Plaster "fat"?

mchaos

Member
Apr 22, 2024
10
Indialantic, FL
Pool Size
13500
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Greetings all,

I am a new pool owner and this is my first time posting in this forum. TFP has been a tremendously useful resource and I thank you all for your efforts in making this site what it is. My pool is about 6 months old, 13,500 gallons, plaster finish, with a Hayward TurboCell T-CELL-15 SWG. My current chemistry levels (as of this morning) are as follows:

FC - 6.4 ppm
CC - 0.0 ppm
pH - 7.6
TA - 80 ppm
CYA - 70 ppm (I think, the test for this chemical is my nemesis; I really think I need to go see an ophthalmologist ;) )
CH - 340 ppm
Salt - 3,000 ppm

My question is in regard to persistent white spots in some areas of the plaster finish (see attached image). The person from the pool company that originally set the pool up called it "fat" and he did not seem too worried about it and said they would eventually go away. He suggested keeping the pH in the high 6s or low 7s to help this process. He also mentioned throwing some muriatic acid in the area, letting it settle onto the surface for a few seconds and then brushing it off. I have been hesitant to do this. Today I went in there with a pumice stone but it did absolutely nothing. I have brushed the pool religiously (every day for the first month and at least 3 times per week since; I have the arms to prove it), but these spots remain.

What do you guys think? Should I try the suggestions from the pool guy or are there any other approaches that may be better/preferable?

Thank you for your responses.

Cheers,
Marcos
 

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Welcome to TFP.

Ignore it. It is cosmetic. Those color variations are normal for colored plaster.

You don't want to risk your overall plaster finish or pool equipment fooling around with pH below 7. And splashing Muriatic Acid on the surface can cause more problems then what you are trying to fix.

Enjoy your new pool as no one will be examining it closely the way you are.

Are you tracking and calculating your CSI using PoolMath. CSI is important for long term plaster health.

 
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Welcome to TFP.

Ignore it. It is cosmetic. Those color variations are normal for colored plaster.

You don't want to risk your overall plaster finish or pool equipment fooling around with pH below 7. And splashing Muriatic Acid on the surface can cause more problems then what you are trying to fix.

Enjoy your new pool as no one will be examining it closely the way you are.

Are you tracking and calculating your CSI using PoolMath. CSI is important for long term plaster health.


Thank you for your comments. Yes, I am using PoolMath; my current CSI is -0.17.

I guess I need to let go of my anal retentive nature then :giggle:. These things are noticeable enough (at least to me) to be annoying ...

Cheers,
Marcos
 
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