Conan12 said:Hoosierrun - any update on the discoloration? We are in the process of building our first pool and also are going with the blue granite pebble sheen. Has anyone else with a pebble sheen finish had a similar experience as hoosierrun? Thanks in large part to the wealth of information provided on this site, I had planned to use boric acid to add borates to our pool and want to be sure to apply properly to avoid discoloration or other unwanted side effects.
Sorry, I missed this question from October. The discoloration has almost disappeared, although I my coating is still not a uniform blue across the entire pool from bottom up and from end to end. However, you reallly have to look close on a calm day to notice that (easier with pumps off).
My suggestion: If you are using crystal boric acid to add borates to a colored pool surface, mix up batches in a bucket of water and slowly add it into the skimmer with the pump running. It is fairly PH neutral and that shouldn't cause a problem with anything. I could never get the crystals to completely disolve in the bucket of water (over saturated), plus I was trying to get the job done quickly.
It seems to me that with colored pool surfaces, you have to be more careful not to allow chemical solids to touch the surface. I've become fairly disciplined in disolving everything in a bucket of water and pouring slowly a couple of feet from where the jets discharge.
BTW, the borates are working out well and I think it was money well spent.