Efflorescence, Salt or Calcium

[abrink]

Can someone tell me what this is? Its constantly on my rock wall and border. 5 to 1 diluted MA reacts with it a little bit, bit doesn't seem to clean it very well. (I'm not sure if its just reacting with the soft stone or if thats possible though.)

Anyway to clean this off and keep it clean? Here's current numbers as well.

Ph - 7.6
FC - 6
CC - 0.5
CH 275
TA 70
CYA 70
Salt 3200 (Reading from K-1766, SWG Reads 2900)
Temp 79

 

[jblizzle]

Did the water level used to be up that high? Looks like the typical mineral deposits due to evaporation.
If the MA is bubbling, that means there is at least some calcium in it.

 

[abrink]

Yes, the water was that high previously. It's beena while though as I thought brushing or rain water would help clean it.
Should I brush with some more diluted acid and put additional elbow grease in it? Anyway to prevent this from happening? Also wondering if my CH is too high or too low?

 

[jblizzle]

Your CH is fine. And the only way to stop it is to somehow stop evaporation from occurring

Some claim that Borates help to reduce this I think.

 

[Patrick_B]

Looks like mineral deposition to me as well. Any areas that get wet, then dry will be impossible to keep clean completely.

 

[duraleigh]

Bring your muriatic solution to 3:1 water/muriatic. You should see a big difference in it's ability to get that off. Rinse well when you are finished.