Low iron , but rust in well water.

[Mattou01]

Low iron (less than 1 ppm) in pool and in fill source- well. My issue is that the water does have rust residue issues. If I fill into skimmer with a sock it will turn sock orange. I can then rinse that sock and the rust color comes out.

Should I be using any chems? Also been using the Hayward Bobby Sock filter. No idea how to tell if it works or not. It seems to filter out everything but it also becomes rust colored.

 

[Texas Splash]

If you are catching iron with a regular sock, then you should also be using polyfill as much as possible right now. Put some in the skimmer, or make a separate line to filter through a bucket. The more you mechanically catch and remove now the better you'll be in the long run.

 

[Mattou01]

This may be dumb, but if my fill water and pool both have less than 1 ppm iron am I ok? Also is it possible to have the rust stains with less than 1 ppm iron?

 

[Texas Splash]

This may be dumb, but if my fill water and pool both have less than 1 ppm iron am I ok? Also is it possible to have the rust stains with less than 1 ppm iron?

If the iron level truly is that low, yes, you may be okay for a while. Remember that iron never leaves, so with each addition of water from evaporation the iron content increases. The reaction you see between iron and chlorine depends on several factors such as the pH (lower is better), the amount of iron, and the FC level. Your CYA will also drive what FC level you need to be at per the FC/CYA Levels. It's a balancing act for sure.

 

[taylortechnologies]

Watch out for the iron interference on the CH test!

 

[Mattou01]

How could I use the Polyfill to filter out the rust before putting it in the pool? I wonder if I could just put rocks in bottom of bucket with a hole in bucket at bottom then Polyfill in bucket, then just stick my hose in top of bucket?

 

[Texas Splash]

How could I use the Polyfill to filter out the rust before putting it in the pool?

Also see:

From brown to 😍😍. Thank you polyfil!

We filled our pool from our well. We knew the risks and knew we would have a battle when the water was 12" deep as it looked green from the metals. Our fears were confirmed when we added chlorine and the water turned brown almost immediately. Enter 5 gallon polyfil filter. It worked...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mattou01]

I just ordered some to stuff in skimmer sock to try. My pool isn’t green but I know there’s rust in my fill water.

 

[Texas Splash]

Water looks good. With iron still in a soluble state, you may not filter much out at all. But keep it ready just in case. Three things tend to cause a reaction with iron: the amount of iron + elevated FC an elevated pH.

 

[Mattou01]

So I stuck some Polyfill in my skimmer for a day. Pulled it out and it was completely white. So what does that mean? Anything?

Maybe I just need to use it to filter my fill water out of the hose?

 

[Texas Splash]

So what does that mean? Anything?

Just that the iron content is low and/or has not reacted to chlorine (yet). No worries. Better to check and try.

 

[Mattou01]

I am intrigued though to use Polyfill to filter out rust color from hose when topping off. I use a filter but even thinking about placing hose in filter and then into a bucket of Polyfill and river rock on bottom with a hole in bottom that drains into pool. Maybe not necessary though.

 

[Texas Splash]

Maybe not necessary though.

Perhaps not at the moment if the pool water is still clear. But something to keep in mind should you see changes in the water. Iron content will only increase in time and with top-offs. Your FC level will fluctuate at times which could also trigger an iron episode.

 

[Mattou01]

Last time I topped off I put hose (with Bobby sock) on it in the skimmer. The skimmer sock turned orange - it washed out- and when I back washed my filter it was orange for a few seconds as well. That’s what I’m trying to filter out…that rust color residue…

 

[Texas Splash]

That’s what I’m trying to filter out…that rust color residue…

Exactly!