SA Water (even urban municipal) is highly mineralised and may contain elevated levels of various metal.
- ‘pH Bounce’ (Low to High) can cause suspended metals to come out of solution and deposit on pool surfaces.
- Pools filled by BORE HOLES are at elevated risk of metal precipitation (Even without ‘pH bounce’ as a trigger)
The only guaranteed solution to metal staining is to empty your pool and have it ‘Acid Washed’ by a pro. But there are DIY fixes you may wish to try before parting with your hard earned moolah. Here they are:
WHOLE pool stained:
- Add Metal Remover
- Add sufficient hydrochloric acid to lower pH to 6 or below. At a point pH will be low enough to bring metal deposits back into solution where the Metal Remover will keep it suspended as pH is readjusted to normal.
- To readjust pH in FIBERGLASS pools, use Alkalinity Increaser. For MARBLITE pools use Soda Ash.
PATCHES of staining on WALLS:
- Add Metal Remover
- With pump OFF and still water, pour either hydrochloric acid or dry acid granules down the wall directly over stained area and leave for a while, checking regularly for improvement. If successful, the metal deposits will dissolve back into solution where the Metal Remover will keep it suspended.