Possible Cause
Troubleshooting
Three of the most common issues for pool owners include water odors and irritation, buildup and contaminants on pool surfaces and equipment and discolored or cloudy water. Feel free to brush up on the solutions to these problems and if you have any further questions, please consult your Applied Biochemists® dealer.
Odors and Irritations
Chlorine Odor
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Combined chlorine level is too high
Shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular. Then test for free chlorine residual and adjust to maintain an available chlorine level of 1-4 ppm.
Test chlorine level daily. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8, total alkalinity of 60-120 ppm and a free chlorine level of 1-4 ppm. Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular as needed. Swimming is permitted immediately after treatment.
Cloudy water from contaminants and/or chlorine odor and irritation
Shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular (1 lb. per 10,000 gallons weekly for heavy bather load or 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons every 2 weeks for light bather load).
Test chlorine level daily. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8, total alkalinity of 60-120 ppm and a free chlorine level of 1-4 ppm. Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular as needed. Swimming is permitted immediately after treatment.
Skin and Eye Irritation
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Combined chlorine level is too high
Shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular. Then test for free chlorine residual and adjust to maintain an available chlorine level of 1-4 ppm.
Test chlorine level daily. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8, total alkalinity of 60-120 ppm and a free chlorine level of 1-4 ppm. Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular as needed. Swimming is permitted immediately after treatment.
Cloudy water from contaminants and/or chlorine odor and irritation
Shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular (1 lb. per 10,000 gallons weekly for heavy bather load or 1 lb. per 10,000 gallons every 2 weeks for light bather load).
Test chlorine level daily. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8, total alkalinity of 60-120 ppm and a free chlorine level of 1-4 ppm. Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular as needed. Swimming is permitted immediately after treatment.
Pool Surfaces and Equipment
Black and/or Dark Green Spots
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Black algae
Use 12 fl. oz. of Applied Biochemists® Black Algaetrine® algaecide per 10,000 gallons. (This product is not compatible with biguanide sanitizers.) Brush spots daily until gone. Use Applied Biochemists® Gold-N-Clear® clarifier to remove dead algae.
Add Applied Biochemists® Black Algaetrine® algaecide (6 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to prevent regrowth.
Scum Buildup
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Stain and scale due to minerals and metals and/or stain and corrosion formed from mineral elements at pool opening or top-off
Apply Applied Biochemsts® Staintrine® (16 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons).
Add Applied Biochemsts® Staintrine® (4 fl.oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to prevent staining.
Grease and oil from swimmers
Clean pool surfaces with a pool surface cleaner and add an enzyme product to help remove oils.
Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular (1 lb. per 10,000 gallons) weekly for heavy bather load or every 2 weeks for lighter bather load to oxidize contaminants, especially after heavy usage.
Yellow Slime
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Mustard algae
Use Applied Biochemists® Swimtrine® Plus algaecide (3 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons). Use Applied Biochemists® Gold-N-Clear® clarifier (1 fl. oz. per 6,000 gallons) to remove dead algae.
Add Applied Biochemists® Swimtrine® Plus algaecide (1.5 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) every 2 weeks to prevent regrowth.
Yellow deposits/growth
Use Applied Biochemists® Yellowtrine® algaecide (4 oz. per 10,000 gallons) to clear away mustard algae from walls and pool floor. Use Applied Biochemists® Gold-N-Clear® clarifier (1 fl. oz. per 6,000 gallons) to remove dead algae so that it can be filtered out.
Add Applied Biochemists® Yellowtrine® algaecide (2 to 4 oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to prevent mustard algae from returning.
Stains and Rust
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Metals in water
Use Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® to remove metal stains and scale.
Add Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control (4 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to control minerals. Test and adjust pH.
Yellow, green and brown stains caused by nonmetallic deposits
Use Applied Biochemists® Prevent Plus® clarifier to remove visable non-metallic deposits.
Add Applied Biochemists® Prevent Plus® clarifier (3 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to stop and prevent accumulations.
Stain and scale due to minerals and metals and/or stain and corrosion formed from mineral elements at pool opening or top-off
Apply Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® (16 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons).
Add Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control (4 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly to prevent staining.
Water Color
Clear, Green Water
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Dissolved copper from fill water; Corrosion of copper pipes or heater
Apply Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control to sequester minerals in the water. Test and adjust pH and total alkalinity.
Apply Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control (4 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) weekly.
Cloudy, Green Water
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Green algae
Apply Applied Biochemists® Swimtrine® Plus algaecide or Applied Biochemists® Super Algi-Gon® algaecide to stop algae growth.
Apply Applied Biochemists® Swimtrine® Plus algaecide (1.5 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) every two weeks or Applied Biochemists® Super Algi-gon® algaecide (1.25 fl. oz. per 10,000 gallons) every 3-5 days to prevent regrowth.
Cloudy, Dull Water
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Cloudy water from contaminants and/or chlorine odor and irritation
Shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular (1 lb. per 10,000 gallons) weekly for heavy bather load or every 2 weeks for light bather load.
Test chlorine level daily. Maintain pH of 7.2-7.8, total alkalinity of 60-120 ppm and a free chlorine level of 1-4 ppm. Routinely shock treat with Applied Biochemists® Powerblast 70 Granular as needed. Swimming is permitted immediately after treatment.
Cloudy water due to poor filtration, circulation and organic waste
Use Applied Biochemists® Gold-N-Clear® clarifier (1 fl. oz. per 6,000 gallons) to clear microparticles not captured by the filter.
Add Applied Biochemists® Gold-N-Clear® clarifier (1 fl. oz. per 6,000 gallons) weekly for heavy bather load or every 2 weeks for lighter swimmer load.
Reddish, Brown Water
Possible Cause
Solution
Preventative Maintenance
Iron or manganese dissolved in water
Apply Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control to sequester minerals in the water and eliminate water discoloration. Check pH and adjust as needed.
Use Applied Biochemists® Staintrine® stain control on a weekly basis to control minerals. Test and adjust pH as needed.