A Theory About Rising pH in SWG Pools

[chem geek]

I have not added any baking soda, letting the TA build up of its own accord.

Normally the curing would produce Calcium Hydroxide and would not raise the TA. The TA would only rise if Calcium Carbonate was released into the pool. After curing, this would be considered "corrosion" of the pool surface. I'm not sure if it is normal for this to occur during the curing process. Did your pool contractor say that it was normal not only for CH to rise, but for TA to rise during curing or do you know if that's true from any other source?

It would be great, after we have this all figured out, to put together a simple flow chart that people can follow that would explain the normal processes they can expect in their pools. New plaster/gunite pool in first year -- rising CH (and TA?) and especially pH. TA > 80 and/or pH < 7.4 and/or lots of aeration -- rise in pH. Etc. Some would just be explanatory items while others could have solutions.

Richard

[PatL34]

Richard,

I should have added baking soda to bring the TA up to 100 ppm, so you are correct again. Bear in mind that this information came from most of their customers, presumably plasterers. (See the Diamond Brite installation manual in the PDF below.)

I do know that the CH will rise when curing, as this was my experience the first time i used Diamond Brite, but am not sure about the TA going up. I do think that by keeping the Ca(CO3)² and pH down it would help more in the curing process. Just a theory of mine.

I agree that a flow chart would be nice, but feel many poolowners are more interested in swimming, rather than the mechanics of plaster curing. So it would be available to the dedicated few like ourselves, but can we tell new pool owners having plaster pools under construction what the experiences we have been having.

Pat

http://sgm.cc/download/installationm...amondBrite.pdf