I would have to try and collect some more. It was hard to determine if there was residue left or if it disappeared completely because it was mixed it with DE. From what I recall it bubbled for about 10 seconds. I can probably run the vacuum tomorrow and try and collect some more. As far as the day they plastered . I do recall it was a real light rain ( drizzly) kind of off and on and prob low 70s high 60... they did it around may 1st.
Driving me Crazy..I'm stumped
- Thread starter rspass
- Start date
I will also say this may 1st 2016 they plastered the pool.after a few weeks of brushing the pool and following start up procedures the pool looked perfect for the remainder of that year. No problems. But like i mentioned earlier, there were some streaks and pool builder advised a no drain acid wash would clean it up. So we did it First week of May 2017. It seemed to work with the white streaks but then I had this other issue ever since. Not sure if the acid wash could have been related to this issue.
Yes, the acid bath could also be playing a part in this problem. Did you watch the plastering being done? If you did, I am going to have several questions for you. Have you looked closely while taking a small brush to see if you can see any actual plaster material is coming off the wall?
Do you know how much acid was added for the acid treatment, and for how many days?
I will also need to know what your fill water test results are for pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness, and what was added during start-up.
I assume this is a dark color pebble finish?
Do you know how much acid was added for the acid treatment, and for how many days?
I will also need to know what your fill water test results are for pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness, and what was added during start-up.
I assume this is a dark color pebble finish?
yes dark finish Its hard to see if any plaster material coming off. Its white dust. I did go under water the other day with a small steel brush maybe maybe some of the powder could look gray but hard to tell. Really looks like white dust. As far as actually material, Its pebble. when pool first done and a little after acid bath I saw some pebble that vacuum picked up. I can't really see it coming off the walls when i brush. Im not exactly sure how much acid was added during acid wash. I think about 10 gallons (two 5 gallon containers) they brought PH down close to 0 I think. It was for 5 days. with a pump on a wire suspended in middle of the pool for circulation.
start up I added a sequential agent ( Start up tech.) I think 2 bottles
a little shock in the skimmer just to get a reading
Maybe muriatic acid for the ph but don't recall.
I brushed it everyday for about 3 or 4 weeks.
waited about 6 weeks to add salt
These are the numbers of my fill water..
PH 6.8
Calcium 100
Alkalinity 80
start up I added a sequential agent ( Start up tech.) I think 2 bottles
a little shock in the skimmer just to get a reading
Maybe muriatic acid for the ph but don't recall.
I brushed it everyday for about 3 or 4 weeks.
waited about 6 weeks to add salt
These are the numbers of my fill water..
PH 6.8
Calcium 100
Alkalinity 80
I let the polaris run and pulled some stuff out of it. its a mixture of grey "dirt or dust " and the white powder material you see in the photo.. mostly the grey... Very hard to separate.. I added muriatic acid.. Fizzing lasts for about 30 seconds... The grey stuff disappears and the white stuff does not dissolve. I guessing the the grey is plaster powder.. Is this your thought?
Yes, I think the gray material is plaster. And the white material is obviously something else and I am not sure what it is right now. When plaster material dissolves out from the plaster surface, it will lose the color pigment and becomes mostly white/gray in color.
This is a difficult call, and there may be two or three different things going on. To pursue this, it may require having a sample of the plaster analyzed.
Were you present during the plastering application?
This is a difficult call, and there may be two or three different things going on. To pursue this, it may require having a sample of the plaster analyzed.
Were you present during the plastering application?
I don't recall seeing that. Another Question. My fill water calcium is 100.. In the 2 years after plaster Ive never added calcium until now. I would just let it to "drift" up under advise of pool builder to 250 or wherever it was at cause I wasn't using my own proper test kit. I was always under the impression from pool stores and builder to keep my calcium at or around 200 to 225 / no higher than 250.. I have a salt water pool... Im starting to realize this looks to be wrong. 350 tp 400 seems to be my goal. Do you think the water has been pulling calcium from the pool walls to elevate it and thus creating this plaster dust?
According to tests that you posted, your pool water is not aggressive. So that would currently prevent any calcium from being pulled out of the surface.
And if the water was aggressive, it would simply dissolve the calcium completely and you wouldn't see it. It wouldn't result in a "visible" powder coming off the plaster surface, and then captured by your pool cleaner.
It sounds like the plaster is breaking down and deteriorating.
And if the water was aggressive, it would simply dissolve the calcium completely and you wouldn't see it. It wouldn't result in a "visible" powder coming off the plaster surface, and then captured by your pool cleaner.
It sounds like the plaster is breaking down and deteriorating.
Thanks ONBlance, Its starting to look that way. Any thought to why or how and what I can do. Anything you recommend to put in pool? Yes MY pool water is not aggressive right now.. but I just added 30lbs of Calcium last week . But I'm thinking it may have been somewhat aggressive for 2 years.. Especially during the winter when pool water dropped to freezing temps.. ( I'm in NJ) If my fill water was 100 an got up to 250 - 300 where did it get the calcium if I never added it until now. Wouldn't have gotten from the plaster? Will that cause plaster to dust ? I have no clue. I'm just staring to grasp how these chemicals work. I think right now I'm gonna keep Calcium up around 350 keep everything else in balanced according to the math and brush for a couple weeks to see if it resolves itself. If you have any other suggestions I'm all ears. Thanks for your help
You stated that your pool had a no-drain acid treatment. That probably etched and dissolved anywhere from 100 to 200 ppm of calcium off of the plaster surface, which is now part of the current total calcium hardness level of the pool water.
Yes you are correct. I didn't think of that... So is there a way to resolve this before it gets worse..? The plaster right now looks great / just about perfect so If I can get this under control there will really be no harm done other than maybe a lost couple years of plaster life. You mentioned before I may have to get the plaster analyzed..Is this where I'm at now and Do you have a suggestion where I should go for this and what I'm looking for?
I suggest watching for a while to see if the plaster "dusting" doesn't stop, especially since you have just added calcium to the water.
If it doesn't stop, then there is a serious problem, and I will work with you offline to have some plaster samples sent to a cement lab for petrographic analysis.
If it doesn't stop, then there is a serious problem, and I will work with you offline to have some plaster samples sent to a cement lab for petrographic analysis.
Hey Unbalance another quick question. I remember during pool start up putting in Start up tech as a Sequestering agent to help with the plaster dust. Is there anything I could put in right now while I brush that may help a little with the dust. Thinking beautec for Jacks Magic Purple. Or is it just waisting more $$$
i think it is a waste of money.
I would like you to describe the physical characteristics of the powder or residue of both the gray material and white material.
Such as; very hard and sharp crystals, or soft and powdery, etc.
It would be nice to see a close-up photo again of both the gray and white material.
I would like you to describe the physical characteristics of the powder or residue of both the gray material and white material.
Such as; very hard and sharp crystals, or soft and powdery, etc.
It would be nice to see a close-up photo again of both the gray and white material.