Borate Acid Treatment - Efflorescence patches in grout lines

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smontoto

smontoto

0
Jan 14, 2019
25
Baton Rouge La
Fyi... I have never had Borate in my pool before so I just wanted to start to keep things easier.

I balanced my 22,000 gallon gunite pool w/ SWG to the recommended specs and added Granular Boric Acid(from Duda Energy) per Pool Math recommendation(approx 48 lbs) I wanted to go below the 50ppm to be safe until I can test.

I may be confused or misread. I was under the understanding that using the more expensive Boric Acid vs. the 3MuleTeam/Acid combo wouldn't cause a significant PH spike or other spike I needed to worry about.

This morning I am seeing a few patches of white efflorescence between my grout lines underwater on a few of the steps. If anyone can help me understand what I may have done wrong or how I can possibly fix it.

Thank you for any help!

Steve
 

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How are you testing your pool water chemistry? The data you show is not consistent with results from a K2006 kit you show in your signature.
 
What you show is underwater, correct?

Realize that pool stores rarely get CH levels correct.
 
@mknauss Yes everything is underwater and I noticed it this morning on my tanning ledge. My CH levels hover around 280-350 from the pool stores. Last month I tested with my 2023 expired kit and it read 350 so I figured it was close and not too high.

I did see where it says run your pool constantly 24-48 hours after adding. I didn't realize it but my pool automatically turned off about 8 hours after application but I thoroughly brushed and it looked like nothing was undissolved. Its only showing in a few grout spots so maybe there was some concentration in the water from not being thoroughly mixed? Is there anything I should do or a way to clean it? The Brush didn't seem to work at first, I may get in tomorrow and put some elbow grease to it.
 
I do not believe the borates has anything to do with what you are seeing.

Effloresence is typically presented above the water line. Yours would imply another calcium issue.
 
I chalked it up to just not noticing it before since my levels look great and water is crystal clear.

However today I walked out by the pool and see there is a white haze on everything above the water line and especially the grout lines.

I need help to figure out what I did wrong.. Did I add too much Borate? Salt too high or combo with calcium?!?

This is literally just shown up since I did the borate treatment a week ago and looks terrible. Also noticing black spots that don’t brush off easily in the bottom of the pool, I guess I’ll go down tomorrow and see if it’s mold but my chlorine is 5 and combined is 0

Levels this afternoon
pH 7.4
Fc 5 CC 0
TA 70
Ca 350
Cya 60
Salt 3600
Borates 50
Temp 90

Recommendations?
 

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I can't see how borates would matter. They add a bit to the TA, but should not cause scaling.

You have glass tile. That takes a lot of maintenance.
 
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