After adding citric acid to a pool the pool surface became cover with sort of foam.
I’m guessing that it may be related to chemical reaction between the citric acid and the sodium carbonate present in the pool. Has anyone have a similar experience? Feedback appreciated.
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One must remember citric is an organic acid. It will not only remove metal stains but will work to remove leaf stains (organics) from the surface as well. If the water contains organics (oils, dead algae, urine, fertilizers) citric acid will act to remove them as well. It is likely some of these things were in your water. My recommendation is to skim the pool ( Over flowing is the easiest method) and use a filter enhancer. MH
Mike,
If that's the case, then would it make sense to use citric acid instead of muriatic acid (even if only periodically) for pH control?
Just curious, thanks!
Aaron,
That wouldn't make sense from a cost perspective or a chemical perspective either. Muriatic acid is a very inexpensive and quick way to make pH levels drop as it has a pH of 0.1 and it can also be used in smaller amounts for weekly dose. Citric acid is a weaker acid usually classified around 3-4 on the pH scale and would cost more whether it's for a rapid change or a maintenance dose.
That is true Scott. But it will lift the organics from the bottom too.
A better solution I think would be Proteam's Supreme Clean. That stuff works great.
I have a video of it in action on the PGN
I have a tendency to try every tool available, so let me know if you think this idea is too crazy. As an idea to break up the organics, if I set the pH controller on my whirlpool temporarily to 7.7, and let the pH drift up (and we'd see the free chlorine drift up as it tries to maintain the ORP at the higher pH), then use enough citric acid to bring the pH to 7.2, breaking up the organics and the resulting really high ORP breaking up everything else....Hit it with a dose of clarifier to grab on to everything and catch it in the filter, then set the controller back to normal, backwashing the filter the next morning? Given that most pool filter cleaners are based on citric acid would that in theory give me a 1-2 punch? I obviously wouldn't do it with the whirlpool open, but I figured as long as I don't let my numbers get outside of acceptable ranges it wouldn't open a pandora's box of other issues. Sorry if my games of "devil's advocate" go to far..... have a great day!