White Flakes in Spa

[Mushki]

I’m getting white “flakes” as well. They are most noticeable in the spa where they settle into a pile. They are gel like and clump together when retrieved from the bottom.

 

[ajw22]

Post a complete set of test results from your K2006 test kit in the format:

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
SALT
WATER TEMP
CSI

 

[Mushki]

FC 0.6
pH 8.0
TA 80
CH 420
CYA 0
Salt 3400
Water temp 87
CSI 0.43

I knew the chlorine was going to be low because I’ve been having problems with it. The CYA being 0 makes no sense. I don’t test very often for it but last time I did it was 80. The pool has not been drained or even used much throughout the winter. I’m in Southern California so it stays open year round. Can the cyanuric acid reagents become inactive with age? It is very old but I was getting readings with it not that long ago.

 

[ajw22]

You need to keep your pH 7.4-7.6 and lower your TA to 50-60 to lower your CSI. That should reduce the calcium scale created by the SWG.

Get new CYA reagent.

Get liquid chlorine in the pool and raise your FC or you will have an algae problem.

With the low FC do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test once you get your CYA reagent and see if you need the SLAM Process

 

[Mushki]

I do add acid to keep my pH down and am adding a gallon today, even so my CSI is not out of an acceptable range. I always have liquid chlorine and will add. However the white substance is NOT calcium scale.
I know what my water chemistry should look like.

 

[ajw22]

However the white substance is NOT calcium scale.

Have you dripped some muriatic acid on the substance and seen if it bubbles?

 

[ajw22]

I know what my water chemistry should look like.

What should it look like?

 

[Mushki]

Have you dripped some muriatic acid on the substance and seen if it bubbles?

I put it in vinegar and it did not bubble

 

[Mushki]

What should it look like?

I know I’m not a TFP expert but I have been a member for over 10 years and pay for and use the pool math app to record all my testing and chemical additions etc.

 

[ajw22]

I know I’m not a TFP expert but I have been a member for over 10 years and pay for and use the pool math app to record all my testing and chemical additions etc.

Your PoolMath log is not linked here so we can review it.

The water chemistry you posted could use some improvements as I said.

What you actually do versus what you say is up to you.

 

[Mushki]

Does recognizing what this is in my pool depend on my pool chemistry? I thought someone might have experience with it and asked for help. I knew that I needed to add acid and chlorine but gave you my reading a la minute .

 

[ajw22]

We will wait and see.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Any floc or clarifier added to the pool? What have you added to the pool in the last few months? Any work done on the pool recently?

 

[Mushki]

Any floc or clarifier added to the pool? What have you added to the pool in the last few months? Any work done on the pool recently?

I haven’t added anything recently except muriatic acid and liquid chlorine occasionally. No work recently. It did have pebble tech applied 2 years ago and I added borax a year ago (~50 ppm). I’ve never used any clarifier or floc.

 

[mknauss]

If the material is not primarily calcium carbonate, vinegar will not react with it. It could be a mixture of carbonate, silicate, and phosphate scale.
Use muriatic acid to test with. It will react, at least some, with all of those scale types.

 

[poolmom21]

Hi. I’m near Palm Springs and I know what you’re talking about. I often see that substance in our pool. Don’t know what it is since it is gel like but I haven’t seen it in a while. But I do get in pool.