Slick feeling plaster

Dapdo

0
Bronze Supporter
Jul 15, 2018
97
Vineland, NJ
Pool was finished in May. I’ve noticed the diamond brite finish feels kind of slippery. 100% sure it’s not algae. Is this part of the curing process? Still seeing plaster dust and the color has slowly been darkening.
 
"Slippery" is almost always algae. I can think of nothing else. Why do you think it's not?
I know it’s not. I’m diligent about them chemistry - check the chlorine and pH daily. My water is crystal clear. My pump has been at the same running pressure for weeks. And I’ve passed overnight chlorine tests twice now.

My pool builder had me add a product called Beautec after a month. Do you think that could do it?
 
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I know it’s not. I’m diligent about them chemistry - check the chlorine and pH daily. My water is crystal clear. My pump has been at the same running pressure for weeks. And I’ve passed overnight chlorine tests twice now.

My pool builder had me add a product called Beautec after a month. Do you think that could do it?
That wouldn’t cause it. It’s wont hurt you either. I use it in winter when I close to assist with stain and scale during the winter months closed. Does it help I fell it does cause even after my first winter closing I had zero scale and my ph was completely out of control when I opened. And past 2 winters I don’t to use it and same good results so I feel u are safe there.

Is the whole surface slick or just areas?

And when u do ur overnight test it is dark out for night and in the morning? No uv light?
 
That wouldn’t cause it. It’s wont hurt you either. I use it in winter when I close to assist with stain and scale during the winter months closed. Does it help I fell it does cause even after my first winter closing I had zero scale and my ph was completely out of control when I opened. And past 2 winters I don’t to use it and same good results so I feel u are safe there.

Is the whole surface slick or just areas?

And when u do ur overnight test it is dark out for night and in the morning? No uv light?
It’s not like a slimy slippery. I liken it to a wet porcelain tile.
I did the oclt last night at 8pm and tested again this am 530
 
With CYA 60ppm your daily FC target should be 7-9ppm. Your poolmath logs show it has been running 4-5ppm for FC. The FC should never drop below 5ppm. You are on the edge of an algae bloom. I recommend you perform the SLAM Process. Once the slam is completed keep the FC at 9ppm until you are able to start the SWG.
 
With CYA 60ppm your daily FC target should be 7-9ppm. Your poolmath logs show it has been running 4-5ppm for FC. The FC should never drop below 5ppm. You are on the edge of an algae bloom. I recommend you perform the SLAM Process. Once the slam is completed keep the FC at 9ppm until you are able to start the SWG.

Never mind I’ll ask the pool builder. I doubt that I’m on the edge of an algal bloom. It’s been this way since day one.
If I was on the edge of an algal bloom wouldn’t I have overnight chlorine loss???

What parameters would you like me to use to perform said SLAM? SLAM til my pool is clear? It is. SLAM until my CC is 0.5 it is 0. SLAM until I pass an overnight chlorine loss test? I did twice now.
 
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I do agree with the above that it is better to run on the higher side of your target. My cya is 70. I have salt. I run at 7-8 even though my target is lower so I have a cushion.

But I totally agree with you that if are clear. No cc. And passed multiple overnight test, most impt of all then ya I would say you are clear. Cause if you did have algae then that means all those above things you past mean nothing.
 
Never mind I’ll ask the pool builder. I doubt that I’m on the edge of an algal bloom. It’s been this way since day one.
If I was on the edge of an algal bloom wouldn’t I have overnight chlorine loss???

What parameters would you like me to use to perform said SLAM? SLAM til my pool is clear? It is. SLAM until my CC is 0.5 it is 0. SLAM until I pass an overnight chlorine loss test? I did twice now.
My recommendations are made based on the data you reported and the data in your poolmath logs. If you did slam your pool you did not enter the test results in your poolmath app. You did not say the plaster has felt this way since day one in any prior post in this thread, implying this is a new development. If you have issues with the quality of the plaster finish of your pool then you should take it up with your builder. As for having passed the OCLT and water clarity, yes you can be on the edge of an algae bloom and have those results. One of the first signs of algae is a slick feel on pool surfaces. You have been giving your pool just enough chlorine to hold an incipient algae bloom at bay. If you were to allow the FC to drop below minimum for a couple of days you would see more definitive signs, such as dulling of the water and an increase in chlorine consumption.
 
My recommendations are made based on the data you reported and the data in your poolmath logs. If you did slam your pool you did not enter the test results in your poolmath app. You did not say the plaster has felt this way since day one in any prior post in this thread, implying this is a new development. If you have issues with the quality of the plaster finish of your pool then you should take it up with your builder. As for having passed the OCLT and water clarity, yes you can be on the edge of an algae bloom and have those results. One of the first signs of algae is a slick feel on pool surfaces. You have been giving your pool just enough chlorine to hold an incipient algae bloom at bay. If you were to allow the FC to drop below minimum for a couple of days you would see more definitive signs, such as dulling of the water and an increase in chlorine consumption.
I’m sorry but you don’t read the posts.
I think your comment about being on the edge of an algal bloom and passing an OCLT undermines a lot on TFP. It’s convenient for you to say but it’s a dubious statement at best.
 
CALCIUM SILICATE HYDRATION:
Is caused by the free lime (calcium hydroxide), which come to the surface on a new finish.

If not removed by normal brushing & water balancing (included on page 8), this process continues for the first 90 days. All the while the (CALCIUM HYDROXIDE) is converting to CALCIUM SILICATE (the same thing glass is made from) which looks like a thin glaze over the dark areas of the pool.

In essence growing a glass – like calcium glaze over parts of the pool, darkening those areas. This calcium glaze is very hard and can only be removed with a low alkalinity treatment.


Maybe this.
 
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Thanks for the insight. I brush once or twice a week. I’ll ramp this up.
Glass forming on the plaster is interesting I’ll research this some more.
PB coming to take a look and pick up a water sample.
 
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The link regarding and suggesting (above post) that calcium hydroxide converts into calcium silicate is in error. Calcium hydroxide on the plaster surface converts into calcium carbonate.
Plaster dust is also comprised of calcium carbonate that hasn't hardened on to the plaster surface and can have a slippery feel to it. It is past time for plaster dust to be forming, but perhaps it formed a while back and still needs to be filtered out. Another possibility is that an excess amount of calcium chloride (hardening accelerator) was added to the plaster mix, which will increase the amount of plaster dust that forms.
 
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