Add acid with new plaster

[Phillbo]

Fresh fill after a replaster, builder said to run the pump 24/7 and brush until clear. He added a gallon of chlorine yesterday but said no acid.... I thought I had read here that acid was needed to control pH during the cure time ???


pH is way high - about 7.9-8.0
chlorine is low- no number
TA -120
CYA - 30

He said not to try to chase the chemical for teh first week and then to start focusing on getting them stabilized. I figure a little bleach will be needed for sure.

He's not real quick to offer instructions so I'll try him again in the morning.. Should I add a gallon of bleach tonight to hold it or just wait to see what he says tomorrow ?

Add acid ?

[waste]

Phillbo, as the pH isn't off the scales, I'd just add the gal bleach and see what he says in the morning, if he doesn't jibe with the usual advice here, post again.

[Phillbo]

My pool guy is turning out to be a classs A loser.. I doubt I will hear back from him until he is ready to get paid (I'll be sure to delay as long as possible when that time comes around) .

So, anyone get any instruction from their PB on how long to wait before adding acid to a new plastered pool ?

[PatL34]

I have just had my 20,000 gallon pool replastered with Diamond Brite. Started filling with softened water.

The second day when the pool was half full, the plasterer came to get paid for his final payment.

I said what his people had done was great. He then asked if I had any muriatic acid.
I said yes, and gave him a half full gallon. He wanted another gallon as well!

He then proceeded to pour to pour the acid over the uncovered pool steps and walls and also the jacuzzi step and wall. The subsequent cloud was impressive, and he then washed the walls down with fill water.

The point he was trying to make was that there was no sand mixed in with Diamond Brite, which he thinks was used in the initial plastering. Otherwise it would have shown up immediately.

Philbo, you can tell your PB that you are going to add acid and see what his reaction is going to be. I would be very interested as to what he has to say.

Pat

[Phillbo]

Your assuming I can speak with him .. My 3 attempts to contact him this morning have gone unanswered.

so, acid is bad for plaster ?


I guess a better question would be to ask what others have been told to do to start up a fresh replastered pool.

[mas985]

There are two ways that I know of to start a plaster pool. A chlorine start or an acid start. Most pool builders will use a chlorine start as this is a safer means of starting a plaster pool.

An acid start requires a lot of acid to drive the alkalinity to zero for about 3 days. The paster dust from the pool then dissolves and brings up the alkalinity and the calcium hardness. The PH must then be brought up to at least 6.8 after three days. The biggest problem with this method is that if not done correctly, it can trash your plaster.

The chlorine start is safer method but requires a lot more brushing. However, even this has it's variants. My plaster installer recommended this proceedure:

1) Fill pool
2) Add chlorine for 1-3 ppm.
3) Add enough acid for a PH of 6.8 and keep it there until all of the plaster dust is gone which is about a week.
4) Brush all plaster surfaces three times a day for a week then once a day for another week. Brush all plaster dust to main drain.

This seems to have worked pretty well since all of the surfaces are very smooth.

[Phillbo]

Thanks...... so it sounds like a couple pints of acid to help hold the chlorine would not do much harm..


How long until you started swimming?

[mas985]

I believe the rule of thumb is when all of the plaster dust is gone or 10-14 days. This gives the plaster enough time to fully firm up but I have heard of some going in earlier.

[bradjo]

Hi Phillbo;
Here are the most specific start-up instructions I could find online (they gave me chemistry levels) which was what I was looking to aim for. This url is from the National Plasterer's Council website (no affiliation).

http://www.npconline.net/start%20up.pdf

I have been following the instructions in here for an exposed aggregate finish. I have 3M Colorquartz and it's looking good. If you'd like you can see it here (pardon the landscape that's next!):
http://www.annonemoose.com/pool/DSC00705.JPG
Jo

[Phillbo]

I hear ya about the landscaping.. tomorrow I start a week off to paint my fences and lay in sod etc.. wish I could swim