Brand new pool, calcium build up on tiles

[HFD_Chase]

Hello all! I just had my plaster done and have stonescape pebble with new tile. My old tiles had a lot of calcium build up and now on these brand new ones it's already back. The pool was filled with water and the startup chemicals on May 20th. 2 weeks later I already have quite a bit of build up on the tiles. The builder did the start up and I have been checking the levels myself to make sure they are in range. What is going on and how to fix and stop this?? My calcium levels are only 150 right now and pool math calculator says recommended level is 200 so slightly low. I asked the builder and he said that's okay but obviously something is not okay.

 

[mknauss]

Appears to be effloresence. All of it is originating above the water line.
See Efflorescence - Further Reading

 

[Bperry]

Hello all! I just had my plaster done and have stonescape pebble with new tile. My old tiles had a lot of calcium build up and now on these brand new ones it's already back. The pool was filled with water and the startup chemicals on May 20th. 2 weeks later I already have quite a bit of build up on the tiles. The builder did the start up and I have been checking the levels myself to make sure they are in range. What is going on and how to fix and stop this?? My calcium levels are only 150 right now and pool math calculator says recommended level is 200 so slightly low. I asked the builder and he said that's okay but obviously something is not okay.View attachment 582230View attachment 582231

Looks like its only appearing on the grout area?

 

[ajw22]

That looks like Efflorescence - Further Reading and has nothing to do with your water chemistry or calcium levels.

Water gets into the gunite and finds places to flow out taking minerals with it. It may be from the red areas circled.

 

[HFD_Chase]

That looks like Efflorescence - Further Reading and has nothing to do with your water chemistry or calcium levels.

Water gets into the gunite and finds places to flow out taking minerals with it. It may be from the red areas circled.

Thank you all for all of your input! For the grout missing below the big rectangle tile, that tile is just lying against that step. It was broken out and the concrete aggregate decking will be covered with spray deck soon and I'm taking all the tiles out like that one that you see around the steps so I don't have to worry about them breaking anymore.

I checked out the links and from what I'm reading, "Efflorescence is normally a soft powdery material that can be brushed away." This can not be brushed away, it's hard as a rock. It is on the wall where the spa is and spillway though so I'm assuming you all are right about it. I'm not seeing much of a "fix" though in those links unless I'm really just not understanding. I don't even know what to tell my pool builder to fix at this point as this was one of my major complaints prior to the pool even being done with my old tile. I attached a pic of the overall area where it grows. I don't really see it around the perimeter of the pool, just that big wall.

 

[ajw22]

Efflorescence is more likely hard then soft. All depends on the minerals it is carrying out of the surface,

The big wall is a perfect place for water from the deck to get into the gunite and then it finds a path out.

The fix is to waterproof the outside of the gunite so water cannot get into it. That would require digging up your deck.

 

[HFD_Chase]

Efflorescence is more likely hard then soft. All depends on the minerals it is carrying out of the surface,

The big wall is a perfect place for water from the deck to get into the gunite and then it finds a path out.

The fix is to waterproof the outside of the gunite so water cannot get into it. That would require digging up your deck.

Man...that sucks. Sounds like my most realistic option is just to get out there and make sure I scrub the tiles and grout every few days for the life of the pool to keep it from getting out of hand then, is that correct? I really appreciate everyone's input!