My pool is 4 years old, 18k gal, salt, gunite in KY. I am (hopefully) learning to manage it. There are a number of small white mineral (I presume calcium) deposits. These are mostly around 1/8 to 1/4 inch; some are thin (maybe 1/16 inch) and longer up to 2 inches. Some of these are in small imperfections in the plaster surface. The surface in general is mildly rough (sandpaper like) and not as smooth as 4 years ago. Is all this due to scale? Recent numbers: Chl 3.0, pH 7.7, TA 95, CYA 36, CSI (-0.28), Chl/CYA 0.083, CH 251, Salt 4100, Phos 4000, Water temp 58. I was not aware of the significance of the saturation index until recently so I’m paying attention to CSI now. Any specific ideas of products or other advice that will help with the scaling? I appreciate any and all advice! Thank you.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,809
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
How are you testing your pool water?
The cornerstone to TFP is pool owner testing. To do this you need a quality drop based test kit.
Test Kits Compared
Without reliable test results from your own test kit, we would all be guessing.
Pool store results have proven to be unreliable - as are at home automated device tests.
Have a read thru Pool Care Basics.
How are you testing your pool water?
The cornerstone to TFP is pool owner testing. To do this you need a quality drop based test kit.
Test Kits Compared
Without reliable test results from your own test kit, we would all be guessing.
Pool store results have proven to be unreliable - as are at home automated device tests.
Have a read thru Pool Care Basics.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,077
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,889
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I self test 1-2x weekly using Taylor K2006 Salt kit and monthly (or less) at the pool store. The first year I started using the company that built the pool and moved away from them whey I asked about CYA and got a blank stare in return. Thanks for the links.Welcome to TFP!
How are you testing your pool water?
The cornerstone to TFP is pool owner testing. To do this you need a quality drop based test kit.
Test Kits Compared
Without reliable test results from your own test kit, we would all be guessing.
Pool store results have proven to be unreliable - as are at home automated device tests.
Have a read thru Pool Care Basics.
Some images are from this summer when I partially drained the pool to lower CH. The deposits are relatively soft - most can be scraped with a plastic putty knife or soft pumice. However they have recurred. Now that I know to watch CSI. If they really are scale, I'm looking for help to minimize them and keep them away as best as possible. Thanks!
Attachments
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,889
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Look more like efflorescence...you agree @ajw22 ?
www.troublefreepool.com
Efflorescence - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,809
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The results you posted look to be from a pool store or a mix of pool store results and your own testing results.
Post a full set of current test results from your K-2006 Salt test kit.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt
Water temperature
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,077
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
They are calcium nodules.
CSI and water chemistry does not make a difference in their formation.
www.troublefreepool.com
Calcium Nodules in pools What are calcium nodules? In swimming pools and spas, they are small mounds, bumps, deposits, or “slag” piles of calcium carbonate which are formed from material that has been released from the plaster. The small calcium nodules are rough to the touch, hard, and generally gritty. Nodules may form singularly (far apart or sporadically), or many and close together along a crack in the plaster surface.
Unusual Calcium Nodules About a dozen years ago, the onBalance team began investigating a slightly different and smaller type of nodule in recently plastered pools. Some of the nodules had not developed on delamination cracks, but instead, they had formed on severe “crazing” or “check” cracks that were nearly invisible. See photos of small nodules
CSI and water chemistry does not make a difference in their formation.
Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Calcium Nodules in pools What are calcium nodules? In swimming pools and spas, they are small mounds, bumps, deposits, or “slag” piles of calcium carbonate which are formed from material that has been released from the plaster. The small calcium nodules are rough to the touch, hard, and generally gritty. Nodules may form singularly (far apart or sporadically), or many and close together along a crack in the plaster surface.
Unusual Calcium Nodules About a dozen years ago, the onBalance team began investigating a slightly different and smaller type of nodule in recently plastered pools. Some of the nodules had not developed on delamination cracks, but instead, they had formed on severe “crazing” or “check” cracks that were nearly invisible. See photos of small nodules
Wow...VERY interesting. Thank you PoolStored and ajw22! So it sounds like time may heal with periodic scraping, with the option of selected epoxy use. From the links, that probably also explains why the nodules had a darker perimeter when I had partially drained the pool, probably from water that had seeped behind the plaster surface. Another confirmation - when I was underwater with a plastic scraper, tiny air bubbles were coming out of (only) one of the deposits as I scraped it. Thanks so much!They are calcium nodules.
CSI and water chemistry does not make a difference in their formation.
Plaster Installation and Maintenance - Further Reading
Calcium Nodules in pools What are calcium nodules? In swimming pools and spas, they are small mounds, bumps, deposits, or “slag” piles of calcium carbonate which are formed from material that has been released from the plaster. The small calcium nodules are rough to the touch, hard, and generally gritty. Nodules may form singularly (far apart or sporadically), or many and close together along a crack in the plaster surface.
Unusual Calcium Nodules About a dozen years ago, the onBalance team began investigating a slightly different and smaller type of nodule in recently plastered pools. Some of the nodules had not developed on delamination cracks, but instead, they had formed on severe “crazing” or “check” cracks that were nearly invisible. See photos of small nodules