What is this on my plaster in drained pool?

[bhummel4242]

First time poster - long time reader.

I drained my pool to acid wash it. I know this isn't really advised but I was trying to get rid of black algae and just couldn't maintain a SLAM long enough to win.

Pool is drained and I've cleaned it with both acid and bleach. This is what the side of my pool still looks like. I think the darker spots are probably still black algae that I just need to attack again. What are the browner parts and what should I do before filling? (As I put in my signature my pool was built in 2005, I know I'm nearing the end of my plaster lifespan.)

Thanks in advance for the help - sorry if I'm missing some needed information.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome! Sorry I can't make it out from the pic, but I'm sure others will reply soon. Didn't want you to think we missed you. Have a good weekend.

 

[jblizzle]

Hard to say, but could still be calcium scaling.

 

[bhummel4242]

Hard to say, but could still be calcium scaling.

I kind of thought that it was calcium scaling. Acid washing isn't removing it very well so I was confused.

Any suggestions?

 

[PoolESQ]

Any chance the darker spots are the concrete under the plaster showing through? Hard to see from the pictures.

 

[bhummel4242]

Any chance the darker spots are the concrete under the plaster showing through? Hard to see from the pictures.

I thought that is what they were too initially...but it isn't. I used muratic acide and bleach (not at the same time) to clean the pool as best I could and filled it back up. Resigned to the fact that a new plaster job is in the near future.

 

[PoolESQ]

They say 10 years is about the shelf life of a plaster job, so you probably will need to plaster soon. I just went though that myself. It was costly, but so happy I did it. It's like having a brand new pool. There are so many new colors and types of plaster out there to chose from. Good luck!

 

[jblizzle]

Who is "they"?

Plaster can last a good bit longer than 10 years if the chemistry is properly maintained.

 

[PoolESQ]

Jason,

"They" = JasonLion

See 2nd post:

Pool finishes...pebble vs plaster...opinions?

 

[jblizzle]

Nice! Of course those are pretty big generalizations as he also implies.

 

[wjr75]

That's what my white plaster looked like before I re-plastered a year ago. Go with the pebble sheen for longevity when you redo it. I hope I never have to do it again because of the $$$$.