2025 Aussie Pool Stain Guide: Sydney, Perth, Brissie & More
Nothing wrecks a pool day faster than ugly stains. Our scorching summers, hard water, and leafy backyards make pool stains a common headache for Aussie pool owners. Got brown streaks in Sydney or green gunk in Brissie? We’ve got ya covered! This ripper guide covers every stain you might cop and how to fix it—no matter where you are. Whether you’re battling rust in Tassie, algae in Queensland, or calcium scale in South Oz, we’ve got the know-how to get your pool looking brand new.
Table of Contents
- Common Pool Stains in Australia
- How to Spot Pool Stains
- How to Clean Pool Stains
- How to Stop Pool Stains Before They Start
- Wrap-Up
Common Pool Stains in Australia
Here’s a full rundown of the most common pool stains across Australia—what they look like, why they happen, and where they strike hardest.
| Stain Type | Look | Why It Happens | Where It Shows Up | Aussie Twist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Salt Stains |
Brown spots or greyish muck, thin film or chunky blobs | Dodgey, cheap pool salt with sneaky metals (iron, manganese) rusting up. Salt pools rule in Perth and Brissie. | Round jets or steps—worse in Perth’s 40°C scorchers or Brissie’s sticky summers. | West Aussies cop it hard ‘cos dry heat evaporates water fast, leaving salt crud. |
Iron Stains |
Yellow streaks to rusty brown/red, like drip marks | Iron from well water (Tassie/Adelaide hotspots) or rusty gear. Sydney taps can have some grunt too. | Near drains or new water spots—big in rural bore water joints. | Tassie’s cool slows rust but sticks it tight; Sydney’s humidity speeds it up. |
Copper Stains |
Bright blue-green or purply patches, shiny like a $2 coin | Old heaters/pipes in Melbourne’s vintage pools, or too much copper algicide anywhere. | Heater outlets or main drains—Melbourne/Adelaide vintage setups see heaps. | Melbourne’s wild weather swings crack gear, leaking copper in. |
Calcium Scale |
White, chalky crust or gritty patches, like spilt plaster | Hard water with heaps of calcium—Perth/Adelaide worst offenders. Hot, dry 35°C+ summers leave crud. | Waterline, tiles, ladders—Perth pools look like a quarry some days. | West Oz’s bone-dry heat and South Oz’s mineral-rich water make a calcium mess. |
Algae Stains |
Green slime, black dots, or mustard-yellow streaks—black algae’s a rooted bugger | Brissie’s steamy 35°C, 80% humidity summers love it if chlorine dips. Melbourne gets it post-hot spells. | Corners, steps, shady spots—Brissie’s black algae digs into cracks. | Queensland’s wet season washes chlorine out, pools go green as a frog. |
Organic Stains |
Brown, tan, or greenish splotches, uneven like a kid’s painting | Gum leaves, pollen, bugs breaking down—Sydney/Tassie bush blocks cop heaps from eucalypts. | Bottom or sides where stuff sinks—Sydney’s leafy ‘burbs are prime targets. | Tassie’s cool, damp air keeps leaves rotting longer, staining deeper. |
How to Spot Pool Stains
Figuring out what stain you’ve got is half the battle. Here’s your detective guide:
Colours & Patterns:
- Brown-red streaks? Iron—check Sydney or Tassie water sources.
- Blue-green shine? Copper—peek at Melbourne’s heaters.
- White crust? Calcium—Perth’s waterline screams it.
- Green muck or black specks? Algae—Brissie’s humid hideouts.
- patchy brown? Organic—Sydney’s gum trees strike again.
Where It Hangs Out:
- Waterline: Calcium in Perth, salt in Brissie.
- Jets/Drains: Copper in Melbourne, iron in Adelaide.
- Corners/Cracks: Black algae in Brissie, organic in Tassie.
- Random blobs: Organic or rust, depends on your patch.
Feel & Smell:
- Gritty like sandpaper? Calcium or salt.
- Slippery slime? Algae’s alive—sniff for a swampy pong.
- Hard and stuck? Iron or copper is welded on.
Testing Gear:
- Grab a pool test kit—pH (7.2-7.6), chlorine (1-3 ppm), metals (iron, copper).
- Hardness test for Perth/Adelaide calcium; metal strips for Tassie wells.
- Drop a bit of chlorine or vinegar on it—iron fades, calcium bubbles.
Aussie Factors:
- Perth’s dry heat concentrates minerals
- Brissie’s rain dilutes chlorine
- Sydney’s trees chuck in extras
- assie’s cold slows everything down.
How to Clean Pool Stains
Gear & Chemicals:
- Pool brush (nylon for tiles, steel for concrete—Bunnings has both).
- Vitamin C tablets or powder (chemist or Poolwerx) for metals.
- BioGuard Algi Destroyer (Brissie fave, Poolwerx stock).
- Lo-Chlor descaler or diluted hydrochloric acid (Bunnings, wear gloves!).
- Chlorine granules for shock (anywhere, 20 ppm bags).
Detailed Steps by Stain & City:
Each stain needs a different game plan. Here’s how to fix them based on where you live:
Salt Stains (Perth/Brissie)
- Drop chlorine to near zero (stops it fighting the fix).
- Chuck in a metal chelator (PoolMate Metal Out, 500ml/50,000L), wait 24 hours.
- Brush hard—Perth’s heat bakes it on, so elbow grease needed.
Iron Stains (Sydney/Tassie)
- Crush Vitamin C tabs (10-20g per spot), rub with a damp cloth—watch it vanish!
- Or use a stain remover to remove stains pool (Lo-Chlor Iron Out), soak for 12 hours, and brush off.
- Sydney—test tap water first; Tassie—filter wells.
Copper Stains (Melbourne)
- Check heater/pipes for leaks—fix ‘em first.
- Hit it with Lo-Chlor Cu Later (250ml/20,000L), brush after 24 hours.
- Melbourne’s old pools might need a pro acid wash if it’s caked on.
Calcium Scale (Perth/Adelaide)
- Mix 1:10 hydrochloric acid with water (wear goggles, gloves—serious stuff).
- Wipe waterline with a rag or brush, rinse quick—don’t let it sit.
- Perth—hit it monthly in summer; Adelaide—test hardness first.
Algae Stains (Brissie)
- Shock with chlorine (20 ppm—dissolve 1kg granules/50,000L), run filter overnight.
- Next day, brush hard—black algae needs a steel brush in cracks.
- Add BioGuard algicide (500ml dose), and keep chlorine up afterward.
Organic Stains (Sydney/Tassie)
- Shock with chlorine (10 ppm), wait 12 hours—light stains fade.
- Scrub with a nylon brush—Sydney’s gum muck lifts easy; Tassie’s deeper stains might need a swimming pool stain remover (Lo-Chlor Organic).
Safety Note: Acid’s nasty—gear up, keep kids/pets away. Chlorine dust? Don’t breathe it in.
How to Stop Pool Stains Before They Start
- Water Basics: Test weekly with strips (AquaChek’s a goer), tweak pH, chlorine, and calcium. Brissie—twice in summer; Perth—watch hardness.
- Gear & Supplies: Use top-notch salt (Oceanic’s ace) in Perth/Brissie, check Melbourne heaters for wear.
- Daily Habits: Sydney—cover for gum leaves; Brissie—filter 12 hours in summer; Perth—wipe waterlines monthly; Tassie—filter well water first.
- Aussie Weather Hacks: Wet north = algae patrol; dry west = evaporation control; Melbourne = gear TLC.
- Use Pool Cleaner: The use of a pool cleaner prevents the pool water chemistry from circumventing and there is no algae growth.
Wrap-Up
No matter where you are in Australia, swimming pool stains are a pain—but they’re fixable! Sydney and Tassie pools often get iron and organic stains, while Perth and Adelaide battle calcium scale. The key to a spotless pool is knowing your stain, using the right cleaner, and preventing future buildup with regular testing, quality pool salt, and proper filtration. Whether it’s Sydney rust, Perth chalk, or Brissie slime, you now know how to fix and prevent stains. No more ugly pools—get cracking!