white calcium line

[bradc344]

hi just wondering what people are using to keep the white calcium line off from their pool tile it is an in ground pebble tec pool this tile along the water line but I have ugly whie line which I'm going to have blasted off this winter, the pool is in Arizona...thanks

[waterbear]

muriatic acid will remove it.
It's calcium scale and basically a water balance issue. Many parts of Arizona have very hard water (as we do here in parts of Florida). You can minimize it by adjusting your water balance. It's pretty hard to do much abut the calcium hardness but it is possible to lower the total alkalinity if it is high enough to be contributing to the scaling and in most cases it is fairly easy to keep tabs on the pH to help minimize scaling conditions.
High pH is the main factor that will contribute to scaling conditions that is easily adjusted but it is something you need to keep on top off all the time.
However, please post a full set of test results so we can see where you are now and what changes you could make that might help prevent scale from forming as fast.

[Phillbo]

Mine does not get much build up but once a year I hit it with a pumas stone and it's fine.

[bradc344]

thanks for the answers I unfortunatly I'm not at that home right now to post the numbers I will get my neighbor to get them for me he is watching my pool. what is a good range for the ph? mine is runs around 7.4 to 7.6 . thanks Brad

[waterbear]

thanks for the answers I unfortunatly I'm not at that home right now to post the numbers I will get my neighbor to get them for me he is watching my pool. what is a good range for the ph? mine is runs around 7.4 to 7.6 . thanks Brad

It's not where you try and keep your pH that matters, it's how high it spikes before you lower it again.

[bradc344]

thanks waterbear I will di a better job of keeping the ph down not sure what it was spiking to I just ordered a taylor test kit and will watch it closer ....Brad

[bradc344]

Waterbear my nieghbor just told me that my ph is running around 7.6 he has been keeping track of the number thanks akl is 60

[waterbear]

Waterbear my nieghbor just told me that my ph is running around 7.6 he has been keeping track of the number thanks akl is 60

Depending on where your Calcium Hardness is and the temperature of your pool most of the time this could actually be too high, even with a low TA of 60 ppm. A full set of test results would be helpful.

[bradc344]

thanks waterbear, just wondering what my ideal numbers should be the pool is about 88 right now then in oct I turn the heater on and keep it at 86/87 then tur the heater off mid dec until the end of jan. it is a in ground 12k pebble sheen pool with a salt water system ....thanks for the help

[bradc344]

Free chlorine. 5
Total avail chlorine. 5
Ph. 7.6
Total alkalinity. 120
Cyanutic. 80
Phosphates. 20
Salt. 3400

hi, these are my numbers my neighbor just sent me thanks ...Brad

[waterbear]

Free chlorine. 5
This is a good place for the FC with a SWG and a CYA of 80 ppm.
Total avail chlorine. 5
TC-FC=CC which is 0 in your case and what you want.
Ph. 7.6
Normally I would say this is fine and when it climbs above 7.8 to lower it back to 7.6 but without knowing what your calcium hardness is it might actually be better lower.
Total alkalinity. 120
You will be fighting rising pH with the TA this high in a salt pool. Lower it to 70 ppm.
Cyanutic. 80
Cyanuric acid at 80 ppm is perfect, keep it there. The vast majority of SWG manufacturers recommend 80 ppm. A few go as high as 100 ppm
Phosphates. 20
Ignore phosphates, not important and do not waste money on phosphate remover!
Salt. 3400
This depends on your brand of SWG. it could be fine, it could be low. Some SWGs like a salt around 3000 ppm, others operate at 4000, 5000, or even 6000 ppm. It depends on the brand.
hi, these are my numbers my neighbor just sent me thanks ...Brad

There are no readings for calcium hardness, which is very important for a plaster pool. It is impossible to calculate the Saturation index without it and, depending on what it is, some of the recommendations I gave above could change.

How is your neighbor getting these readings? Pool store, test strips, drop baed test kit?

The other change I wold make would be to add borates to 50 ppm.

[bradc344]

Thanks waterbear he takes the water to the pool store I will see if he has the hardness number I might have to wait till I get back next month with my new test kit ,will post back thanks for the reply.....Brad

[bradc344]

Hi, thanks for the reply's, one more question has anyone found a tile sealer that works on pool tile to help reduces the calcium build up on the tile ...thanks Brad

[waterbear]

Hi, thanks for the reply's, one more question has anyone found a tile sealer that works on pool tile to help reduces the calcium build up on the tile ...thanks Brad

NO such animal. Proper water balance is the key and a good test kit is the best thing to help you with that.