Removing Iron Stains From White Plaster

[mkubiniec]

Hello Pool Jedi Knights! Is there an update to this article which discusses how to remove iron staining?

Ascorbic Treatment to rid Pool of metal stains

Here are the directions to use Ascorbic acid to rid your pool of metal stains: Here is the ascorbic treatment: Take your chlorine down to 0 and PH down to 7.2, if there is chlorine in the water it won't hurt, it will just eat up the ascorbic acid, so you will need more to get rid of the...

www.troublefreepool.com

I also have a few questions. Since I plan to go through this process for my 17,000 gal pool, I would like to be absolutely sure of the procedure:
1. In taking Cl down to essentially zero, what is the best way to do this? Let it occur naturally, i.e. turn off the SWG or add something?
2. In the article, after adding the ascorbic acid, what does it mean to "put the filter on circulate" as compared to a later step to "put the filter on filter"? Does this mean some pool systems are built with a filter bypass? Mine does not. Should I remove my cartridges for this step?
3. When it says to add sequestering agent, what specific chemical is this referring to? And how much?
4. How is the iron actually removed from the water? I do not see this being addressed in the article? I have seen some Youtube videos where a Curator pouch is put into the skimmer basket to physically absorb the metal ions - shouldn't this be done?

Thanks. This seems to be a complicated process and the article seems to be missing some specifics.

Mike

 

[Briar]

Hi Mike! I am in this process myself. I put an Ultra 4 ppm CUlator in the pump basket to absorb the metals. I also used Metal Free after AA treatment to sequester the metal. I noticed this product is not one of the favored choices on this forum and I wish I had known that before I used it. There are a couple of good threads that recommend preferred sequestrants and if I had it to do over, I would go with one of those. I think Jack’s Magic was one of the ones mentioned. Good luck with your endeavor. I’m ready for mine to be over.

 

[ajw22]

Mike, test drive the updated article on this process in our new Wiki...

Ascorbic Acid Treatment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I updated it to reflect a few of your questions here and more feedback would be appreciated.

Hello Pool Jedi Knights! Is there an update to this article which discusses how to remove iron staining?

Ascorbic Treatment to rid Pool of metal stains

Here are the directions to use Ascorbic acid to rid your pool of metal stains: Here is the ascorbic treatment: Take your chlorine down to 0 and PH down to 7.2, if there is chlorine in the water it won't hurt, it will just eat up the ascorbic acid, so you will need more to get rid of the...

www.troublefreepool.com

I also have a few questions. Since I plan to go through this process for my 17,000 gal pool, I would like to be absolutely sure of the procedure:
1. In taking Cl down to essentially zero, what is the best way to do this? Let it occur naturally, i.e. turn off the SWG or add something?

Let it decline naturally. Remove tablets, stop adding liquid chlorine, and turn off the SWG.

2. In the article, after adding the ascorbic acid, what does it mean to "put the filter on circulate" as compared to a later step to "put the filter on filter"? Does this mean some pool systems are built with a filter bypass? Mine does not. Should I remove my cartridges for this step?

This assumes you have a filter with an MPV. Putting the filter on recirculate or removing the filter cartridges helps avoid the small chance of coating your filter media with metals, which might end up forcing you to replace your filter media. This doesn't usually happen, even if the filter isn't on recirculate, but best to avoid even the small chance of a problem by using recirculate

3. When it says to add sequestering agent, what specific chemical is this referring to? And how much?

See the Wiki article.

4. How is the iron actually removed from the water? I do not see this being addressed in the article? I have seen some Youtube videos where a Curator pouch is put into the skimmer basket to physically absorb the metal ions - shouldn't this be done?

See the Wiki article. Some people have had success using the CuLator egg in their skimmer.

 

[mkubiniec]

Hello Allen

Very sorry for the late reply - I have been out of town as well. Excellent update to article - most appreciated! As soon as my chlorine level comes down, I am ready to rock and roll! Again, thanks so much.

Mike