Please critique my iron staining plan of attack

[Momma4]

Here’s some before AA and after AA. Hoping for crystal clear when we’re done!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Woo hoo!

 

[Momma4]

Woo hoo!

Thanks!! haha!! We feel the same!!

Do you think we need to add CYA now? (see post prior to pictures)

 

[setsailsoon]

Thanks!! haha!! We feel the same!!

Do you think we need to add CYA now? (see post prior to pictures)

4,

I left my CYA at 70 all the way through the AA treatment and checked after that it was still 70. Based on this I don't think CYA affects the AA or sequestrant so I would bring it up to at least 60. When I first started adding FC I did it with liquid. My basis for this was that high FC is to be avoided to prevent excess cloudiness. Inside the cell FC levels are very high. I didn't start the cell 'till after several days of sequestrant. I think worst case of running earlier than this is a little more cloudiness. Also, there's no need to add anything to raise pH it will climb slowly itself.

After our pool was crystal clear we started swimming again and noticed the pool clouded up. I think this was some of the fluffy gel flakes that settled on the bottom and weren't visible. Running the filter overnight cleared it up very quickly. We noticed this each day for a while and to a lesser degree each day. So last night and today I ran the robot with the fine filters. I think that should completely clear it.

I hope this is helpful.

Chris

 

[Momma4]

4,

I left my CYA at 70 all the way through the AA treatment and checked after that it was still 70. Based on this I don't think CYA affects the AA or sequestrant so I would bring it up to at least 60. When I first started adding FC I did it with liquid. My basis for this was that high FC is to be avoided to prevent excess cloudiness. Inside the cell FC levels are very high. I didn't start the cell 'till after several days of sequestrant. I think worst case of running earlier than this is a little more cloudiness. Also, there's no need to add anything to raise pH it will climb slowly itself.

After our pool was crystal clear we started swimming again and noticed the pool clouded up. I think this was some of the fluffy gel flakes that settled on the bottom and weren't visible. Running the filter overnight cleared it up very quickly. We noticed this each day for a while and to a lesser degree each day. So last night and today I ran the robot with the fine filters. I think that should completely clear it.

I hope this is helpful.

Chris

It is so helpful, thanks. We're going to add stabilizer and start trying to get that CYA up.

Are you having to continually add the sequestrant to keep the staining away?

 

[setsailsoon]

Are you having to continually add the sequestrant to keep the staining away?

Kim,

I'm hoping to be able to avoid that by trapping the iron in Polyfil added to my skimmer and my cartridge filter. Metal Magic claims the iron will "crystallize" and deposit in filters. I have no idea if it will really do this and that's the reason I'm testing the AA treatment. There are a lot of good reviews on their site that seem to imply it really works. But I couldn't really find an independent verification. There are some good indications with the tiny brown specks in the Polyfil and cartridge plus the flakes of sticky floc-like material.

Proof will be when I go a couple months with no sequestrant and no stains.

Chris

 

[Momma4]

Update for 8/3

FC 1.5
pH 7.0
TA 120
CH 300
CYA 60

I've bumped up my SWG to 30%. Filter is running 24 hrs.

Water is blue, but still cloudy.

Pool Logs

Thank you all for any suggestions, tips, or especially wise cracks.

Kim

 

[Flbeachluvr]

I had to do an AA treatment back in March. I followed the instructions in this forum and was amazed how quickly the stains disappeared. I'm also convinced that it was the salt that I used that caused the problems. I did get cloudy water for about 24 hours and it took almost a week before my chlorine would hold but I haven't had any staining come back. Good luck!

 

[Momma4]

Flbeach -- thanks! That does give me hope. I suspect it was our prior pool store's salt that did it too.

Did you have to do a SLAM to clear it up? That's my concern right now -- I'll do it if I need to of course, but I'm scared that if I have to do a SLAM that the iron staining would come back.

 

[Flbeachluvr]

Flbeach -- thanks! That does give me hope. I suspect it was our prior pool store's salt that did it too.

Did you have to do a SLAM to clear it up? That's my concern right now -- I'll do it if I need to of course, but I'm scared that if I have to do a SLAM that the iron staining would come back.

No I didn't have to SLAM. I think because the water was cold enough. It was totally worth the effort. I did have to add salt about a month ago and was worried about staining showing up again but I bought a different brand and it's all good. I didn't realize how bad it looked until I saw it clean again.

 

[Momma4]

Morning all — I’m a little discouraged because I’m seeing a little staining this morning.
Here are my test results.
FC 5 (<-- I think this is really 1.5, see below)
CC 3.5
pH 7.2
TA 100
CYA 80

PoolMath Logs

I’m going to add the rest of my AA (about 1/4 to 1/2 lb), 16 oz of Purple Stuff, and I’m going to try to bring my pH down to 7.1

water is now slightly yellow and cloudy

update: after the AA, yellow is disappearing, so I’ll wait a bit and add Purple Stuff

 

[Texas Splash]

That would be disappointing. I suspect the elevated CC level is from all the residual AA getting oxidized. Future staining with such good numbers would seem to indicate the iron content has gotten too high over time. I would continue with the polyfill to filter out as much iron as possible.

 

[Momma4]

Well, I've been demoted to junior pool tester. I done messed it up. When the Assistant to the CPA (Chief Pool Administrator) wakes up at around noon or so, he's going to fuss at me.

I'm going to edit my post above. I don't think my FC is 5. When I did the test, after I did the drops it would go clear, and then as I would reach for the bottle to test the CC, the vial would turn pink again. So, I went back to adding the drops for the FC to get it to go clear again.

I read up some more on the forum, and I see now that I was supposed to record FC as soon as the vial turned clear and not wait for it to turn pink again.

I think my true readings are:
FC 1.5
CC 4.0
pH 7.2
TA 100
CYA 80

I'm going to bump up the SWG to 50% to get the FC up.

 

[Texas Splash]

Ha ha. At least you caught your mistake. Yes, bump-up the SWG and I would also add a little liquid chlorine/regular bleach ASAP as well. Get the FC back up to at least the 3-4 range. If you get algae, it's back to a SLAM and we know that will aggravate the iron. I'm concerned about that elevated CC level, but you did just complete an AA treatment, so I'm hoping it's related to that specifically. Something to watch though.

 

[Momma4]

Ha ha. At least you caught your mistake. Yes, bump-up the SWG and I would also add a little liquid chlorine/regular bleach ASAP as well. Get the FC back up to at least the 3-4 range. If you get algae, it's back to a SLAM and we know that will aggravate the iron. I'm concerned about that elevated CC level, but you did just complete an AA treatment, so I'm hoping it's related to that specifically. Something to watch though.

My goal is to be able to be able to post a picture to your "How Clear is TFP Clear" thread!!

 

[Momma4]

Eureka!! Well, eureka for me at least

I came to TFP at first because of the iron staining, but since I’ve joined I’ve read and read and read to learn as much as I can.

I didn’t think I had algae because my pool was clear before the AA treatment.

But look what we found under the ladder!! Ewwww! I have no idea how long that’s been there!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Outstanding! Many times when we mention ladders to people, they can't believe a little old ladder could cause such a mess. Great find.

 

[Momma4]

Morning report—

FC 5.5 (yay!!)
CC 3.0 (coming down, so that’s good)
pH 7.2
CYA 80

water is still cloudy and filter ran all night.

I’m encouraged that the FC is at target and I don’t see staining

Polyfil is in the skimmer basket, but I don’t see any staining. I did just change it out yesterday though.

Ladder will be completely sanitized and cleaned before it goes back in the pool. I know that’s a safety hazard to not have a ladder.

thanks!!

 

[Texas Splash]

I’m encouraged that the FC is at target and I don’t see staining

That may be because the FC is in the normal zone and not at SLAM level. For now that's good. We need to watch and see how the water responds to the elevated CC (starting to drop) and post-ladder discovery. In most cases I would've said go to SLAM level already because of the ladder, but I"d like to see how your water responds for another 24-48 hours now that the ladder is out and FC seems to be holding better. I'd hate to see the AA treatment go to waste. Fingers crossed.

 

[Momma4]

Thanks! I really appreciate your help!!