The steps on our inground pool are very yellow. We took in a pool water sample and it came back with high levels of copper. After using the chemicals they sold us to chelate the metals in the pool, we took in another water sample and the metals were in normal range. We shocked the pool and low and behold the yellow returned within hours. We took another water sample in and was told the metals were high again and we needed to repeat the process. I'm not sure how that could happen after just shocking the pool. We contacted another pool company who sold us a different chemical to remove the metals and he also told us to empty half the water out and replace it to dilute out any remaining metals. We did both. Our pool was cloudy and since we live in Texas and it has been in the 90s we shocked the pool. Well we have yellow steps again. Everything else was in range. What is causing this and how do we fix it? It has cost us quite a bit already. BTW when we use ascorbic or citric acid it clears the steps up but eventually the yellow comes back.
Yellow fiberglass steps
- Thread starter bjkkern
- Start date
kul
Bronze Supporter
- Oct 1, 2021
- 1,450
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Please consider posting the names of the shock and other items you are using. Some of these have copper. Those that have copper usually use the code word “blue”
Are you filling with well water or municipal? Sometimes well water can introduce metals.
Are you filling with well water or municipal? Sometimes well water can introduce metals.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,088
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The pool store is probably your worst enemy. As we say here at TFP all the time, "stay out of the pool store". Test your own water and use TFP-recommended chemicals which are inexpensive, safe for pools, and have little to no side effects. If your pool in indeed over-saturated with copper as a results of using copper-based pool products, your only recourse is to exchange water. Copper staining is some of the most troublesome to deal with. I would however test the steps with a Vitamin C tablet. Take a tablet and rub it directly on the stain and report back if there is any change.
Also be sure to update your signature. See mine as an example.
Also be sure to update your signature. See mine as an example.
The shock we are using is from Sam’s club Members Mark Quick dissolving shock. Active ingredient is Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione hydrated with 1% “other” ingredients. Not sure if that has copper in it?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,776
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I do not believe that has copper in it, but it is 50% CYA. If you use it very often, I suspect your CYA is very high.
Thank you. I didn’t know that. And yes, our CYA is high! We are going to switch to BioGuard burnout 73 which has 73% calcium hypochlorite and 27% “other”. Is this shock better? Where do most people get their shock from? Or do you use liquid chlorine to shock with?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,776
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Not sure where in Texas you are but they have high CH fill water in many places. So Cal Hypo will add calcium.
Best is to use Bleach aka Liquid chlorine aka Sodium hypochlorite. Or install a SaltWater Chlorine Generator.
You should never have to 'shock'
Best is to use Bleach aka Liquid chlorine aka Sodium hypochlorite. Or install a SaltWater Chlorine Generator.
You should never have to 'shock'