We had an underground saltwater pool installed last summer. The pool was filled by the local fire department. Almost immediately after starting up the pool & all the systems, there was a substance that kept re-occurring in our deep end, around the edges. If the sunshine is out, it sparkles, almost looks like crystals. But if you swim down & touch, it poofs & disappears, but it always re-settles back down in the corners.
All summer we battled this & our pool installers were no help. They are saying that its a calcium buildup & blamed the water that was put into our pool. They said it wasn't their chlorinator or pump causing this. We would sweep up the debris & it would be clear for 24-36 hours, then eventually the substance would re-appear. It was there all season.
When we closed the pool last season, we did one final sweep. We opened the pool cover occasionally throughout the winter & it was crystal clear with no substance. Then when we opened it this Spring, it was still crystal clear. As soon as the pump & chlorinator were turned back on this Spring, the substance has since re-appeared & is repeating what we saw last year. Now this year, if you wear goggles, you can almost see tiny tiny flakes in the water, that look like egg shells. They are the most obvious by our two jets blowing water back into the pool, which leads me to wonder if this isn't a pump issue? Or is it just a coninsidence?
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated. I am new here, so if my post is missing crucial information ,please let me know & I'll provide it to help get answers. I am desperately hoping someone here can help me because my pool company has been zero help & its super frustrating.
Flakes in Water and a Re-Occurring "crystal" Substance in Deep End
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- My Pool: Rectangle Shaped Underground Pool.
16' X 38'.
3' Shallow & 8' deep end with a 8" Sunshelf Ledge.
Saltwater Pool with chlorinator.
Electric Heat Pump Heater. - Location: Indiana
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- Pool Industry Leader
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Re: Flakes in Water and a Re-Occurring "crystal" Substance in Deep End
Without accurate test results hard to say what the suspended matter is but I guess you would rather just be rid of it. Its too fine to filter out in most cases so I would use flocculent. This will, used correctly cause it to clump together on the bottom of the pool so you can vacuum it out to waste. Flocculent should be added and rapidly mixed so use recirculate on the filter. Let it mix in and then switch off the system and let the floccs form. Then gently vacuum to waste. Fitting skimmer socks will also help catch it especially if you scrunch up a cotton towel into the skimmer basket.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
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- Pool Industry Leader
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- Joined: Thu 29 Apr, 2021 00:43
- My Pool: 12000 gallons vinyl liner,
Re: Flakes in Water and a Re-Occurring "crystal" Substance in Deep End
As I just posted on another thread as the idea has just popped back into my conscious, Could be undesolved chems. Something like CYA can take around 2 weeks to dissolve.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
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- My Pool: 18,000 in ground with Pentair controller and pumps
Re: Flakes in Water and a Re-Occurring "crystal" Substance in Deep End
KMINDIANS:
I have a saltwater pool in AZ and it does that when the temp gets over the 105F mark. Pool expert in the area told me they are calcium flakes and a byproduct of the chemical process once temps get high in saltwater pools. Check your chemical mix. "By nature, Calcium white flakes are common in saltwater swimming pools. This is because of the high temperature and pH in electrolytic chlorine generators and the use of calcium in the production of chlorine introduced in the pool. White flakes or calcium buildups do not just come in saltwater pools overnight but due to the gradual accumulation of calcium scales in the chlorine generator's salt cell plates. When you start seeing white flakes entering your pool through the inlet, it's too late because calcium buildups have already invaded your salt cell plates. As the chlorine is produced in the electrolytic salt cell of a chlorine generator, a byproduct known as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is formed, which by nature drives pH high in the salt cell and its environs.
Calcium scales or white flakes always form as a result of three things, and they include:-
1) Heat,
2) High pH and
3) High mineral levels
All these three factors are abundant in the salt cell and its environment. 105f, I have to double the amount of Muradic acid I have to use. If acidity gets too low it will also effect the chlorine levels and can increase calcium flaking."
I have a saltwater pool in AZ and it does that when the temp gets over the 105F mark. Pool expert in the area told me they are calcium flakes and a byproduct of the chemical process once temps get high in saltwater pools. Check your chemical mix. "By nature, Calcium white flakes are common in saltwater swimming pools. This is because of the high temperature and pH in electrolytic chlorine generators and the use of calcium in the production of chlorine introduced in the pool. White flakes or calcium buildups do not just come in saltwater pools overnight but due to the gradual accumulation of calcium scales in the chlorine generator's salt cell plates. When you start seeing white flakes entering your pool through the inlet, it's too late because calcium buildups have already invaded your salt cell plates. As the chlorine is produced in the electrolytic salt cell of a chlorine generator, a byproduct known as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is formed, which by nature drives pH high in the salt cell and its environs.
Calcium scales or white flakes always form as a result of three things, and they include:-
1) Heat,
2) High pH and
3) High mineral levels
All these three factors are abundant in the salt cell and its environment. 105f, I have to double the amount of Muradic acid I have to use. If acidity gets too low it will also effect the chlorine levels and can increase calcium flaking."
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- Pool Industry Leader
- Posts: 1345
- Joined: Thu 29 Apr, 2021 00:43
- My Pool: 12000 gallons vinyl liner,
Re: Flakes in Water and a Re-Occurring "crystal" Substance in Deep End
Hard water = high calcium = flakes, other factors may bring it in sooner but the cure is removing some calcium. Acid lowers pH might put it back in solution but its not a cure.
I may not give you the answer you want to hear, but I will give an honest opinion of your situation as you decribe it.
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