First pool, water is clear but fiberglass is stained and lots of scale

[MountainStone]

Wow, thanks for the in-depth info Doc. To help me choose a course of action, can you answer a couple of noob questions?

1. What is the disadvantage of high calcium hardness, other than the scaling on my fiberglass? You say I can just lower my TA and be fine; does that mean there are no adverse effects on my water treatment regimen or my pool equipment from a high (and increasing) calcium hardness?

2. It would cost me roughly $60 in water to drain and refill the pool, but I hate wasting water and I have no knowledge of the local water table so would be VERY hesitant to drain this fiberglass pool.

3. Your second option for lowering calcium hardness sounds pretty intense but I'm sure I could do it (I have a T-valve that has a capped threaded stub). How long do you think the pool would be out of operation? It is almost warm enough to swim here and we are looking forward to getting in our new pool for the first time in the next couple of weeks.

I really can't say 'thank you' enough times!

[PoolDoc]

1. Yes, you can do just that . . . as long as the scale doesn't bother you AND you don't get a heater or an SWCG. High calcium can cause problems with either one.

2. If you're in Las Vegas, you are probably pretty safe draining the pool. I'm assuming you on dry sandy soil? (I don't know; sorry, but Las Vegas has always been at the bottom of the list of places I'd like to go, just below Newark, NJ ) My only concern is that you'll STILL have high calcium, and have a hard time removing the scale.

3. You'd want to allow 2 weeks. I think it would be less, but I don't know for sure.

If you're ready to swim, and the scale isn't a problem, why don't you just lower the TA, and then make a decision this fall about whether you want to go further? This page will tell you how to do it: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html

[MountainStone]

Doc,

I think I will take your advice and lower the TA of the pool for now without worrying about the high calcium and the scale. I just dropped my pH to 6.8 and pointed my inlets at the surface to impart some 'ruffling.' I think I'll pick up a couple of the little fountains that attach to the inlets to better aerate, as I will likely also need them to help lower water temps this summer.

I'll attack the calcium buildup at a later date. As you say, the soil here in the Las Vegas valley is sandy and full of caliche. The grade falls away from my neighborhood, so my little 5' deep pool is likely above the water table. I think all our drinking water comes from Lake Mead; there may not even BE a water table. Draining/refilling may be an option at the end of summer if I don't feel adventurous enough to try your method of precipitating it out.

Thanks for all the help!

[PoolDoc]

there may not even BE a water table

that's what I suspect!