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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

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.

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.