Green tinted pool

[emmahoffmann]

Because of the iron, the pool is now tinted green. We have had this happen before a long time ago when I was young in our 12' pool. My mom told me to put socks on the intake to collect the iron. Oh it's collected lots of iron alright! I have used 4 socks and switched them out/rinsed them at least 5 times today. The pool is still very green and nothing is working really. We also got some Clorox Natural Water Clarifier, but that doesn't work either. I just looked on what has to be done for fix that. Apparently we need to get ascorbic acid and sequestering agent (what's that?) to help clear out the pool. I also read that the pH level has to be low, as well as the chlorine, our chlorine is somewhat high and I am not sure how to lower it either. If you could please help, it would be greatly appreciated!

pH: 7.6
FC: 14.5 ppm
CC: <0.5 ppm
TA: 225
Salt: 3710 ppm
CYA: 80

 

[BattleOfYakima]

https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/137-metals-in-the-water-and-metal-stains - I encourage people to try the polyfill method before to chemical warfare. It is available at bigbox stores like walmart in the fabric/crafts section, as well as other places and online. Also, if you have any gutters near the pool, consider running that rain water collection into the pool (extra FC to sanitize) but it will have zero to low iron which is better than your apparently iron rich well water.

Do you have staining? If so, here is the AA treatment pool school page.

 

[emmahoffmann]

I found both of those pages, and specifically what is the folyfill method?

 

[BattleOfYakima]

Basic setup - you just put some polyfill pillow stuffing in the skimmer basket and it collects the oxidized metals like the socks, but better. You still have to check/change often as you do with socks being careful not to let them stop water flow. If this works, we can discuss advanced setups which can get more involved and effective, as well as whether or not you should raise FC to oxidize more metal.

I'm going invite one of our metal experts to the thread.

Just curious, do you have a suggested test kit? If you have one, please perform the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test so we can verify that FC loss isn't occurring overnight, indicating other problems.

 

[Divin Dave]

it would be worth while to try and determine where the iron is coming from?
How did the iron get in there?

If its from your fill water how will you prevent this from happening again if it is?

Metal test kits are very pricey, so in the instance of testing your water for metals, this is the only time any of us at TFP would recommend a pool store test for iron and / or other metals. We are sure the results will be less than accurate, but it might at least give you an idea if your fill water has iron in it.

There are a few ingenious home made iron filters that you might consider using when replenishing evaporated water with fill water containing iron.
The concept certainly seems to work to a large extent but YMMV. google up "removing iron from pool" on YouTube and there are quite a few videos on these inexpensive homemade filters. It would be easy enough to rig one up to fit a water hose, or for that matter, pool plumbing. It would be interesting if someone would give it a try and let us know the results.

 

[emmahoffmann]

I do have a suggested test kit a Taylor k-2006.
We are almost 100% sure that it is the metal, we are just filtering it to not making chlorine overnight.
Oh and btw, we were gone this previous weekend and had it on for 6 hours generating chlorine. Then we had people in it yesterday and today so this is the first time taking it off generating chlorine

 

[BattleOfYakima]

Another option to the polyfill method is the paper towel method - I don't suggest it until posters show a degree of responsibility, which you have done sharing your K-2006.

Here is my favorite thread that did the high FC and paper towel method, complete with gloriously brown paper towel picture proof.

You really have to babysit the paper towels in the skimmer though, and only do when you're home until you get a good grasp on how long it takes to clog up.

 

[Swampwoman]

Are you on a well?
Lower your ph to 7.2 using PoolMath and let us know if that helps. Please post a pic s we can see.

Your TA is quite high...is that normal for your source water? If so, you will need to watch your ph closely and lower it often as higher ph increases metal staining and oxidization.

You likely need sequestrant, but can possibly avoid Ascorbic Acid if you treat soon with Metal Magic or Jacks Magic Purple. Keep filtering to get as much out, eg socks and poly fill, whie you wait for sequestrant to arrive. Cheers to clear.

 

[AftonJeeper]

I used whole house water filters when I filled up my pool. Hard part is finding an adapters to go from female pipe thread to male hose thread, I think I found them at Home Depot. I've seen people on here rig up a sump pump in the pool run through a filter to speed up the process your going through.

 

[emmahoffmann]

Hello!! Thanks for all of the help and suggestions I just went outside to check it again. It has been on just filtering overnight (no chlorine was made) and it is CLEAR!! It looks pretty nice now. The socks were FULL of iron. We are now backwashing it. I will be testing it again and if I have any issues with the levels I can let you guys know!
View attachment 65273

 

[BattleOfYakima]

AftonJeeper - awesome idea! I'll add that to the list of equipment options when dealing with well water!

emmahoffmann - wonderful progress! If you still have the socks, could you please post a photo of them? Others in your situation would be able to see another thread that, in some cases, this low-tech, low-cost solution really can work! I do love that picture you uploaded too! Mmm mmmm mmmm! Delicious!