First year closing newly redone Diamond Brite plaster pool

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meestahmarc

Well-known member
Jun 7, 2018
156
Paramus, NJ
Pool Size
32000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hi -

so my question is about the water level after the pool is closed. My pool was newly done with Diamond Brite about 3 months ago. it looks great. I am worried that over the winter when the water level drops below the tile line that I will get a ring around the plaster. Is this true? Should I try and keep the water filled up above the tile line, but then the water is over the skimmer entry (which I will have plugged of course and with a empty plastic bottle in the skimmer). So water will not get into the lines.

Doesn't matter what gets added to the pool when closing, obviously the water will get black, nasty and full of leaves and debris... it cleans up fine in the summer, but I wonder about this water line...

Thanks...
 
I have no idea about the water level as I close with the water at normal levels by using 1.5 inch pipes raised above the water level to blow the water out and keep water from entering during the winter...

I can tell you in 5 years I have had completely clear water, it never gets black nor nasty.. It does get dirt and leaves on the bottom but that is it, nice clear water all winter long and here is how :)

This is what I do every year..
Do not close till your water is below 50 degrees
The day before you close take your chlorine to SLAM level for your CYA
Close the pool
On a nice day in Jan check your pool chlorine level on a day when no ice is in the pool and raise back to SLAM level, use a pool brush to move the water around and mix chlorine.. (if ice is always in the pool then don't worry about it until the ice melts then take it to SLAM level)
open your nice clear water before it reaches 50 degrees

Here is a picture of cleaning my pool right after opening in Mar :)

Cleaning closed pool.jpg
 
I have not seen a ring when we close. I would warn you to watch calcium levels on a finish that new. We were barely low-then closed-then opened to calcium crystals leaching out of our new finish. Had to sand down all the spots that did not brush off and get sucked into the vac. Will definitely watch levels a few times throughout the winter this year.
 
I am 10 miles from you. Have always lowered water level and never got a dirt ring in 30 years. But my solid Meyco cover opens my pool very clean. Water is clear on opening and leafs need to be vacuumed from the bottom. Sometimes there are stains from the leafs that disappear once chlorine gets to it.
 
meestahmarc said:
thank you very much, that is helpful. I assume the calcium hardness went too high?
Click to expand...

The PH rises fast with new plaster. Bring your PH down to 7 before closing. If you can check the level again mid-winter and if the water isn't frozen, you can drop a robot in for a few hours and add some acid to bring it back down. Let the robot mix things up. Before putting the cover on, you can also add some floating chlorinators with 3" tabs centered across the pool on a cord...the acid in the tabs will also help keep your PH down.
 
meestahmarc said:
another question - where should my CH be when I close the pool. I think its been a little low all summer. about 180... and is 180 now.
Click to expand...

At least 250 CH. You do not want the water sucking calcium out of the plaster.

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