Openning with metal stains

Jump to latest Follow Reply
J

jhendric23

Member
Jul 15, 2022
10
NJ
Pool Size
25000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Last season I had awful stains on the liner that at first I thought were worn spots on the liner, but it turns out they are metal stains. I tried to remove it with vitamin C and it came up. However, they are throughout the pool and a simple vitamin C tablet in a sock didn't fix the whole problem it only helped me ID the problem. I didn't do anything because it was closing time and I didn't want to drop my chlorine levels off before closing.

Now it is time to open and I have a green swamp. I am wondering how would be best to go about removing the stains and getting the pool back in balance. Do I SLAM until it is clean then balance it and then worry about lowering the FC for the stain removal or should I treat the stains first and then get the water balanced?



I have a 25,000-gallon inground vinyl liner pool and no chlorine generator. I alternate the tablet chlorinator and liquid chlorine to maintain CYA and chlorine balance.
 
Unfortunately you're going to have to use the SLAM Process to remove the algae first. As we know, an elevated FC level (required for a SLAM to kill algae) aggravates metals, so the stains would just get worse or come back anyway. I also doubt you can see well in the pool right now either, so that makes treating metals difficult.

So I would do the SLAM Process first. Once complete, follow the AA process linked below. That's when you will allow the FC level to fall very low and consider using a good Polyquat 60 algaecide. The poly combined with (hopefully) still chilly water may help prevent algae from returning while you attempt an AA process to remove the stains.

Ascorbic Acid Treatment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
  • Like
Reactions: Mdragger88 and jhendric23
Texas Splash said:
Unfortunately you're going to have to use the SLAM Process to remove the algae first. As we know, an elevated FC level (required for a SLAM to kill algae) aggravates metals, so the stains would just get worse or come back anyway. I also doubt you can see well in the pool right now either, so that makes treating metals difficult.

So I would do the SLAM Process first. Once complete, follow the AA process linked below. That's when you will allow the FC level to fall very low and consider using a good Polyquat 60 algaecide. The poly combined with (hopefully) still chilly water may help prevent algae from returning while you attempt an AA process to remove the stains.

Ascorbic Acid Treatment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
Click to expand...
Thanks. When we have so much algae how do you maintain SLAM while vacuuming to waste?
 
jhendric23 said:
When we have so much algae how do you maintain SLAM while vacuuming to waste?
Click to expand...
If it's so thick you can't see the bottom, you just have to go slow and easy as to not overwhelm the pump. Sweep, brush, and scoop as much of the hard debris or thick stuff as you can. Vacuum to waste if needed. At some point you'll have to let the filter do it's job by filtering out the dead algae. In the early part of the SLAM, the first day or two, you may find the need to backwash more frequently until it starts to thin out. But if you follow the SLAM page carefully it will work. Good luck!
 
Texas Splash said:
If it's so thick you can't see the bottom, you just have to go slow and easy as to not overwhelm the pump. Sweep, brush, and scoop as much of the hard debris or thick stuff as you can. Vacuum to waste if needed. At some point you'll have to let the filter do it's job by filtering out the dead algae. In the early part of the SLAM, the first day or two, you may find the need to backwash more frequently until it starts to thin out. But if you follow the SLAM page carefully it will work. Good luck!
Click to expand...
I guess my question was more on keeping the FC levels up if I am losing water, as I vacuum to waste, and adding fresh from the hose to refill. IF it isn't thick do you not do the vacuum to waste and just SLAM until the algae dies and then have the filter take it up.
 
Right, you have to adjust levels based on your method at the time. If you do some pump to waste, you'll have to adjust FC add perhaps CYA as well. Water refills might also influence your pH. But once you are done with moving water to waste, then your numbers should settle down and you can focus on the FC. But yes, either way the FC will drop add you'll need to monitor.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply