Several issues - salt vs chlorine?

And about that ladder - it may not be rust. Dead, decayed organic stuff can look like that too. I currently have what looks like yours on my skimmers on the top edges- above the water line, with no metals anywhere near! I'm thinking organic things that fell onto them from the mesh cover over the winter. Possible yours trapped leaves/algae there and it is the dead residue you are seeing.

Try some bleach on a test spot. Wear gloves! It will all be very strong. Try a folded paper towel soaked in straight pool bleach, and leave it there for 10-15 min. Or even better a small amount of paste if you have pucks, powders to make into a bit of a paste. If it lightens, or goes away - organic. Scrubbing, scraping with a plastic tool, and bleaching will remove it. Don't use metal scrubbers/brushes to avoid scratching the plastic or stainless. Yes, you may have to take some bolts out to get at the edges of the steps.

If the bleach test does not change anything, crush up some vitamin C tablets (ascorbic acid) and try the same paste test with that rather than chlorine. If it lightens/goes away, then it is rust. Then suspect that someone used a low grade or non-stainless washers for the ladder assembly. Doubtful though, since not all bolts have the issue.
 
Pool already improving. I keep going. Question, i turned off the salt generator as recommended. I am going to run pump overnight, should i turn on the generator for the night or better not?
 
And about that ladder - it may not be rust. Dead, decayed organic stuff can look like that too. I currently have what looks like yours on my skimmers on the top edges- above the water line, with no metals anywhere near! I'm thinking organic things that fell onto them from the mesh cover over the winter. Possible yours trapped leaves/algae there and it is the dead residue you are seeing.

Try some bleach on a test spot. Wear gloves! It will all be very strong. Try a folded paper towel soaked in straight pool bleach, and leave it there for 10-15 min. Or even better a small amount of paste if you have pucks, powders to make into a bit of a paste. If it lightens, or goes away - organic. Scrubbing, scraping with a plastic tool, and bleaching will remove it. Don't use metal scrubbers/brushes to avoid scratching the plastic or stainless. Yes, you may have to take some bolts out to get at the edges of the steps.

If the bleach test does not change anything, crush up some vitamin C tablets (ascorbic acid) and try the same paste test with that rather than chlorine. If it lightens/goes away, then it is rust. Then suspect that someone used a low grade or non-stainless washers for the ladder assembly. Doubtful though, since not all bolts have the issue.
I am just going to buy a new ladder. Lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88
Current reading after:

1 gallon of LC 4 hours ago
1 gallon of LC 2 hours ago

Hardness 50
TC betw 10/20
FC betw 5/10
Bromine 20
Alkalinity 60
CYA 50
Ph 8

Based on this i will add 3/4 gallon of LC based on target FC 20

Comments welcome
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
I have the TF 100 recommended and the levels i indicated are from the TF100 test.
The other i sent a picture of is a test with liquids. Here another pic
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    335.4 KB · Views: 11
This is the tf100 i found when googled it
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    318.8 KB · Views: 10
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    315 KB · Views: 10

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.