sequestrant no longer working on metals in water

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midtngal

midtngal

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Oct 26, 2007
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Nashville, TN
Hello all! :handwave: This has not been my summer this year, that is for sure! :roll: So, finally got my water back balanced and was enjoying the pool when last weekend I decided it was time to use the Jack's Magic Step that I used last year and had worked so well. The directions apparently did not sink in as I didn't let the chlorine lower to the 1 -3 ppm that it called for. Mine was at 8. I keep it a bit elevated due to all the pine trees that are next to my pool...although the last 3 -4 years it hasn't done me much good. So, Sunday afternoon I did the Jack's. Monday was good, Tuesday the pool was looking a little yellowish and by Wednesday the steps and floor looked like this... all splotchy with this brownish yellow stain. It does not move with the broom.

IMG_0323.jpg IMG_0324.jpg

Freaking out, thinking it was another outbreak of mustard algae, I immediately went to Walmart and bought 10 jugs of bleach! Brought CL up to 39 for MA and overnight it fell to 24.5. So Wed night and all day Thursday morning I pounded it every 2 hours with bleach bringing it to 39 every time. Most times it had fallen to 30 -33 so something was in there for sure. Fri morning, it had held at 39 overnight so I backed off. The stains were not improving at all so I started doing some research here for what it could be. I believe that me not paying attention to the CL level before using the Jack's has caused the staining, not necessarily a metal of some type. So, I found what to do about it and have ordered some ascorbic acid, sequestrant and Polyquat 60. I found a great thread from long ago that mbar had laid out the plan for how to take care of this - here . I just want to make sure that I'm doing this correctly and not piling on the problems.

Any objections, advice or encouragement on this will be greatly appreciated! If you think it needs to be handled differently, by all means let me know! My materials won't be here until Tues and Wed. Also, as long as my CYA and CL are in line...any reason I can't swim in this until I'm able to take care of it? Mid 90s this weekend here in Nashville...the pool sure would feel good! :D

Thanks so much!
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

I suspect the elevated chlorine did in-fact enhance that discoloration. Increasing the FC to MA levels so quickly probably only made things worse. It certainly depleted any sequestrant in the water and caused any residual iron remaining to precipitate. If your pH was elevated at the time it could've contributed as well. If you follow the instructions on that thread it should help considerably. Lots of owners have used it. Until you start the process, there's no reason you can't swim as long as your FC and CYA are balanced according to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]. :swim: Keep us posted and let us know how your treatment turns out next week.
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Texas Splash said:
I suspect the elevated chlorine did in-fact enhance that discoloration. Increasing the FC to MA levels so quickly probably only made things worse. It certainly depleted any sequestrant in the water and caused any residual iron remaining to precipitate. If your pH was elevated at the time it could've contributed as well. If you follow the instructions on that thread it should help considerably. Lots of owners have used it. Until you start the process, there's no reason you can't swim as long as your FC and CYA are balanced according to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]. :swim: Keep us posted and let us know how your treatment turns out next week.
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That's great news Texas Splash! Thanks so much! Let the fun begin next week! I shall keep you posted!
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Well, all the supplies are in, just waiting for the chlorine to deplete! It's at 4 today, was 6 yesterday. If I'd wanted to keep up, it would have gone to zero by now! :D
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

So, lemme axt you somethin’.....so it looks like Friday or Saturday will be my day to start this. We are expecting (I know...may not happen...) heavy rain on Fri and into Sat (but, of course!). Will that hamper this process much?? I’ve already added some polyquat just because I’m so susceptible to getting MA this time of year. I reeealllly need this pool up and running by next weekend due to having out of town guests then. If I’m reading things right, the AA part is only @ 30 min, overnight at worst. Once the stains are gone, I can start adding bleach to bring it back up, doing so slowly. Slowly being 1 pt every few hours or once/day..??? What is considered slowly? Very much appreciate the help!
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

The rain really shouldn't be a huge factor. You have the right idea on the FC increase as well. Perhaps increasing in stages of about 1 ppm every hour or so. The Poly should be good insurance as you begin to raise the FC in stages. Eventually the chlorine will consume the Poly and you'll be in formal FC/CYA balancing mode. Good luck!
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Oh awesome! Some more great news! Thanks so much! Maybe I’ll get lucky and I’ll get a zero reading in the morning! [emoji1317] ?
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Oh good grief! :brickwall: Holding at 1.5 for 2 days now! :( I only have 1 lb. of AA so I dare not go ahead for fear of running out! So, with Polyquat in the water and cya at 40, the charts says the minimum CL level should be 3. So, that means I'm now at the "you can't swim" point, aren't I?? {insert crying emoji here} :p
 

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Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

How in the H is this even possible?? Wed, Thur, and Fri the chlorine held at 1.5. Sat morning it was down to 1. Sat afternoon it was STILL at 1 and now this morning is only at .5. It is in full sun all day until around 4. We didn't get the rain expected, in fact being sunny all day yesterday! I just can't believe how long this is taking to get to zero! The first few days while it was still in the high 30s for the mustard algae I thought I had, it was dropping by almost 10 ppm per day! Is there anything I can do to get this last bit to go away?? :scratch:
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

This is my theory, based on when I was keeping a more studious log of testing/chlorine addition #s. But it seemed to me that your pool loses a % of FC per day, instead of a set # of FC. I thought I was observing this around 25% or 33% per day. Obviously different CYA levels would provide different protection %s. So with high FC levels you'd get massive FC loss per day. However, the number of FC you lost each sequential day would get lower and lower, as the % of the total FC was smaller.

There are far more intelligent folks on here which may provide a better answer, but based on the % theory, it would take a VERY long time to get to 0 FC, as when you're down to 1FC and below, you could lose almost immeasurable amounts of FC per day, especially on cloudy days. Perhaps allowing a dog to take a leak in the pool would speed things up a bit.

And let me tell you, I'm as frustrated as you are. I've been subbed to this post for a week, eagerly waiting to see your results. I have crazy iron staining in my pool, and was curious about your experience.
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Go pee in the pool. That will get rid of the FC --- :laughblue:
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

and let me tell you, I'm as frustrated as you are. I've been subbed to this post for a week, eagerly waiting to see your results. I have crazy iron staining in my pool, and was curious about your experience.
Click to expand...

Who knew I had followers!! :shock: :lol:

mknauss said:
Go pee in the pool. That will get rid of the FC --- :laughblue:
Click to expand...

That SERIOUSLY ran through my head when DirtyRat91 suggested a dog :lol: (I don't have one so I thought maybe...)!!

So, since doing the AA before I'm at zero would only eat chlorine, should I just ahead and get more and get started?? This pool MUST be up and running and beautiful by next weekend no ifs, ands or buts! :splash::sun:
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Then get going!
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Okay, just tested again and at best it's .5. Maybe a little less. I'm going to go ahead and start this...I cannot wait any longer! :) I have enough AA to do 2 treatments so hopefully that will be enough. Will report back shortly...
 
Re: checking myself with the ascorbic acid, sequestrant along with polyquat 60 proces

Wow! Wow! and Wow!! This is the most amazing thing I have ever seen! I made a 30 sec video to show you but it keeps coming up with an error when I try to preview it. Maybe it really works??



Here's what the steps looked like 10 minutes later! IMG_0339.jpg

The whole pool is clearing up! All this agonizing waiting and BOOM, it's done! I like it! :grin: So...can I now immediately start balancing the water? Or should I give it overnight??

- - - Updated - - -

Pfftt...nevermind...I see where it's time for the sequestrate. Reading is fundamental! LOL
 

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