Forum

Replies

• 

  David Penton August 24, 2009 at 8:33pm

  What are you using for shocking the pool?
  
  It's REALLY difficult to diagnose what might be going on without knowing what the PH and alk readings are.
  
  Could it be scale coming off the salt cell which has stuck to the bottom?
  
  When did the stains appear for the client, was it gradual, or right after she did something, and what did she do?
  
  Could it be calcium nodules? or spot etching?
• 

  Tal Millican August 22, 2009 at 10:14pm

  Hey, there, CPB.
  
  The staining situation sounds like a cal-hypo issue. If you MUST use it, play it conservative. Dissolve a cup's worth in a 2-gal. or larger bucket and walk it around the pool. Then, brush it well, and, with the owner's permission, remove the off timer pin or set in svc mode and allow the pump to run overnight and return the next day and brush again. I've had good results on old cal-hypo stains using Jack's Magic "Blue Stuff"--dramatic differences; not completely disappeared, mind you, but significant results. The mix needs to be about 20ppm, or 1 qt per 10,000 gal.
  
  I sometimes use a generic version of No More Problems available here in Fla. distributed by Florida Water Products. Down here, especially in season, a little weekly dose definitely makes my life easier with 100+ pools. Be careful, however. Too much sodium bromine will tip your chlorine pool over to sodium bromine pool and there's no going back unless you dump a lot of water. A more economical version of NMP is a weekly pinch of Yellow Out, Mustard KO or any other yellow algae fighter. About the bugs: I have customers-especially recent arrivals to the Southeast-complain about the bugs in their pool.
  I just tell them: "Welcome to Florida, they fly in--I skim 'em out". There's just not much we can do even with enclosed pools. I don't use any anti- bug stuff; I try to keep my chemicals and additives to a minimum.
  
  
  
  Tal Millican, new member
  Tampa
  
  Luke Norris said:

  I think its due to using cal hypo and the calcium or other balancing chemical level.
• 

  Cajun Pool Boy July 22, 2009 at 3:52pm

  Ye i guess i need stick my head in an look i really dont think its failure but i needa rule it out!!! I have seen this before and have dun it myself but that was a few moons ago and im on my 13th year in the bu... its hard to remember exactly what it was..Its not something we see everyday!! Thanks
  I dont think anything else was added!!
  Bruce Hudson said:

  CPB,
  It might be a good idea to swim down and get a good look at it or at least put on a mask and look over the edge. Wonder if there really is a plaster failure. At least rule it out.
  
  Were other chemicals added with the shock? I turned white plaster black getting over eager with a startup once.... just once....when I was younger....
• 

  Bruce Hudson July 22, 2009 at 3:31pm

  CPB,
  It might be a good idea to swim down and get a good look at it or at least put on a mask and look over the edge. Wonder if there really is a plaster failure. At least rule it out.
  
  Were other chemicals added with the shock? I turned white plaster black getting over eager with a startup once.... just once....when I was younger....
• 

  Cajun Pool Boy July 22, 2009 at 7:18am

  Well lets see,,,,,,The homeowner of course said she did not put chlorine in that particular spot(of course). She was having roblems with her salt generator and she has ben using chlorine in the mean time. I have not checked ph but its a dam good iea to have my guys run by and check all chems just to see. I have in the past seen when we shock discoloration of the bottom immediatly. We used two bottles of sun stain remover and one metal out to try and remove. Customer called this am and said stains still there. The stain looks like a dark but transparent looking big spot in where the shallow goes to deep, it looks as if the plaster is wearing down. I know thats not the case b/c pool is only a few years old. and of course she has party this weekend and wanyts stains GONE!!!!
  
  Bruce Hudson said:

  CPB,
  When cal hypo lays on the bottom of a pool there is a whole lot going on underneath it, chemically. I'm no scientist or engineer and can't describe all that's going on, but it aint real plaster friendly. Chlorine let lay on the bottom can cause metals to come out of solution causing stains in that locallized area, soften the plaster, etc. Ever see the round "burn" marks left where a tablet was laying on the bottom? Bad deal.
  
  The best defense a pool man (or lady) has is to predissolve the shock, use liguid shock, and /or brush after adding shock. There are so many ways high concentrations of chlorine can spoil your fun that the best I can offer is... "don't do that"
  
  Spread it around and brush and you should be ok in the future. Is this white plaster? Does it go away after a day or so?
  Is there a dissernable color to the stains? We'll definately get to the bottom of it. What's the starting pH and Alkilinity? Metals?
  
  I have sure nuf found myself in a panic a time or two over the years after adding chemicals and something unexpected happen. It probably won't be the last time either!
• 

  Bruce Hudson July 21, 2009 at 7:17pm

  CPB,
  When cal hypo lays on the bottom of a pool there is a whole lot going on underneath it, chemically. I'm no scientist or engineer and can't describe all that's going on, but it aint real plaster friendly. Chlorine let lay on the bottom can cause metals to come out of solution causing stains in that locallized area, soften the plaster, etc. Ever see the round "burn" marks left where a tablet was laying on the bottom? Bad deal.
  
  The best defense a pool man (or lady) has is to predissolve the shock, use liguid shock, and /or brush after adding shock. There are so many ways high concentrations of chlorine can spoil your fun that the best I can offer is... "don't do that"
  
  Spread it around and brush and you should be ok in the future. Is this white plaster? Does it go away after a day or so?
  Is there a dissernable color to the stains? We'll definately get to the bottom of it. What's the starting pH and Alkilinity? Metals?
  
  I have sure nuf found myself in a panic a time or two over the years after adding chemicals and something unexpected happen. It probably won't be the last time either!