Pool finish faling?

[mneal]

We have a fairly new (may 06) IG pool /spa and when I cleaned the filter this weekend it had a ton of white milk dust similar to when the pool surface was brand new and the marcite was curing. I have not fully tested the water @ PS (still waiting on Ben's kit .....all summer now ), but the Ph and simple tests from my small test kit were close to OK. (Ph7.7, Cl 3.0, TA 80).

I am scared the finish is failing......is it normal for some of the finish to make dust and be seen when filter is being cleaned?

I also notice the pressure drop didn't go down the the typical level post filter clean, so I am planning on cleaning the filter again using the dish-washing detergent method tonight.

[dawndenise]

Do you have a calcium hardness test in that testing kit? Do you have a calcium hardness reading? Also, have you been using bleach or calcium hypochlorite to chlorinate your pool this summer?

[mas985]

New plaster pools always have plaster dust in the first few weeks of curing. If this is the first time you cleaned the filter since May, then that would explain the dust. It would also explain why you cannot clean it. Over such a long period, the dust will harden in the filter and be difficult to remove. If you can not remove the dust after soaking and spraying, then I would suggest a mild acid soaking to losen it up.

[mneal]

I don't have a calcium hardness test in my little kit, it has been on the low side since the pool was new and I have slowly added calcium hardness. I have been doing it slowly because my local PS, tends to tell you to add to much according to the PB.
I have cleaned the filter lots of times since pool was new, this however is first time since the surface has cured I saw the milky dust from cleaning. I knew when the surface was brand new it was normal, now that the pool is not new, that is why I am worried. I am going to PS for complete H2O test tonight after work and will post results.

I had a second filter so I installed that to get pressure down and will acid wash and dishwashing detergent the old one to clear it up .

[mneal]

I finally got a second to get water tested at PS:
TC 4.0
FC 4.0
CC 0.0
pH 7.6
TA 100
CH 250
TA 100
TDS 750

Langlier Index 0.0 (what is this?)
Sequestrant 5

Any thoughts from the pros?

When I look super closely at the top surfaces of the spa and pool steps it kind of looks like the surface is slightly more pited and all most porous looking then when the pool was brand new. Is this normal (and I might be imagining this) . I can only see this when water is perfectly still and full sun. I don't see the signs of visible dust when I brush the pool like I did when the surface was new and marcite was curing.

[mneal]

ttt. anyone have thoughts?