Refinished Pool ... wrong color?

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Yargnits67

Yargnits67

Well-known member
Jul 20, 2020
90
Rockledge, FL
Pool Size
19000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Jandy Truclear / Ei
Hello folks,

We just went through a refinish of our pool because it cracked. The last two days they did the plaster (pebble) and acid wash. We started filling it up yesterday. The color looks awful in this pool and now I am not sure what I should do. I'm looking for advice.

before was a pretty turquoise color and the after is an algae green color. It's not quite filled up in these pics, but as it fills up it looks darker green which makes it look even dirtier.

Are we being too picky? I'm just super disappointed after waiting 6 months to get it fixed that the color is so different when it was supposed to be the same finish.

I've emailed the builder and the plaster company. I won't hear anything until Monday, which gives us time to think about things.

Before the pool disaster (thread here if you were curious)
Pool before.jpg

pool before 2.jpg
pool before 3.jpg

After it was fixed
Pool after.jpeg
pool after 2.jpeg
pool after 3.jpeg

Pool after 4.JPG
Pool after 5.JPG
 
I just tested it with the TF kit and the PH was way higher than the 8.2 the kit goes up to. So, now to research what sequestrants are and how/when to use them.

Like I said, they just finished applying the finish on Thursday and yesterday was the pressure wash and acid bath. Can I add certain chemicals yet or do I need to wait? The pool company is coming out Monday to do the start up. We were hoping to jump in this weekend but it seems like we should wait as a Ph that high seems like it could cause skin issues. I'd rather not have the kids have skin problems for the first day of school (Monday).
 
mknauss said:
Did you use a sequestrant?
Click to expand...
I just read the post about sequesterants. I can’t say I am smart enough to understand the post other than it seems like they will feed any algae that exists. I’m not sure how to actually use it or if I should. I’m going to test my water at Leslie’s to see if they can give me a more accurate reading of my ph level.
 
Results from Leslie’s:
Free Chlor: 0.16
Total Chlor: 2.61
PH: 8.6
Total Alk: 45
Cal Hard: 93
CYA: 5
Iron: 0.2
Copper: 0
Phos: 83
Salt: 800
 
Be patient. Fill water with no chlorine and not balanced often looks green.

What plaster startup guide were given to follow?

Plaster Start-Up Guides - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Wait to evaluate the color until the end of the startup process and you are at recommended levels...

www.troublefreepool.com

What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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Yargnits67 said:
Results from Leslie’s:
Free Chlor: 0.16
Total Chlor: 2.61
PH: 8.6
Total Alk: 45
Cal Hard: 93
CYA: 5
Iron: 0.2
Copper: 0
Phos: 83
Salt: 800
Click to expand...

You cannot have any CYA in the water if you did not add it. Which shows you how bogus Leslie water testing is.

What was the source of your fill water?
 
ajw22 said:
What plaster startup guide were given to follow?
Click to expand...
Nothing. The pool company said they would be out Monday to do the start up. If they do it the same way as last time they will dump some chemicals in and then leave. There was no follow up, the only thing they told me at the time was brush it twice a day.

Speaking of brushing it. How do I properly clean my old brush and handle so no yellow or green algae get into the newly finished pool?

ajw22 said:
You cannot have any CYA in the water if you did not add it. Which shows you how bogus Leslie water testing is.
Click to expand...
Overall Leslie's isn't too bad. I have never been able to tell what the CYA is on my own. Seeing 5 there is ok because I know I didn't add anything. I've got the TF test kit and have never once been able to determine what my CYA is. The instructions are pretty poor, so any other tips would be welcome when the time comes.

ajw22 said:
What was the source of your fill water?
Click to expand...
Spigot on the sides of the house. Same as I used last time and the water of the pool came out perfectly clear as expected.

ajw22 said:
Be patient. Fill water with no chlorine and not balanced often looks green.
Click to expand...
Yeah, we've waited 6 months, what's another couple days. We were just really hoping to get in before school started. We will be able to get in when they get back from the first day of school.

Is there a documented start up cycle on this site? I am sure there is, I haven't searched it yet. My pool company is not very good at follow through. When they show up Monday they will have to clean out the lines since a lot of nasty water has been sitting in the lines and filter. That water has been sitting there for probably closer to 8 months and it's just been stagnant. They said they would acid wash the filter and it would be fine and not have any more algae of any time that would get into the newly finished pool.

The pool is 3 years old and it's been broken for the last 2 years. I followed TF for how to maintain the pool and the first year it was awesome and easy, then it cracked and I couldn't keep it clean. Oh well. Let's hope this repair was done perfectly and all will be well again.
 

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Oh yeah. Here is what I got with the TF kit:
Free Chlor: 0.5
pH: >8.2 (test kit stops at 8.2)
Total Alk: 50
Cal Hard: 125
CYA: unknown, I suck at this test and can never tell what it is
Salt: didn't test as I never added anything in
 
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After reading that article they will do the acid startup. We have a pebble finish.

Before the fixing of my pool we had green and yellow algae. How do I clean the pool brush and pool pole so that I don’t reintroduce it into my pool?
 
Yargnits67 said:
Before the fixing of my pool we had green and yellow algae. How do I clean the pool brush and pool pole so that I don’t reintroduce it into my pool?
Click to expand...

Fill a trash can bucket with a chlorine solution and soak the brush in it.
 
A 10% solution of liquid chlorine in water 1:10 should be enough.

Let it soak for a day or two and scrub the brush a few times while it soaks.
 
ajw22 said:
I would not let the pool guys do a thing and I would take control of it all.
Click to expand...
This is good advice, and what I would want to do (and did). But...

If you want to go this route, be sure you get an OK from both the builder and plaster guys. And get it in writing (email is OK, letter is better).

It's also good advice to finish the fill and startup and get your water balanced before fully evaluating the color, and deciding what to do. The water plays a huge part in the perception of the color of your pool, and once the water is clean and clear, it will make the underlying finish look more blue. You can see this effect for yourself, in the pic of your "before" pool. The steps were almost a grey-green, and the deep end is much bluer. That's the water doing that.

But if you do decide to try and get the plaster redone, and hope to get someone else to pay for it, then you don't want to give them any excuse to get out of it. And balancing the water yourself sets you up for the ol' "You didn't let us do our startup, and now we have no idea whether it was us or you that messed up the color," or some such similar nonsense.

If you have "permission," in writing from them, to handle the chemicals yourself, then they can't come back and squawk. But if you don't, they might use that as an out for taking responsibility for the color. It'll be bogus, but it could foul up a reasonable resolution.
 
Hi Dirk,

That's my concern for sure. if I do anything they'll use it as an excuse to not honor any warranty. Also, I have zero idea how to clean out my pool lines. They are very nasty at this point as before the pool was drained and cleaned up for repair it was already looking like a swamp. I'm trying to research now how to do it. They are supposed to show up tomorrow and do the start up process. My concern is if they do not show up that my pool will start to get ruined. It's already green and getting more and more green daily.

I hate waiting for this pool builder. If I had to do this all over again I would do it on my own.
 

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