Stains in pool

[aggiejet]

I want to join in on this thread, as I too am battling similar staining in addition to almost the entirety of bottom of pool has brown “spider webby” stains that I attributed to my green algae bloom (see my post “Don’t Buy a Meyco Cover…..”over in other Everything Else)

I’m perplexed because a puck isn’t removing the stains and I just did some “vitamin c slurry in a sock” and that didn’t seem to do much.

 

[ajw22]

I want to join in on this thread, as I too am battling similar staining in addition to almost the entirety of bottom of pool has brown “spider webby” stains that I attributed to my green algae bloom (see my post “Don’t Buy a Meyco Cover…..”over in other Everything Else)

I’m perplexed because a puck isn’t removing the stains and I just did some “vitamin c slurry in a sock” and that didn’t seem to do much.

Complete the SLAM Process fully and get the pool algae free before you try and deal with staining.

 

[aggiejet]

Complete the SLAM Process fully and get the pool algae free before you try and deal with staining.

I’ve done that. Opened pool on Memorial and SLAM’d for about 4 or 5 days. Water was clear, CC less than .5, and less than 1 ONCL. It’s my understanding that indicates a SLAM is complete. Here’s what I started with.

Do you see something in that current picture that would indicate I still have algae? If it was algae wouldn’t a tri-chlor be effective in removing the stain?

 

[ajw22]

Stain ID Kit | Jacks Magic

jacksmagic.com

 

[aggiejet]

Stain ID Kit | Jacks Magic

jacksmagic.com

Have you or anyone reading this thread had any experience with this stain test kit?

 

[ajw22]

Have you or anyone reading this thread had any experience with this stain test kit?

It has worked for many people to determine their stains are from copper. It is the best way to test that.

 

[aggiejet]

I’m going to reSLAM and then yellow algae slam for 24 hours. I had what I considered to be an inordinate amount of chlorine loss during the day yesterday. The OLCT was 2.

When I brush the walls and floor, there are clouds of something swirling around the brush head.

Additionally, I don’t have a main drain. The return line has a unfindable (by a leak detection company) and it is plugged. BTW, it has been that way for at least 15 years. Hasn’t been a problem. But I’ve never had to deal with whatever is going on now.
How much is this hampering my clean up operation?

 

[ajw22]

Do you run a pool cleaner to stir up the pool water?

One skimmer, one return, no main drain says you probably have poor circulation in the pool and areas where the water is stagnant.

 

[aggiejet]

Do you run a pool cleaner to stir up the pool water?

One skimmer, one return, no main drain says you probably have poor circulation in the pool and areas where the water is stagnant.

No, I don’t have a pool cleaner. Hasn’t been a problem since I discovered TFP and did proper water chemistry. Now when, I had a pool “service” that was different. But we all know that.

 

[ajw22]

No, I don’t have a pool cleaner. Hasn’t been a problem since I discovered TFP and did proper water chemistry. Now when, I had a pool “service” that was different. But we all know that.

It may not be a problem with normal water chemistry but getting high levels of chlorine distributed evenly on your algae stained pool surfaces can be part of your problem.

You also need to be brushing your stained pool a lot to break the algae biofilm and a good pool cleaner can help brush surfaces.

 

[BcatvTFP]

Interested in whatever you can discover, I have had what I decided was calcium deposit staining (brownish, not too different in pattern from what your picture shows, but not as heavy, nothing easy would remove it) a several times in my plaster pool. Removed with acid wash once, which removed it but left the surface rough (the acid dissolves the surface layer of cement but not the grains of sand, leaving a roughend surface.) The second time, last year, when I opened the pool after leaving it shut for two years, had similar, that time drained it and sanded the surface down with diamond pads (two weeks of entertainment for my 1200sq ft pool.) This year, after paying close attention to the pH overwinter, once again had some deposition.

 

[aggiejet]

It may not be a problem with normal water chemistry but getting high levels of chlorine distributed evenly on your algae stained pool surfaces can be part of your problem.

You also need to be brushing your stained pool a lot to break the algae biofilm and a good pool cleaner can help brush surfaces.

What is your definition of a lot of brushing? I’m doing it almost everyday.

I’ve positioned a small “bilge” pump that I used to drain my solid cover in the deep end of pool. I’ve watched visible yard debris migrate across the bottom. In my opinion, I’m getting good circulation.

My OCLT this morning was 1. I’m going to SLAM today and if OCLT is 1 or less, will raise FC. to 24 for 24 hours. Then when FC comes down, I will use recommended stain kit to hopefully determine nature of the stains.

 

[aggiejet]

Update: used JM stain identification kit yesterday evening with no conclusive indications of what kind of stains I have. I ordered two kits because I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be as easy and as straight forward as the directions implied. I’m going to call JM and see if they have any suggestions. Or if anyone reading this has some user tips, I’m all ears. Or eyes, as it were.

The most obvious stains are in the deep end of the pool. But getting the JM product down to those spots is a challenge. That’s what I would like to attempt with this second kit.