There are several types of pool stains, and with some experience, you can identify the type of stain, as well as a removal and prevention technique.
TYPES OF POOL STAINS
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Copper: Usually shows up as blue or blue-green blotches. In extreme cases, copper stains can actually turn black. Copper stains come from only two sources. Either copper is being stripped off of the coils in a heater, or it comes from adding a copper based algaecide into the pool. For the copper to come from the heater coils, the pH must be low for some period of time. Copper in the water at a low or normal pH is usually soluble (in solution), and will not stain. However, when the pH rises, usually above 8.0, the copper drops out of solution and falls to the floor and walls where it stains.
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Iron: This is more common in pools that are filled from well water. However, even city water has some iron present. Like copper, iron can be soluble, but it is heavier than copper and will drop out easier. Iron stains are usually reddish or brown in color.
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Calcium: This is somewhat uncommon, and is only caused when someone adds a shock pack, (cal-hypo), into a pool with a very high pH. The stain will show up as black streaks, where the cal-hypo hit the pool floor. This type of staining will happen immediately as the product is added to the pool water.
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Rust spots or fertilizer stains: Fertilizer pellets which get into the pool will drop to the floor and cause a brown rust spot. You can also get this type of stain if coins or other metal objects are left on the floor of the pool.
Red algae: Sometime referred to as pink algae. It is actually a fungus rather than an algae and usually shows up on the steps or just under the water line. No one seems to know what causes it to appear.
POOL STAIN TREATMENT
With the exception of red algae stains, the stains can always be removed by acid washing the pool. However, this method may be a little drastic and costly for most stain removal. Typically, we can do what is referred to as an “in-water” or “wet” acid wash. Here we lower the pH and alkalinity while at the same time adding a stain treatment chemical like “Pool Stain Treat” or one of the Jack’s Magic products. We do not run the pump while the pool is in this acidic condition.
The low pH coupled with the stain removal product will actually remove the mineral causing the stain and put it back into solution. As long as the pH remains low, the copper or iron will stay in solution. However, it is impractical to operate the pool under these conditions. Therefore, we add a “sequestering agent”, like Metal Out which surrounds the suspended copper or iron particles and keeps them in suspension. We then raise the pH and alkalinity to a safe level and start the pump. In a short time, the suspended, sequestered minerals will be taken out in the filter. If the stain was caused by copper, you will notice a blue residue as you clean or backwash the filter. Iron will be reddish-brown.
To remove fertilizer or rust spots, you only need to get muriatic acid on the actual spot. This can be done by putting some acid in a plastic bottle with a squeeze top and applying it underwater, directly onto the spot. It will come off immediately, usually without any scrubbing. If this is too difficult, there are methods available which allow siphoning of the acid down to the spots.
Red algae needs to be treated just like black algae.
STAIN PREVENTION
Preventing stains is relatively simple. First, maintain a proper water balance with the pH in the 7.2 to 7.8 range and alkalinity in the 80 to 120 ppm range. Second, if you know you are adding make-up water to the pool and it has even trace metals present, add a sequestering agent, Metal Out, at the same time. The minerals will never have a chance to settle out and stain.[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
