Metal Stains In Pool

[rickai]

I REALLY could use some help here!

Starting last year, we've had recurring metal / rust stains on our pool. It occurs mostly on our white steps in the shallow end, but slowly is building all over the liner too. We tried 2 things that were able to get rid of it temporarily:

1. Lowering the PH - did this last year, took a few hours and then a long time to get the ph back in balance.

2. Absorb X - amazing. removed ALL of the stains in minutes. steps looked brand new.

A few days after we did absorb x this year, rust stains started to slowly come back. We started looking for the source of the rust/metal and we noticed rust on our deep end ladder. I removed it immediately and bought a new ladder. The stains still came back and are slowly spreading around the pool. I see no other metal in contact with the pool.

When we have the water tested, they do not detect metal in the water. So they usually try to treat for brown algea, and that does nothing. The metal treatments seem to work though, but only temporarily.

Does anyone have any idea where this metal could be coming from or what else might cause this problem? Thanks!

Rick

[three4rd]

I REALLY could use some help here!

Starting last year, we've had recurring metal / rust stains on our pool. It occurs mostly on our white steps in the shallow end, but slowly is building all over the liner too. We tried 2 things that were able to get rid of it temporarily:

1. Lowering the PH - did this last year, took a few hours and then a long time to get the ph back in balance.

2. Absorb X - amazing. removed ALL of the stains in minutes. steps looked brand new.

A few days after we did absorb x this year, rust stains started to slowly come back. We started looking for the source of the rust/metal and we noticed rust on our deep end ladder. I removed it immediately and bought a new ladder. The stains still came back and are slowly spreading around the pool. I see no other metal in contact with the pool.

When we have the water tested, they do not detect metal in the water. So they usually try to treat for brown algea, and that does nothing. The metal treatments seem to work though, but only temporarily.

Does anyone have any idea where this metal could be coming from or what else might cause this problem? Thanks!

Rick

It is weird that they keep coming back. Can you maybe try a good stiff wire brush or a product called 'pool eraser' or something like that....it looks like a big eraser and attaches to your long pole at the end. Maybe it's something you can partially brush off. Also, maybe if you try a stain control product (like that made by BioGuard) and add it every season, that might help.

It may be a problem developing underneath the paster for some reason. Hope you can get some good answers on this one. I'd probably have a good pool tech look at it for some suggestions.

[BKJ]

@rickai or anyone else who views this and has the answer:

Where did you buy the Absorb X from? I have heard really good things about it but can't find anyone that sells it.

Update:

I found the product it is actually spelled ascorb-x made by a company called NJonas:

http://www.njonas.com/xfactor.htm

[coo6776]

@rickai or anyone else who views this and has the answer:

Where did you buy the Absorb X from? I have heard really good things about it but can't find anyone that sells it.

Update:

I found the product it is actually spelled ascorb-x made by a company called NJonas:

http://www.njonas.com/xfactor.htm

you gotta use a sequestering agent to prevent the stains

[chem geek]

As shown in this MSDS file Ascorb-X is nothing more than 100% ascorbic acid. It is excellent at removing metal stains, especially those from iron, as it is a reducing agent as well as an acid. However, it will just create ferrous metal ions that though soluble in water need to be bound to a metal sequestrant or else chlorine will just oxidize it again and it can stain again especially at higher pH.

You can read more about the ascorbic acid treatment for removing metal stains here and also other sources for ascorbic acid. You can learn more about using metal sequestrants to keep the metal ions in solution here.

Ultimately, you will have to dilute the water to remove the metal; otherwise, you'll have to keep adding metal sequestrant over time since it slowly breaks down from chlorine.

[poolman289]

Brown or Tanish stain normally comes from iron. Even after you take your water to be tested and they say there is no iron in the water, it is still there. Iron does not discriminate it attacks Fiberglasss, Gunite, and Liner pools. Jacks Majic has a system that Ive have used for the last eight years that not only treats the stain but it also treats the water to keep the stain from coming back. Also check the skimmer basket handle. Some older models came with metal handles that causes lots of headaches when the ph is off.

Edited October 21, 2009 by poolman289

[poolman289]

I REALLY could use some help here!

Starting last year, we've had recurring metal / rust stains on our pool. It occurs mostly on our white steps in the shallow end, but slowly is building all over the liner too. We tried 2 things that were able to get rid of it temporarily:

1. Lowering the PH - did this last year, took a few hours and then a long time to get the ph back in balance.

2. Absorb X - amazing. removed ALL of the stains in minutes. steps looked brand new.

A few days after we did absorb x this year, rust stains started to slowly come back. We started looking for the source of the rust/metal and we noticed rust on our deep end ladder. I removed it immediately and bought a new ladder. The stains still came back and are slowly spreading around the pool. I see no other metal in contact with the pool.

When we have the water tested, they do not detect metal in the water. So they usually try to treat for brown algea, and that does nothing. The metal treatments seem to work though, but only temporarily.

Does anyone have any idea where this metal could be coming from or what else might cause this problem? Thanks!

Rick