Blue green stains

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N

nawp

Gold Supporter
May 12, 2023
22
Kansas City
Pool Size
14000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I have a plaster pool and spa that both were initially the same color. The spa developed a blue green stain. I am in the middle of slamming it because I assumed this was an algae stain. I read more about it and tried both the trichlor pucks test and the vitamin c test. Neither removed or lightened up the stain. Scrubbing during SLAM doesn't remove it either. It doesn't feel slimy at all and feels just like the pool plaster I've attached pictures of the pool and the spa as a comparison in color.

What else could it be?
 

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Donldson said:
Have you ever used any algaecides or had the pH drop off a cliff at any point?
Click to expand...
I haven't but it's possible the PB did. I also did a partial refill before the slam because the CYA was over 100 due to pucks. I got it down to 40 before starting to slam.

I've never seen pH drop off a cliff but it was always on the high side (8+)
 
Hmm, copper was my prime suspect from the description and non-reaction to chlorine or vitamin C. But if you've never added any to the water and the pH hasn't been low enough to dissolve it from a heater, that's much less likely.

I'll have to see if anyone else has an idea.
 
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Is this the pool or spa?

20230518_175403-jpg.493201
 

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JamesW said:
Which system goes to the pool and which one goes to the spa?

How do you chlorinate the spa?
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The system in the front is for the spa. It was previously using the pucks pictured below but I have switched it over to LC.
 

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Probably ate the copper out of the heater.

I would use the Jack’s #2 and then drain and refill.

Take the system offline so that the Jack’s #2 does not get in the system.

Make sure that the spa is safe to drain before draining.

Pools or spas can pop out of the ground due to ground water pressure.

Note: Do at your own risk.

Do your research before deciding what to do.

Consult a local professional for advice before deciding what to do and how to do it.
 
JamesW said:
Probably ate the copper out of the heater.

I would use the Jack’s #2 and then drain and refill.

Take the system offline so that the Jack’s #2 does not get in the system.

Make sure that the spa is safe to drain before draining.

Pools or spas can pop out of the ground due to ground water pressure.

Note: Do at your own risk.

Do your research before deciding what to do.

Consult a local professional for advice before deciding what to do and how to do it.
Click to expand...
When you say take the system offline, does this just means turning off the pump?

I've never taken the cartridge out so I'll try and figure that out tomorrow.

The tabs were in a floater. To be honest, chemistry was quite neglected for periods of time. PB came once a week but did not come during the winter. I don't remember when this green stain occurred but it's been awhile. It's possible it was over the winter when it was neglected.
 
nawp said:
When you say take the system offline, does this just means turning off the pump?
Click to expand...
I would turn off the pump and remove the pump lid to let everything drain.

The copper in the heater is probably damaged and the Jack’s #2 dissolves copper, which is why it removes copper stains, but it can dissolve more copper from the heater if the product (Sulfamic acid) gets in the heater.

The heater might begin to leak at some point if the copper is damaged badly enough.

Note that the product might not work and it might cause more problems.

Note: Do at your own risk.

Do your research before deciding what to do.

Consult a local professional for advice before deciding what to do and how to do it.
 
nawp said:
Is the Zero Alkalinity Acid Treatment an option here?
Click to expand...
That might work, but there are risks with any treatment.

Probably worth a try.

Note that the process might not work and it might cause more problems.

Note: Do at your own risk.

Do your research before deciding what to do.

Consult a local professional for advice before deciding what to do and how to do it.
 

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