Need to add calcium

[haze_1956]

I was doing work for an ex-neighbor today. First time I had been to their house in a couple years.

Last year they had a gunite pool installed and he was complaining the plaster was geting rough and mottled looking. He had gotten the Pool Company, 20 minute tutorial and a package of test strips.

I went home and got my test kit,
Cl 3
ph 7.2
Alk 100
Cya 90
Hardness 0 !!!!

I know he needs to add calcium chloride. But not sure best source, I seem to recall "Ice Melt" was acceptable. Just want to verify or get recommendation for alternate or preferrable source.

Thanks

[dawndenise]

I'm not sure how to post links to a past post, but you can go to a post entitled, "Calcium" on this forum with a date of 7/1/06 and you'll see the whole discussion of DowFlake as a calcium increaser.

You might want to encourage your ex-neighbor to check out this forum as it appears his/her chlorine levels are not adequate for a CYA level of 90. You did your ex-neighbor a real favor testing the water for them and giving them some direction .

[waterbear]

Here is a link to the Dow Chemical website on their products for pool and spa use...Dowflake is the most easily obtained since it is used as a de-icer.
http://www.dow.com/calcium/app/poolspa.htm

[haze_1956]

Managed to find 50 pound bags of Calcium Choride Flakes for $14.00 at a masonry supply.

Thought that was reasonably priced !

[haze_1956]

Ok, I am a bit confused now, so I am in need of the wisdom of the many !

DId the following to 38000 gallon gunite pool:

7-26 Checked pool, no hardness reading, just turned sample a little yellowish
7-29 Added 50 pounds of Calcium Chloride flakes
7-31 Checked and still getting only a little yellow in sample
8-1 Added 100 more pounds of Calcium Choride flakes
8-3 Checked and got a nice reddish/purple in sample, tested out at 600 on Hardness

This was a bit high, but Cya is 90 -100 anyway, so figured drain and refilling in a couple weeks would take care of both problems

8-22 Stopped by to check pool and again reading no hardness, test turns a little yellowish not red/purple at all.

Can anyone tell me what happened ?

Did the plaster reabsorb the Calcium?
.

[waterbear]

Ok, I am a bit confused now, so I am in need of the wisdom of the many !

DId the following to 38000 gallon gunite pool:

7-26 Checked pool, no hardness reading, just turned sample a little yellowish
7-29 Added 50 pounds of Calcium Chloride flakes
7-31 Checked and still getting only a little yellow in sample
8-1 Added 100 more pounds of Calcium Choride flakes
8-3 Checked and got a nice reddish/purple in sample, tested out at 600 on Hardness

This was a bit high, but Cya is 90 -100 anyway, so figured drain and refilling in a couple weeks would take care of both problems

8-22 Stopped by to check pool and again reading no hardness, test turns a little yellowish not red/purple at all.

Can anyone tell me what happened ?

Did the plaster reabsorb the Calcium?
.

What test kit are you using....The aquachem 6 way has an issue with the calcium hardness test that has been discussed previously in the forum....sounds like the one you are using since you said you got a yellow color