Floc-It Friday — Mentorship, Metal Chemistry & The Reality of Pool Safety

This week on the Talking Pools Podcast, Rudy Stankowitz delivers one of the most brutally honest and emotionally grounded episodes yet — blending psychology, mentorship, advanced chemistry, industry culture, and drowning prevention into a single unapologetic ride through the modern swimming pool industry. 

Rudy opens the episode by tackling something most people in the industry rarely discuss openly: the mental chaos of becoming good at pool care. He breaks down how the swimming pool industry often throws people into the deep end with little structure, little guidance, and an overwhelming amount of misinformation. From social media “experts” diagnosing pools based on vibes instead of testing, to the psychological toll of green pool emergencies and impossible customer expectations, Rudy explains why mentorship matters more now than ever. 

The episode then dives into the deeper meaning behind the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award, revealing how last year’s nominations exposed stories of mentors helping people survive addiction, rebuild careers, regain confidence, and completely change the trajectory of their lives. Rudy discusses this year’s explosive growth in nominations and gives recognition to sponsors helping support mentorship culture throughout the industry, including Blu-Ray XL, Rev’d Up Apparel, and AquaComfort Water Group. 

Midway through the episode, Rudy gives a shout-out to The Chlorine King Show and host Erik Taylor, praising the show’s authentic “in-the-trenches” perspective and raw humor that resonates with pool service professionals battling the same daily chaos. 

Then comes the chemistry deep dive.

Rudy breaks down the biological differences between copper, silver, and zinc in swimming pool treatment systems — explaining why they are not interchangeable “miracle metals,” but instead function as entirely different biological stressors against algae, cyanobacteria, bacteria, and biofilms. He explores how copper disrupts photosynthesis and metabolism, silver attacks microbial survival systems, and zinc interferes with surface attachment and biofilm formation. The episode also explores the role of sequestrants, bioavailability, metal balance, and how improper chelation can reduce effectiveness. 

Using one of the most memorable analogies of the episode, Rudy describes:
 “Chlorine is the cop kicking in the door. Copper is the cutting power. Silver disables the command center. Zinc tears down the bunker where they’re hiding.” 

The episode closes on an incredibly serious and emotional topic: drowning prevention.

Referencing the latest homeowner drowning prevention issue from Service Industry News, Rudy discusses the psychological reality of drowning incidents, the importance of layered safety systems, and why pool professionals should view themselves as frontline safety advocates — not just chemistry experts or repair technicians. He discusses silent drowning, complacency, gate failures, supervision assumptions, CPR, alarms, electrical safety, and the emotional weight of preventable tragedy. 

This episode blends science, sarcasm, psychology, mentorship, chemistry, and hard truths into one of the most powerful Floc-It Friday episodes yet.

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere podcasts are found.

#TalkingPools #PoolService #SwimmingPool #PoolChemistry #MentorshipMatters

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

It's Friday. I'm Rudy Stankowitz. This is the Talking Pools Podcast. Another week comes to an end. Another weekend, Eve. I know a lot of you are going to be out there tomorrow, and God bless you. I know you bust your ass. I want to talk about a couple of things today. We're going to talk, I know you want to hear about chemistry. I'm going to talk about chemistry. I am going to talk about copper, silver, zinc, all that good stuff. But before we get to that, I want to talk about mentorship because it's in line with the current recognition. We're figuring out right now. A few words on that. I mean, everybody thinks the hard part is the chemistry. Nope. The hard part is surviving the psychological chaos long enough to actually become good at this. Because this industry can humble you unbelievably fast. One day you think you understand water chemistry, and the next day you're standing in front of a fluorescent green pool at 6.45 in the morning, wondering if the homeowner is about to murder you because her daughter's birthday party starts at noon. That's the industry. That's the reality. And what makes this industry fascinating and honestly a little bit insane is that there's almost no universal pathway into it. Think about that. Electricians have apprenticeships, plumbers have apprenticeships. Each vac has structure, but the pool industry, it's good luck, don't mix acid and chlorine. That's the orientation packet. You buy a truck, you throw a pole in the back, watch four YouTube videos filmed vertically in somebody's backyard with a leaf blower screaming in the background, and suddenly, poof, you're a pool guy or a pool gal. That freedom is incredible. It's also terrifying. Because without mentorship, this industry becomes the Wild West. And honestly, sometimes it already is.

SPEAKER_03 1:46

Yeah. Everybody wants a cheap pool service. So the damn pool turn into Jurassic Park. Now they calling me.

SPEAKER_04 1:57

You ain't paying for the hour that I spent at your gate. You paying for the 20 years it took to calibrate. Every green swamp nightmare, every system ever failed. Every customer to cried when the glory didn't scale. I studied water chemistry, why these dudes get them spread. I learned hydraulic filtration. Every message tax made by those bidden in the lines. Why they say it looks alright? And now they come back green like a zombie overnight. They got strips from Walmart, talking like they scientists. Meanwhile, I'm calculating saturation in the top of this. They stopped tapping up for miracles that happen by the town. I'm wondering why they need it batting that plastic bone. It's just more than you can afford. There's the difference between the fish and dudes and dudes with a bull from the way the store. It's just more than you can afford. You find the fucking store. Fuckin' bad left. Not everybody understands what the sign nerve starts and not everybody sees this buttons hitting deep within the flow of wonder space. Ain't the only thing that grows these dudes on your feet running fools like the fits and waste. The saltin' in the place in the custom up confused by the bustle damn state. Custom bottle film building by the cheap stuff without equipment. Cause you're throwing a boss for free. Then you blame the manufacturer buffets like the thing that's built down. Nah, bro, you're not the chemistry for what you fucking stop. Yeah, experience short of time. Knowledge prevents disasters. Still make our work look easy. That's why we're growing faster. If I solve in fifteen minutes, what another dude can solve in weeks. That ain't overpriced labor. That's experience when it's not price. More than you can't afford. You like a fucking bim poker. Now you bought it, got explored. Got mosquitoes doing backstroke, they must get to open doors. Now you text the middle bag and broke, I need the four. Yeah, I got fucking ball. Yeah, I got fucking both. It's just expensive later.

SPEAKER_02 5:16

You've got chemistry myths spreading faster than science. You've got social media gurus explaining water chemistry like they failed high school biology, but somehow gained confidence anyway. You've got people diagnosing pools based on vibes. Vibes, not testing, not chemistry, not data, just emotional support, pool care. And then the new tech walks into this madness trying to figure out who's actually telling the truth. That's where mentorship changes everything. Because a mentor does something the internet can't do. A mentor provides context. That matters. Context separates knowledge from noise. And this industry is drowning in noise right now. So listen, I'm not attacking vendor training. Some of the best education in this industry absolutely comes from manufacturers and distributors. I've meant brilliant people working inside manufacturing, people who deeply understand hydraulics, chemistry, automation, sanitation, heating systems, controls, energy efficiency, material science, incredibly intelligent people. But here's the thing, neuroprofessionals need to understand. Sometimes education and marketing walk into the room wearing the same shirt. And if you're inexperienced, you may not realize that you wandered into a sales pitch disguised as technical training. That doesn't make information useless, not at all. But mentorship helps people distinguish between principles and products. A mentor teaches you how to think critically instead of emotionally. That's massive. Because once you understand principles, you stop becoming dependent on hype. You stop chasing miracle solutions, you stop believing every product launch is going to revolutionize the industry. And honestly, this industry needs more critical thinkers. Not parrots, not slogan repeaters, thinkers. Because chemistry is nuanced, water is nuanced, pools are nuanced, there is no magic bottle, there is no universal shortcut. And the mentors in this industry, they understand that. The real mentors don't just tell you what to pour into the water. They explain why. Why this pool behaves differently, why this environment matters, why this surface changes things, why this customer keeps creating problems, why this chemistry issue is actually a circulation issue, why this algae problem may be a filtration problem. Why this chlorine demand issue might really be a protocol of care problem. That's wisdom. And wisdom is different than information. Information is available everywhere. Wisdom is earned, usually painfully, and mentorship shortens that pain curve dramatically. That's one of the greatest gifts a mentor gives a mentee. Reduced suffering. Seriously, a mentor helps people avoid catastrophic mistakes, the expensive mistakes, the embarrassing mistakes, the dangerous mistakes, and psychologically that changes everything. Because this industry can mentally wear people down fast, especially newer techs. Think about what a rookie experiences brutal heat, impossible schedules, customers watching them through windows like suspicious raccoons, chemical confusion, equipment failures, route, pressure, physical exhaustion, isolation. And meanwhile, social media keeps showing them 20-year veterans pretending they never struggled. That creates anxiety, real anxiety. Good mentor interrupts that anxiety. A mentor says, relax, we've all been there. That sentence alone can keep somebody in the industry. And honestly, mentorship fulfills something deeply human psychologically. The need for guidance during uncertainty. Human beings are tribal creatures. We learn socially, we gain confidence socially, we grow socially. Mentorship creates psychological safety, and psychological safety accelerates learning. Because when people stop fearing humiliation, they start asking better questions. That's important, especially in an industry where ego can become incredibly destructive. Some of the smartest people I've met in this industry asked the most questions. The most dangerous people? The ones pretending they already know everything. Mentorship helps destroy that arrogance early, because a real mentor teaches humility alongside skill. And let me tell you something else people overlook. Mentorshi mentorship benefits the mentor profoundly too. Teaching forces clarity. When you mentor someone, you suddenly realize how much of your own knowledge became instinctive. Now you gotta now you have to explain it. Break it down, articulate it, defend it, and that process it sharpens you. Mentors often become better professionals because they teach. And emotionally, mentorship restores purpose. A lot of veteran pool professionals eventually hit emotional autopilot. The route becomes repetitive, the work becomes mechanical, the passion fades, they mentor somebody, and suddenly they remember why they love the industry in the first place. They watch somebody grow, gain confidence, start understanding chemistry, start thinking critically, start becoming professional, and it reignites something emotionally. Because helping another human being grow creates meaning. And honestly, meaning matters more than money long term. That's something younger professionals don't fully understand yet. At some point in life, people stop asking, How much did I make? and start asking, What did I build? Mentorship answers that question beautifully because mentors build people and people shape industries. That's why this conversation matters so much right now because the pool industry is at a crossroads. Experienced professionals are retiring, new people are flooding, and social media misinformation spreads instantly, attention spans are collapsing, and if mentorship does not become a part of the culture, this industry risks losing enormous amounts of hard-earned wisdom. That's dangerous because pool care is not just aesthetics. This is public health, electrical safety, entrapment prevention, chemical safety, waterborne illness prevention, structural understanding, hydraulic understanding. This stuff makes a difference. And mentorship creates continuity. Without mentorship, every generation starts over again from scratch. With mentorship, knowledge compounds. That's how professionalism evolves. And honestly, that's why I'm so passionate about this podcast and the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Award. Because last year, when we launched this thing, I don't think any of us realized what it would become emotionally. We thought we were creating a recognition. What we accidentally created was a spotlight, a spotlight on the people quietly shaping the lives throughout this industry. And when the nominations started coming in, the stories were unbelievable. Stories about mentors helping people survive addiction, helping people survive financially, helping people build careers, helping people gain confidence, helping people rebuild their lives. That's when I realized mentorship in this industry goes far beyond what I thought it was. Real mentorship changes trajectories. And last year's winner, Rich Gallo of Pure Swim, embodied exactly what this award was designed to recognize. Not somebody chasing attention, not somebody screaming online for validation, just somebody genuinely helping people become better. And now, here we are, year two, and this thing exploded. We received just over 100 submitted names this year. 100? Think about that. 100 individuals whose names were spoken because somebody believed they changed lives. That says something beautiful about this industry. Despite all the chaos, all the arguments, all the nonsense, there are still an incredible number of people quietly helping others succeed. That gives me hope. Real hope. And now the process begins. The nominations get reviewed carefully, the stories get examined, patterns emerge, impact gets evaluated, not popularity, not follower counts, not visibility, impact. Because mentorship is not about fame, it's about influence. And eventually the finalist gets selected, the discussion happens, anonymous scoring happens, the top ten emerge, and somewhere out there right now, there's another mentor who has absolutely no idea their life is about to change. And honestly, I can't wait to knock on that door again. But here's another thing that absolutely deserves recognition. The companies who stepped up and sponsored mentorship because that matters enormously. And first, we've got to talk about the title sponsor, Blu-ray XL. Blu-ray XL, Chris Galvin, immediately understood the vision behind this movement last year and immediately jumped on board again this year. He recognized that stronger mentorship creates stronger professionals, and stronger professionals create a stronger industry. And what I respect most about Chris and Blu-ray XL is that they never positioned themselves as a fantasy. Their technology focuses on supplemental oxidation enhancement and water quality support, but they never tried convincing people that chemistry fundamentals suddenly stopped mattering. Good filtration still matters. Good circulation still matters. Good testing still matters. That's important because the companies I respect most build tools that help professionals operate better rather than replacing knowledge entirely. That aligns perfectly with mentorship culture. Then there's one of the coolest identity-driven companies in the industry, Revved Up Apparel. I absolutely love what Revved Up represents because for years the pool industry treated professionals like background labor instead of skilled trade professionals. Revved Up helped change that culture. They brought identity, they brought style, pride, energy. And psychologically, that's huge. People perform differently when they feel proud of what they do. Mentorship and identity are deeply connected. A mentor often becomes the first person who makes somebody feel like you belong here. And Rev Duck clearly understands that emotional side of the industry. Then we have a company that truly understands long-term investment into the future of the trade, Aqua Comfort Water Group. Aqua Comfort has built a tremendous reputation around high performance heating systems, efficiency, reliability, and extended swim season solutions. But what impressed me most is this. They chose to invest in mentorship because they understand an industry without mentorship eventually loses expertise. And when expertise disappears, everyone loses. Manufacturers lose, distributors lose, service companies lose, customers lose. Mentorship protects the intellectual future of the pool industry itself. And companies willing to publicly support that, that says something powerful about their culture. Honestly, I think years from now, people will remember the companies that stood up early and said, we believe mentorship matters too, because this is becoming bigger than an award. This is becoming culture. And maybe that's the most important thing any of us can build together. Not just cleaner pools, not just better chemistry, better people, better leaders, better professionals. Because at the end of the day, anybody can sell chemicals, anybody can move boxes, anybody can repeat what a label says, but taking another human being and helping them become exceptional, that changes lives. And honestly, that may be the most valuable thing anyone can do for the swimming pool industry. We're still taking sponsors for the Mentor of the Year Award. Hit me up in my DMs or email me Rudy at cpoclass.com or talkingpools at gmail.com. Either one. We're happy to have you. This is open to everybody because I think this is important to everybody. Come back in a minute, talk about zinc, copper, silver, and gold.

SPEAKER_05 17:36

Blu-ray XL is the power of minerals working for you. Reduce your overall chemical cost and labor up to 50% guaranteed. Whether you have 20 accounts or 20,000, Blu-ray XL's direct pricing and free shipping to the pool trade have you covered. Improving pool professionals' profit and work-life balance is what they do. Blu-ray XL, the real mineral purifier. Visit them at Blu-rayXL.com.

SPEAKER_03 18:06

Blu-ray all day.

SPEAKER_00 18:09

Aquastar's new pipeline cartridge filters, available in two sizes, deliver top-notch hydraulic efficiency along with best-in-class filtration performance, approaching that of DE filters. Uniquely designed open pleat spacing means 100% of the media square footage is usable. And these claims are backed by NSF test results. Designed with a pro's time and comfort in mind, the patented double locking system improves safety and ease of access, making filter cleanings faster than ever before. Available now. Ask your supplier for pipeline filters today.

SPEAKER_06 18:44

That is amazing. I could actually go out and make money clean filter cleans if they were like this. If they were AquaStar filters out there, then I could be a filter cleaner girl.

SPEAKER_02 18:52

You could we can do that. Make it happen. Let's make it happen. Todd? There you go. Awesome. Thank you, Jules the Pool Girl. Again, Aquastar Pool Products Pipeline Filters. Super easy, right?

SPEAKER_06 19:05

Super easy.

SPEAKER_01 19:06

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SPEAKER_02 19:37

Hey, do me a solid when you get a chance. Go check out the Chlorine King podcast show. You won't regret it. If you're looking for something that's right out of the trenches, somebody who's battling the same bullshit that you are, and you want to laugh about it. Eric does a good job with that. He busts his ass. He's a good guy. I've known him for I don't know, Eric. How long have I known you now, man? 15 years or so? Anyway, seems like I just met him yesterday, but I've known him forever. He's one of those kind of people, you know, straight up. He'd give you the shirt off his back. He's a solid guy. Go check it out. Capish.

SPEAKER_00 20:13

I agree 100%.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

Zinc, copper, and silver are not three versions of the same weapon. They are three different pressures applied to the same biological enemy. Copper is the primary algicidal hammer. Silver is the microbial assassin. Zinc is the surface and biofilm disruptor that helps weaken the living matrix algae hide inside. The deeper synergy is this copper attacks photosynthesis and cellular metabolism. In algae and cyanobacteria, copper interferes with photosynthetic systems, respiration, enzymes, membranes, and oxidative balance. At effective concentrations, copper algacides reduce photosynthesis and respiration. At higher effective exposure, cell integrity begins to fail. Silver attacks microbial survival systems. Silver ions are broadly antimicrobial because they can interfere with cell membranes, respiratory enzymes, proteins, DNA, and intracellular redox balance. Research on silver antimicrobial mechanisms repeatedly points to membrane disruption, enzyme deactivation, reactive oxygen species, and DNA protein interference. Zinc is the underrated pressure point. Zinc is not usually the star aldocide in pool conversations, but it can contribute antimicrobial and antibiofilm pressure by disrupting membrane integrity, surface attachment behavior, and biofilm fluid. Formation. Zinc oxide nanoparticle research shows concentration-dependent anti-biofilm activity and copper zinc systems have been reported to disrupt biofilm integrity through combined ion effects. So they work together, each hitting it from a different angle, weakening it as a whole. The protected biofilm environment that makes algae, cyanobacteria, and white water mold-like communities harder to remove. Pool algae is rarely just a green plant floating around the fucking pool. In real pools, you're often dealing with biofilm ecology, bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae organic debris, slime layers, extracellular polymeric substances, protective niches, poor circulation zones, and surfaces where sanitizer exposure is inconsistent. That's where the metal combination becomes interesting. Individually, each metal creates stress. Together, they create stacked biological stress. The cell membrane is stressed. The enzyme systems are stressed. Photosynthesis is stressed. Respiration is stressed. Biofilm attachment is stressed. The organism's ability to recover is stressed. That's the synergy. Not magic. Not three metals instantly nuke algae. It's a multi-target attack. Now, on the sequestering side, we need to be precise. A sequesterant does not usually make metals stronger as algae sides. A sequestering keeps metals soluble, dispersed, and less likely to stain. That can help keep copper, silver, and zinc from crashing out as oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, phosphates, or stains on plaster and surfaces. But if the chelation is too strong, the metal may become less biologically available, which can then reduce its bio solidal activity. So there's a sweet spot. Don't bind the metals so tightly they become harmless. Capish. The sweet spot is hold them in solution enough to prevent staining and precipitation while allowing enough bioavailable metal ion activity to pressure algae and biofoam. That's the balancing act. Copper without control can stain. Silver without control can discolor or precipitate. Zinc without control can scale or interact with carbonate chemistry. But properly managed, the trio can function as a long-term suppressive system, not replacing chlorine, but supporting chlorine by making the water less biologically comfortable for algae and biofilm. The best way to explain it, chlorine's the cop kicking in the door. Copper's the cutting power, silver's the disabling command center. Zinc is tearing down the bunker where they're hiding. And that is the trifecta. Came out May 26th. Service Industry News is doing their homeowner drowning prevention issue. It deserves serious respect because they're stepping outside of pure business content and directly addressing something bigger than sales, chemistry, or equipment. It's human life. And I think there's something psychologically important about that because the pool industry spends enormous amounts of time talking about water clarity, automation, efficiency, energy savings, equipment, algae, repairs, profit margins. But at the center of every single swimming pool conversation is a reality nobody likes thinking about. Pools can be deadly incredibly fast. And drowning does not look like Hollywood. That's one of the most important things homeowners still don't get. Real drowning is often silent. No screaming, no dramatic splashing, no giant cries for help. Sometimes it looks like a child quietly slipping below the surface while adults are 20 feet away, believing everything is fine. That's horrifying. And statistically, it's devastating. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death in young children. The CDC data referenced in current drowning prevention campaigns continues to show drowning as a major cause of accidental death in children, particularly ages one through four. I know Andrea's been talking about this a lot as well, but this issue from service industry news, this is why it matters so much. And honestly, the pool industry occupies a strange psychological position here because we love pools. We build dreams for people, relaxation, family time, luxury, entertainment, exercise, backyard memories. But we also know something that the public forgets. Water does not care how experienced you are. Water does not care how much money somebody has. Water doesn't care if somebody usually watches the kids. Complacency kills. That's the terrifying part. Most drowning incidents do not happen because somebody intentionally ignored safety. They happen because of ordinary human psychology. Distraction, assumption, routine overconfidence, the belief that somebody else is watching. And honestly, that's why I think the service industry news issue is so freaking powerful. It reframes pool professionals, not just as service providers, not just as repair technicians, not just as chemistry people, but as frontline safety advocates. Because pool professionals are often the only people consistently seeing the backyard environment every week. We see the broken gate latch. We see the propped open fence. We see the missing drain cover. We see the unsecured chemicals. We see the electrical hazards. We see the dangerous habits homeowners normalize because familiarity breeds complacency. And that creates responsibility, real responsibility. The issue's emphasis on barriers, alarms, supervision, CPR, survival swimming, electrical inspections, and layered protection is exactly the right approach because drowning prevention is never one thing. That's what homeowners misunderstand. There is no single magic safety device. It's layers. Layers save lives. Fencing, self-closing gates, alarms, supervision, swim instruction, CPR training, drain safety, electrical inspections, emergency preparedness, all layered together, because every layer compensates for human imperfection. In humans, we're imperfect, especially distracted humans, especially tired parents, especially during parties, during chaos, especially when everybody assumes somebody else is paying attention. And honestly, one of the most emotionally devastating parts of drowning incidents is how unbelievably fast they happen. That's why the stories service industry news included hits so hard emotionally. They aren't statistics anymore. They become names, families, regret, trauma. And I think storytelling matters enormously in drowning prevention because statistics alone don't emotionally penetrate people. Stories do. A parent hearing 4,000 drownings occur annually feels abstract. A parent hearing about a specific child who slipped through a gate during a moment of distraction, that becomes real. And psychologically, human beings respond more strongly to narratives than to numbers. That's why awareness campaigns matter. That's why survivor stories matter. That's why prevention education matters. And honestly, the pool industry needs to lean harder into this role. Because if we truly want to elevate professionalism in this industry, it has to become part of the identity of being a pool professional. Not optional, core identity. Imagine the power of every service technician becoming a weekly drowning prevention advocate. I'm not talking about banging on the doors, yelling at people about swim lessons, but you're in somebody's backyard every week. You can look around, you can include inspections as part of what you do, every customer, the ripple effect would be enormous. And the reality is this pool professionals may save more lives through prevention conversations than they ever will through chemistry expertise. That's a heavy thought, but you know, it's true. And right now, this conversation is becoming even more important nationally because multiple regions are reporting increased concern over drowning incidents, lifeguard shortages, inconsistent supervision standards. The industry cannot treat safety like a seasonal social media campaign anymore. It has to become a culture, real culture. Honestly, I think service industry news deserves tremendous credit for dedicating space to this conversation instead of treating it like a side note. Because drowning prevention is not a soft topic. It's one of the most important topics the pool industry can discuss. Period. That's all I have for this week. I'm Rooney Stankowitz. This is the Talking Pools Podcast. Until next time, be good. Be safe.