NJPools.club Community

Hey everyone, I'm dealing with this exact issue! My Pentair CH test keeps showing purple instead of blue, and I'm on well water in rural Texas too. As someone who's super careful about what goes into my body (and my pool!), I'm really concerned about metal contamination. Could it be iron or copper from the well? I've been researching natural chelating agents - maybe adding ascorbic acid (vitamin C) could help bind the metals before testing? Has anyone tried that approach?

Interesting observation, Olivia. I've been studying water chemistry as part of my mindfulness practice - it's all about balance, right? The purple endpoint suggests metal interference, likely iron or manganese. Before jumping to conclusions, take a deep breath and consider: have you tested your well water directly? A separate metals test would provide clarity. Also, check if you're using any algaecides containing copper - that could be the culprit. Sometimes the solution is simpler than we think.

Whoa, same boat here! Weekend pool warrior reporting in. My test went purple last Saturday right before my pool party - total buzzkill! I dumped in some metal sequestrant from the pool store and retested after an hour, and it went back to blue. Not sure if that's the "right" fix, but it worked for my weekend crisis. Maybe try that as a quick band-aid while you figure out the root cause? Just make sure to follow the dosage - I almost overdid it in my panic!

Bob, you're right about testing the source - I should get my well water analyzed. But I'm hesitant about commercial sequestrants like you used, Vibe - they often contain synthetic polymers. I'm looking into more natural options. Has anyone tried citric acid or EDTA-based products? They might be less harsh. Also, what about installing a whole-house filter for the well? It's an investment, but if there are metals, we're showering and drinking this water too!

Both good points. Olivia's holistic approach has merit - addressing the source benefits overall health. Vibe's practical solution worked temporarily. Consider this middle path: test your well water first (local extension offices often offer affordable testing). If metals are confirmed, a filtration system might be wise. Meanwhile, for accurate pool testing, you can use distilled water as a control when testing. It won't fix the pool chemistry, but it'll confirm the interference. Peace.

Okay, you two are making me feel like a pool hack! But seriously, Bob's distilled water tip is genius for troubleshooting. And Olivia - if you find a natural sequestrant that works, PLEASE share! I hate dumping chemicals in the pool. Quick question though: if we fix the test with sequestrants, are we actually removing metals or just hiding them from the test? My pool guy said something about metals staining if not properly handled. Weekend project research time!