Mineral Imbalance
Nothing is worse than preparing for a summer get-together and finding your pool a strange shade of brown or green. Sometimes when you chlorinate your pool your water can react strangely. This is nothing out of the ordinary, most likely a copper or iron mineral imbalance. These issues can be easily fixed. Continue reading to find out what causes mineral imbalances and how to treat them.
Cause
Your pool water is naturally composed of minerals and sometimes the water becomes imbalanced, favoring one of these minerals. This imbalance is what causes your pool to turn a strange color. The discoloration caused from mineral imbalance can stain the pool, stain swimmers, and make your pool a place to avoid rather than enjoy.
Copper an iron are the most frequent minerals in your pool. Once in a while, a mineral called manganese is the source of the problem.
These minerals enter your pool in a variety of ways. The first way is through your fill water. The water itself is most likely not composed of large amounts of copper or iron; however, the pipes in which it travels most likely are old and deposit these minerals in the water. Filling your pool with well water may increase your chances for mineral deposits.
Solving the Problem
The first step towards restoring your pool’s natural color is identifying which mineral is at work. This might be able to be accomplished by observing the general color of your pool. To be sure you are accurate, it is a good idea to take a water sample to your nearest pool store to have it properly tested.
General Color Guide:
- Teal water= copper imbalance
- Murky brown water or murky teal green= iron imbalance
- Dark blue, purple or black= manganese imbalance
Once you have identified the mineral, it is time to take action. The best way to remove the minerals and to treat the mineral imbalance is to use a metal sequestering product, and through the use of your filter remove the problem. Ask the Pool Guy’s Ferri-Iron Tablets are a great choice.