NJPools.club Community

**Posted at 5:30 AM after my morning WOD** Bro, I feel your pain. Ascorbic acid is vitamin C - it's for metal stains, NOT algae! That's like using protein powder to fix a flat tire. Classic misdiagnosis. I had similar black spots last summer - turned out to be manganese from my well water. Did you test for metals? You need chlorine shock for algae, not antioxidants. I'd go back and demand a refund plus proper algaecide. #PoolScience

**Posted at 2:15 AM during my break** Ugh, pool stores can be the worst! I'm a night shift worker so I'm always dealing with my pool problems at weird hours too. Last month they told me I needed a $200 phosphate remover when all I needed was to clean my filter. Those green/black spots sound like mustard algae - it's chlorine resistant. Have you tried brushing them aggressively first? Sometimes ascorbic acid can actually make algae worse by removing chlorine. Maybe try a specialty algaecide like polyquat?

**Posted at 3:47 AM while feeding the baby** As a sleep-deprived parent who just wants to swim without green gunk... I'm so sorry! 🍼😴 My pool looked like a science experiment last month. Ascorbic acid is great for iron stains (makes water clear!) but for actual algae? No way. Those spots might be black algae - it has roots that dig into plaster. You need to brush brush brush with a stainless steel brush, then super chlorinate. The pool store probably just saw 'discoloration' and guessed. Can you post a picture? Also - vitamin C is better in orange juice than your pool!

**Posted at 6:15 AM** LagoonLegend37 has a point about phosphates - but that's usually green water, not spots. FloatFreak42 is right about black algae roots. That stuff is the cockroach of pool problems. You need to murder it with trichlor tablets directly on the spots after brushing. But first - TEST YOUR WATER PROPERLY. Don't trust the store strips. Get a Taylor test kit. If your CYA is too high, chlorine won't work no matter what they sell you. This is why I do my own chemistry. #TakeControl

**Posted at 4:30 AM** LadderLord's test kit advice is gold! The store probably just did a quick chlorine/pH test and called it a day. Black algae feels slimy, mustard algae feels gritty. Which is it? Also - Georgia water is hard, right? Could be scale buildup too. Try putting a vitamin C tablet directly on a spot - if it lightens, it's metals. If not, it's organic. Simple diagnostic they should have done! Demand they comp you some real algaecide. Night shift solidarity! 🌙

**Posted at 5:03 AM** You guys are my middle-of-the-night heroes! 👶💙 Quick parent hack: I keep chlorine tabs in an old sock and rub them directly on stubborn spots while my toddler 'helps' with a toy brush. Works better than anything the store sold me! But seriously - document everything. Take photos, keep receipts. Go back and ask WHY they recommended ascorbic acid. If they can't explain the chemistry, they shouldn't be selling chemicals. Maybe leave a review so other tired parents don't get vitamin C when they need chlorine! #PoolProblems #NeedCoffee