Bubbles and Flakes

[tonyl]

You might try raising the CYA up to the recommended levels of 60-80 to allow reduced output level. I run my AquaRite 8 hrs a day at 30% for 20k, full sun, CYA at 80. It won't eliminate the flakes but maybe reduce them enough that it's minimal.

[Poolsean]

OasisDave,

Have you removed the cell and inspected it for the same calcium flakes?

[oasisdave]

Last time I removed it was about a month ago to clean the cell. Didn't think to look for the flakes though. I will give that a try. As far as my water chemistry goes, did everything look pretty good to you?

[oasisdave]

Well, I got my Ph down to around 7.3 and for some reason that seems to have helped a little. I looked inside the cell and there seemed to be some flakes clinging to the plates inside. Next step for me is to call Aquarite tech support and see if they have any more suggestions. (maybe the unit isn't reversing polarity correctly?) There HAS to be something I can do to get rid of these things!

[mas985]

If lowering PH reduces the flakes, then it is probably the calcium being dissolved back into solution. So the the only long term solution is to reduce the calcium level in the pool.

Have you tested your fill water? If it has less calcium than the pool water, you can do a partial refill to lower it. Bleachcalc has a new refill function to help but you will probably need at least 50% new water.

In lew of a refill, keep your PH and alkalinity down toward the low end of the recommended ranges. This should help keep the calcium in solution.

[socalKC]

Keep your CH close to 200 and your PH in the correct range and the flakes will disappear.
Greg

My water is 350 coming out of the city supply. Can't do much about that, sad as that is. I suppose I can truck water in......

this issue of white flakes has plague our system for four years. I will tell you what I have found to be the case in my sitation. My flaeks are BAD, by the way.

1. defintely has to do with CH, my start point is 350 and it is over 700 now after draining two years ago.
2. It only happens in summer (high chlorine output)
3. Ph lowering has not helped me, but I try to maintain it low at around 7.3-.4
4.The Corporate Aquarite guy came here a couple of years ago and basically blew me off as a pool chemistry issue that he can't help. Which I basically agree with, but he was a total jerk....I don't recall his name but I do recall he was Australian.
5. It also causes my filter to require cleaning more often, like once a month(cartridge).
6. I eventually learned not too mess with putting tons of product, clarifiers, etc in the pool. However, if there was something new developed, I would try it.

I realize this isn't solving the problem but, the only thing I have done that works is drain the pool. Also I try to clean the cell once a month, not sure this helps. It is so visible/bad in my spa that I think we have to drain again.

I also would appreciate any new found input/product.

karen in so cal