Metals

[Cayman]

Is there a way to identify what kind of metals I have in my pool so I know how to treat?

Thank you.

 

[Texas Splash]

Is there a way to identify what kind of metals I have in my pool so I know how to treat?

There are testers on eh market to test for iron/copper in the water while in a soluble state, but generally they are a bit pricey. While not always pinpoint accurate, pool stores can give you an indication for the presence of iron/copper at no cost. Of course if you do have iron/copper stains, there are ways to test those stains to confirm the source:
- Vitamin C tablets should remove iron
- Dry acid can be effective with copper

 

[Cayman]

Yes... I used a Vitamin C tab and these few stains disappeared after about 15-20 seconds of the Vitamin C tab sitting on the stain, so I know it is metal. I just figured I needed to know what type off metal to determine treatment.

That being said, what should my treatment for this be? What products should I purchase.

 

[Texas Splash]

Now that you have confined the stain is from iron, you need to consider the following:
1. What is the source of the iron? Those who are on a well get iron easily, but even some on city water find elevated iron levels in their water as well. For others, it may be old plumbing that adds iron. But you need to know in order to prevent adding more iron to the water. Otherwise, it's a futile battle.
2. It would be ideal to lower the iron content by exchanging with fresh water.
3. Existing iron stains can be removed a couple ways. If the stains are sporadic and just in a few small places, Vitamin C is fine. If the staining is widespread, you may wish to consider an Asorbic Acid (AA) treatment.
4. Remember that iron staining shows itself due to the following condition - alone or in combination with each other:
a. An iron level over 0.3 ppm (try a free pool store sample to confirm)
b. An elevated pH level; the higher the pH the more tendency for iron to precipitate and stain
c. An elevated FC level; same as with an elevated pH causing the iron to stain

See the following links for more tips on stains and AA treatments.

Stains in Your Pool

The stained pool is beyond embarrassing. Our in-depth Guide to remove stains in your pool will help you to remove the stains and prevent them in the future.

www.troublefreepool.com

Ascorbic Acid Treatment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Iron Fill Water Filter - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Texas Splash]

Oh, I almost forgot. If you simply can't avoid "some" iron i your fill water, you need to think "sequestrant". You will need to add sequestrant to the water and replenish it periodically. Sequestrant is a chemical that binds to the iron in the water so that it can't form stains or turn brown. Sequestrant breaks down slowly, so you need to add more regularly. ProTeam's Metal Magic and Jack's Magic the Pink Stuff (regular), the Blue Stuff (fresh plaster), and the Purple Stuff (SWG) are some of the top sequestrants. You can also find other brands with similar products, some of which are noticeably less expensive. Sequestrants based on HEDP, phosphonic acid, or phosphonic acid derivatives are the most effective.

 

[ajw22]

Sequestrant - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Cayman]

Thank you... being that it is a brand new pool (completed construction and filled in October) I feel the metals would have to be coming from the chlorine pucks they used prior to activating the SWG or my fill water.

I am getting a fair amount of calcium scaling, even though my CSI remains pretty neutral, so I am not sure if any of this play into it as calcium too is a metal.

 

[Texas Splash]

The pucks shouldn't have any bearing on iron. But many pool builders will add a sequestrant on first fill as insurance due to unknown conditions in the fill water - just in case. If they did, I'm sure it wore-off by now. We also know new plaster is constantly curing for the first year which results in an accelerated rate of increase for pH that must be constantly watched. That rise in pH, if allowed to go too high, can not only aggravate the iron to make it stain, but also increase the CSI and potential for scale.

 

[ajw22]

Chlorine pucks never have iron. Some pucks that say “blue”, like Clorox, have copper.

 

[Cayman]

Thanks for the information.

If my CSI has pretty much been maintained neutral, any clue to why I would be seeing scaling?

 

[ajw22]

Thanks for the information.

If my CSI has pretty much been maintained neutral, any clue to why I would be seeing scaling?

Depends how much “pretty much” is?

 

[Cayman]

Between -.1 and +.1