Whole Pool Stain, Rough Plaster at Season Open

[Lenny]

Great looking pool, Pat.

After you do this, please let us know some details when you have a chance. I'm wondering about the materials and procedure in case I have to do it next year.

It really concerns me that we took the time to close like we're supposed to and still had problems.

Thanks.

[MaryS]

Lenny,

My pool was completed Memorial Day weekend, 2005. The pool company had me keep it open until November so that the plaster could cure. When the pool was opened in April 2006, the opening PH was 8.4, but no problems with the plaster - very nice and smooth. I maintained the water chemistry over the summer last year. The PH keep drifting up, but I expected that with the Salt Water Chlorinator. I just added acid every week to keep it within the range. Pool was closed Oct 2006 and reopened early April this year. Opening PH was 8.2 this year with loads of scale. We do not have a mesh cover. The cover is solid. Still not sure what caused the problem and what I should do.

Pat,
What a beautiful pool you have! Tell me, what is the procedure for acid washing? How hard is it to do?

Mary

[MaryS]

Pat,
Now that I have looked more carefully at your photo, I think we used the same pool tile. Great taste! ;-)

Again, good luck and keep us posted!

Mary

[PoolNewbie2006]

I have the same problem here in SoCal where the water is very hard in my area. I went into the water for the first time and was disappointed with the amount of roughness on the horizontal surfaces. I used my fingernail to scrape off a few of the rough spots and it was a combination of white and sandy (dirt covered scale) deposits. I had feared the worst because my SWG cell was heavily covered in white scale and not producing chlorine.

Anyhow, I want to try the method Waterbear has suggested in lowering the pH down to around 7.0 and brushing but have a few questions. No matter how much muriatic acid I add, it always seems to run high, ~7.8. That being said, I've been told not too add more than about 1/3 of a gallon of acid per day. At that rate, it will take forever to lower the pH. So...:

1) Is it safe to add more than 1/3 gallon at a time?
2) How long is it safe to keep the pH at that acidity level?
3) Are metal brushes generally safe on plaster?

Thanks in advance.

[Lenny]

Hey PoolNewbie2006,

Wow. I can't imagine why you need so much acid. How big is your pool? You might have a problem with your test method. I'd look for verification of that. Make sure your acid is a good strength as well. Yours might be 14% or even less. I'll bet one of these things is your problem.

I would add more than 1/3 gallon if I had to. Just do it slowly in front of the return. It's getting diluted quickly.

I've been using a metal brush. It honestly hasn't done much more than the nylon one so far. It certainly can't hurt.

[waterbear]

If your plaster is fully cured a metal brush will not hurt it. In fact, on fully cured plaster a combo brush of stainles steel and plastic bristles is what you should be using for normal brushing.
As far as adding acid. I would add it a pint at a time for each 10000 gallons, wait about 30 minutes with the pump running, test your pH, and repeat until your pH is where you want it.

[PoolNewbie2006]

Thanks guys. My pool is not large, 14,000 gallons. I think the reason my pool requires so much acid is a combination of the water in my area having a high pH level and aeration due to the spill from the spa into the pool. It is set to return part of the water into the spa when the pump is running during the day.

As for my test kit, it's shameful but I am still using the basic test kit provided by my builder. I've been planning to order the Taylor K-2006 kit online since none of my local pool supply stores carry a FAS-DPD kit but just haven't gotten around to it.

Off to the pool store I go to pick up my combo brush. Wish me luck and thanks again!

[thomas_CT]

THIS wORKS !!! and i swear i'm not affiliated with the Company!
I had the same problem as squirrel49. Rough plaster, Calcium buildup with dirt encased and i also have a salt/generator. At first i didn't try much just super shocking without success. Well i followed this thread in hopes of finding a solution. After squirrel49 stated he was going to buy a sander i began looking into alternatives. i came up with H100 acid, but i didn't have success rate to back it up. Then i Came across a Chemical plant in PA that stocked a solution designed to remove scales and minerals from tanks and pipes. After talking to the Chemist he suggested i stick with a pool product and suggested i take a look at a company in FL that makes a great product for removing scales. i visited their website and their it was:"(STAIN SOLUTION #2) is designed to safely and effectively remove copper stains and scale from all types of pool surfaces without draining the pool. In most cases, The Copper & Scale Stuff is more effective than acid washing the pool, and will save both time and money. Please Note: must bypass heater when using this product." i contacted the company and went through an intensive phone list trying to find the product in my area without success. On the second phone call, i requested contacts for the neighboring states. Finally i found a distributor in Boston who gave me a contact in My State (Connecticut) i took the 1hour drive and purchased the recommended dose for my pool along with 2 quarts of purple stuff. A bit Skeptical i put off the project for about a week or so until the wife began nagging me. After lowering the PH, i add the products. WOW! a bit of Hope, while adding The Scale and Copper Stuff i noticed as the powder makes contact with the plaster it instantly turned to Brite white removing the brown calcium buildup until it completely disolved. I continue to brush every morning and run the filter pump as normal. i'm on day 5 now and every morning my plaster looks whiter. I intend to continue treatment for the next 9 days to completely remove all scales.So Far, this has been the best $250 i've spent all year.

[mbar]

Is the product by "Jack's Magic"? They are very good and know a lot about stains I am glad to hear that this product works. "Jack's Magic" products are very good - although somewhat expensive. Keep us informed

[waterbear]

Jack's magic products are excellent. The stain solution 2 does drop the pH and you are, in effect, doing a no drain acid wash. United Chemical also has a no drain acid wash kit that is supposed to be very effective on scale desposits.