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"Manganese Pool Water Problems"
A problem
metal that causes staining & discoloration.
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Manganese
is one of the more troubling swimming pool mineral problems. This is
especially true, if the water is sourced from a private well. Manganese
shows up as a brown-black stain or discoloration and thankfully is not common in
most areas. Purple staining or even crystal-clear purple water can occur,
due to the presence of manganese. Corrosion of stainless steel (contains
manganese) can lead to purple discolorations. In most cases the pool
discoloration problem, is associated with the oxidation of the heavy metals,
that are present in the water. Manganese can be treated
with Mineral Treatment products (chelating agent). Higher than normal
dosages should be used because of the likelihood that other minerals are
present, but not necessarily detected. Stain avoidance treatment should be
used, whenever a water analysis indicates even a trace amount of manganese is present.
An alternative method of dealing with known manganese and heavy metal problems
is to use the METALTRAP Filter, which can physically remove the metals, as the
pool water is being added.
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The METALTRAP Filter will trap & remove
manganese, iron,
copper and other heavy metals, from the pool water and from all new water
additions.
More information about the
ColorQ Water Analyzers
can be found by clicking on the above image. These hand-held, digital
testers require no color matching or look up charts and perform the
following tests: pH, Free & Total Chlorine, Bromine, Total Alkalinity,
Hardness, Cyanuric Acid, Iron, Copper, Biguanide & Biguanide Shock.
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Manganese
Stains?
I plan on filling a 16,000 gallon
vinyl pool with water from my private well. I know that there is a low
level of manganese in the water. How should I treat the water after I fill
the pool up? I hope that you will be able to offer some advise.
Sincere thanks.
Don C., Westhampton, NY,
7/14/2008
Fortunately, you know that
there is manganese in the water. It would have been helpful to know how
much.
Testing for
Iron and/or
Manganese is very important is planning a successful treatment.
Having lived on Long Island, I know
what a problem manganese can be on the south shore. Those brown-black
stains and discoloration are not great to look
at. In addition to having manganese, it is likely that the water has iron
and other minerals. Manganese is frequently associated with a purplish
discoloration or stain. The incidence of manganese problems, is for the
most part, limited to well water or corrosion of stainless steel. Both
iron and manganese can be treated along similar lines. The use of
the
METALTRAP filter can help remove
manganese and other heavy metals
as the water is
being fed into the pool. This will help prevent discoloration and/or
staining, that might follow upon the addition of chlorine and other chemicals.
Thereafter,
use the METALTRAP Filter, when adding all new water. This preventative
maintenance could spare you a lot of grief and the risk of unsightly staining.
Good luck and enjoy the season.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 7/14/2008
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Manganese or Magnesium?
I am confused about manganese and
magnesium. What's the difference?
Ed. B.,
8/14/2007
Magnesium
chemistry is closely related to that of calcium. However, it is much more
soluble in a swimming pool. It is not associated with any staining or
colored pool water problems. Magnesium contributes to the TOTAL HARDNESS
of the water and unless the water is very hard, there should not be a problem.
Manganese is completely unrelated and is almost always the center of a staining
and/or a colored pool water problem. Manganese is not common in municipal water
supplies. However, in some areas, it can be present in well water.
If
manganese is suspected of being a potential problem, a water analysis will help
determine the concentration. This is important in order to help assure
proper treatment. In areas where the problem exists, dealers should
test
for manganese.
Although manganese discoloration and stains can be treated with chemicals,
such as
Liquid METALTRAP and
METALTRAP Stain Remover, the physical
removal of the manganese and other heavy metals, helps assure that staining and
discoloration will nor recur.
The METALTRAP filter
can be used to remove metals from water, being added to the pool, and to
recirculate the pool water to remove metals present in an already filled pool.
I hope that I have eliminated the confusion and been
of assistance.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 8/14/2007
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Manganese Test Kit?
Hi,
Alan, I have a pool service business on the east end of Long Island. There
is a manganese problem in some areas of the south shore. Is there a simple
test kit that I could use, in the field, to test for manganese. It just
might help solve a lot of problems for me. Thanks.
Tommy
C., Quogue, NY, 3/19/2003
There are compact
and portable field
manganese test kits that are
suitable for your needs. Your customers will appreciate all the aggravation
that you're are helping them avoid. If you know manganese is
present before the pool is filled, you can use
METALTRAP Filter to remove much of the
manganese and iron. It should remove it all and can make a huge
difference. Thereafter, it should be used to treat all new water, as it is
being added. It
simply attaches to the garden hose, being used to add the water. I hope that I have
been helpful. One more word of advise. Add 1 dose of a
quality mineral treatment product for each 0.5 PPM of manganese found. This
should provide an excess to help deal with other minerals that might, also, be
present. Have a good season.
Sincerely. Alan Schuster, 3/19/2003
► What To Do?
Hi Alan. How do I remove
manganese from my pool? Is it toxic? Thanks.
Phil, Australia, 12/22/2004
Are you sure
it's
manganese? It is found in some well water. You are not going
to remove manganese from the water. At best you will be able to control
the staining and discoloration problem that could result.
Many products use the work "remove" very liberally,
when they really mean "helps control."
For each 0.5 PPM, add a dose of a
quality metal treatment. Add at least a
double dose. Adding it with the pH lowered and a low chlorine level might
help the product work better and faster. Allow 6-8, with the pump running.
If there are any signs of staining or discoloration, repeat the dosage. If
there is manganese present, there could be other metals competing for the metal
treatment and there could make additional doses necessary. Thereafter, add
another dosage monthly and prior to the addition of any new water. When
adding water, place the hose in the skimmer, as this will allow the filter to
have a chance to remove any particulated minerals. While is not toxic in a
swimming pools at low levels, it could fail to meet the standards for drinking
water. If there is doubt, check with the local water authority or health
department. Manganese can be a tough problem. Good luck and I hope
that I have been helpful. Happy holidays!
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 12/22/2004
Thanks Alan. Yes I'm
sure it's manganese. It came in the last batch of salt I put in. I will
follow your directions and see how it goes. Great site you have -Very
helpful.
Phil, Australia, 12/22/2004
It would
appear that you used a technical or industrial grade of salt with your
salt chlorine generator.
That was a mistake.
Try to use only a food grade or
water softener grade. No rock salt or salt with yellow prussiate of soda!
At least you'll know for the next time.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 12/22/2004
►
Purple Pool
Walls?
Gunite pool, pink algae year ago, used algaecide
to get rid of it, and it worked until it got warm. Then blue-purple color was
on the walls, step walls (not on the bottom) of the pool. When got cold,
went away. Now with it warmer, it's back. Water
testing shows Calcium 600 (that is after 2 1/2 pool drains) chlorine is high,
rest ok. Minerals - no iron. Pool
people thought needs to be washed. Lowered water 1/2 way, and used
liquid chlorine on the steps. What ever the chlorine touched, that was
purple in color, TURNED BLACK! The towel I used to put the chlorine on turned
warm. It did come off when brushed & some elbow grease. Questions: what is going on, besides a chemical reaction of some type? Should
a chlorine wash get rid of this? We
are selling the house and need to have it fixed for new buyer. Thank
you.
Susan R., 5/2/2007 THIS IS
DEFINITELY NOT AN ALGAE PROBLEM! IT IS DEFINITELY A MINERAL PROBLEM!.
The action of the chlorine turning the discoloration from purplish to black is
indicative of an oxidizing chemical reaction. A chlorine "wash"
or shock treatment will probably be a waste of time and money. Purple
color of the pool
water and the colored staining can
be indicative of
manganese. It is not a common problem and most dealers do
not test for it. If your water came from a private well, there is a
greater l likelihood that manganese could be involved. Another more likely
possibility is copper. Copper in the presence of high levels of calcium
hardness, which you do have, can cause dark or black stains, under certain
conditions. The blue-purple color could have been a faint deposit of
copper, normally bluish in color, and the background color of the pool
finish. When the pool people suggested a "wash", I suspect that
they were referring to an acid wash. This type of treatment is
periodically done on masonry pools to remove surface deposits and restore the
look of the pool finish. It may be possible to remove the deposits by
chemical treatment. Try this. Put 1/2 pound of pH reducer powder in
a white sock, shut off the filter and drop onto a stained area. Check
after 15-30 minutes. If improvement is seen, this would be indicative that
chemical treatment might work. Chemical treatment will require that you
add 2-3 doses of a
quality mineral treatment, to help prevent further
staining and discoloration. Raise the water level above all of the discoloration.
Add muriatic acid until the pH has dropped to below 7.0. It may take
considerable acid, depending upon the starting pH and the total
alkalinity.
Without the lowering of the pH,
you are not likely to remove the stains. Some pool stores sell ascorbic acid,
such as
METALTRAP STAIN REMOVER, WHICH IS 100%
ASCORBIC ACID. This can help
in removing the stains and can be added to the acidic pool. This
material will react will chlorine, so add only when the chlorine level is very
low.
At that point the addition will zero out the chlorine and create conditions more
favorable for pool stain removal. Use the brush to help things along.
Metal parts in the pool, pump and filter may be affected by the acidic
conditions. Clean or bypass the filter, if possible, to remove stain
causing debris from the filter. Depending upon the pH, you should see
improvement in a day or so. Once the stains are removed, add another 2-3
doses of a quality mineral treatment, before restoring the pH. It will be
necessary to shock the pool, in order to destroy all of the ascorbic acid and
reestablish proper pool chemistry. Where did the copper come from?
If you have a heater you may have subjected it to corrosion. Copper
algaecide is another possibility. Refer to other related topics in the
archives. I hope it works out for you.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 5/2/2007
Thank you Alan. Yours has
been the first sensible response I have had. It does come off with the
sock & sodium bisulfate. Took no brushing. We cannot bypass our
filter. Can we lower the pH, then bring it back up and still have swimable
water? Thank you again.
Susan R., 5/2/2007
The purpose of
the bypass was to minimize corrosion.
Clean the filter out before
treatment and again afterwards, so as not to redissolve what you are trying to
remove from the pool walls. Don't neglect to add the mineral treatment!
Otherwise, you could get a recurrence. You can swim as soon as you restore
the pH and the chlorine levels. Inasmuch as the stain was removed without
the oxalic acid, I don't see the need to add the product. It seems that
things will work out for you. Good luck with the sale of the house.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster. 5/2/2005
► Purple Problems?
Is their a way to get rid of
manganese in our pool without turning everything purple and having to brush,
vacuum, and clean the filters. We use chemicals from our local pool dealer
and we keep having purple results from the metals out chemical. I have
contacted the chemical company and they said that the only thing that would
cause their product to react in purple would be manganese. The supposed
pool Dr. from this area of the country, said that this is becoming an epidemic.
(Manganese in pools) We have a steel manufacturing plant within 20 miles and a
many refineries within 30 miles. Could this have something to do with our
manganese problem?
Sandy P., 5/6/2009
Manganese
does not come up often, as a problem, so I doubt it qualifies as a new epidemic.
Still, if you have to deal with it, it is a real problem. The source is
usually well water. A
manganese test
will confirm the present and concentration. I have seen concentrations so
high, that it was suggested that water be trucked in. If you are using
municipal drinking water, it is not likely to have a concentration over 0.5 PPM.
It is treated on the same basis as iron. It may take more chemicals
and time and knowing the extent of the problem will help. I would
add a dose for each 0.1 PPM of manganese, because of the purple reaction.
The metal treatments will work better, if the pH is under 7.0 and there is no
chlorine present. Wait 1-2 days, after treatment, before raising the pH
and restoring the free chlorine level. Usually, if manganese is present,
other metals are there, as well. Have the water tested for iron and copper
and add extra doses, for each 0.5 PPM found. Not all brands are the
same and some contain phosphates, which can lead to other problems. The
combination of
Liquid METALTRAP and
METALTRAP Mineral Remover can provide
effective treatment. Used with the
METAL TRAP Filter,
it can physically remove the metals from the pool water and can be to treat new
water, being added to top off the pool. Stay away from
bargain brands. Good luck and I hope that this information is helpful.
Sincerely.
Alan Schuster, 5/6/2009
► Lots Of
Manganese?
I have a 97,000 litre pool with a salt
chlorinator. Due to local drought conditions in Australia, I now have
to use bore water to keep the pool levels for continued use. (My
property is on the market). The bore water has Manganese concentration
of 2.6 mg/l. The chlorine now produces a black and unsightly
precipitate. Alan, is there a product that can be added to the pool
water or skimmer box to cope with the manganese problem? What other
advice can you give me regarding same? With thanks.
Chris B., 9/13/2007
That is about five
times the concentration in marginally drinkable water. I would use a
metal removing prefilter
to process all new water. It will remove some of the particles and
reduce the problem. Otherwise, treat it like iron, but use a higher
dose of metal treatment. At least one dose per 0.5 PPM. Having a DE
filter will help. Add another dose monthly and prior to adding new
water.
A simple and effective way to reduce most minerals
problems, resulting for the use of well water, is to use the
METALTRAP Filter. This attaches to a garden hose and removes
the manganese and other heavy metal mineral content, that would get into the pool.
otherwise. Makes it
easier to treat the pool. Use the METALTRAP Filter every time new water is added, for best
results. I hope that this information will prove helpful.
Sincerely. Alan
Schuster, 9/13/2007
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