Hard water and pool scale

[Hardy]

I always keep my pH at 7.4 - 7.6. I got scale on the walls and floor of my inground pool.

The pool is a plaster pool and the scale is so rough and thick, you can see it a mile off. When you step on it it feels like sandpaper.

How do I treat the scale and how can I preven scale forming more?

[Larry]

Hi Hardy

Sounds like the problem is not the pH. You have either got high total alkalinity or high hardness levels or both.

If the problem is high total alkalinity read reducing total alkalinity

If you have water with calcium hardness levels over 400ppm, consult your local pool shop for a calcium "stabilizer" or similar calcium treatment.

Unfortunately the only way to get rid of the existing scale problem is an acid wash.

[Hardy]

Thanks for that Larry.

I borrowed my neighbor's test strips - 5 in 1, and you were right. The total alkilinity is around 250 and the hardness is about 800.

I think I'm gonna drain the pool and do an acid wash. When I fill it up again I will check all these things and try to get the alkilinity and hardness where they should be so as I don't end up with the scale again.

Great work on the forum and thanks again.