SLAM levels because I was heading out on vacation for a week. When I return this Saturday do I use the SLAM tests to indicate if I'm ready to let the FC return to routine levels and continue working on iron removal?

 

[zea3]

Do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test when you get home to determine if you need to slam or not. If you pass, continue with the iron removal. You'll want to keep filtering until the water is clear, then add the sequestrant.

 

[Smurfy]

thank you. will do. hopefully the water clears up enough this week so the kids aren't scared of it when we get home