YUCK! Rust colored Pool Water!

rockyridgefarm · Jun 18, 2003

We filled a small pool from our well. It took a while to get 5500 gallons. But it looked good. Then we added chlorine. At first it had a yellow tinge then it when yuck rust color.

A trip to the Pool 'Xperts gave the following.

Our water is Soft, we added hardness.
Acidic- we added soda ash
There is NO IRON showing in any test.
NO Manganese

But it sounds like everything I have ever heard about Iron Bacteria

/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Anonymous Poster · Jun 18, 2003

You just described in a nutshell why we don't have a pool out here.

Mrwurm · Jun 18, 2003

I have similiar problems with our Hot Tub. I was advised to use a product for 'stain and scale' control. I works by locking up bad stuff in solution and prevents it from precipitating out. Really helps with the Hot Tub.

djradz · Jun 18, 2003

I don't think it's iron bacteria. If so, you'd smell it. What I believe you have is iron oxide. It probably didn't show up in the tests because it's now bound up with the chlorine. We had the exact same thing happen before when we added too much untreated well water rather than softened water. Anyway, purchase some "metal" remover and follow the instructions precisely. One of the requirements will probably be to let the chlorine drop some so the remover can do it's job. Take care of it soon or you'll have a rusty sludge attaching to all your plastic parts.

dummy · Jun 18, 2003

I've had good luck with the advice and help from here pool forum Not quite as good as TBN / CBN but it has saved some money and frustration.

mathey · Jun 18, 2003

I'll second the opinion on Poolforum.com! post a message there and they'll offer you some remedies.

I've been using methods i've gotten from there for 2 years now in our pool. I've only used grocery store brand bleach, baking sode and borax and have never had any problems with water quality...in fact, we've had people compliment us on our water!

techman · Jun 19, 2003

What you have is simply "clear iron" in your water. When you added the chlorine, the iron was oxidized and precipitated out as iron oxide (rust). The iron is now particulate, so simply filtering and vacuuming the pool will eliminate the problem, You may see a bit more when chlorine is added again. Adding more wate rmay cause a slight reoccurance, but most likely not.

At our old house we had iron and as soon as we chlorinated our new 18" pool, it looked lite tea. It was only a day or so and the filter took care of it.

paul

rockyridgefarm · Jun 20, 2003

I let the chlorine dissipate. Added a filter mdia which grabs finer particles. And it is mostly cleared out. I also used a chemical called Metal Free, from Leslie's. It probably helped some.

Looking much better. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

The pool /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif'Xperts couldn't figure it out. TBNers did it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Thanks!!!