Calcium Stain Risks in Concrete Pools
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Calcium buildup can be one of the most frustrating maintenance challenges you’ll encounter as a pool owner. Those stubborn white scales, scuff marks and nodules can quickly turn your beautiful pool into an eyesore if not addressed promptly.
Calcium buildup occurs when your pool’s water chemistry is out of balance, particularly when calcium hardness levels and / or pH are out of range. It causes disparate and often scattered marks on the underwater pool surface area and can also take the form of hard nodules that grow larger over time. It typically happens due to a combination of:
- Consistently high pH levels
- Calcium hardness in your water supply that is too high or too low (usually too high).
The unsightly signs of calcium staining can sneak up very rapidly… even within weeks after a full renovation with a newly plastered surface. Intuition might tell you that calcium levels would be the major cause but a quick turn in the pool’s appearance is generally caused more so by the water pH being out of balance. That’s because, when pool water is between the recommended pH range of 7.2 and 7.8, calcium is kept suspended in the water itself. However when the alkalinity level rises, it can start to come out of solution more quickly.
That being said, even a pool that is kept in balance from a pH standpoint can develop calcium issues (albeit more slowly) if the calcium hardness levels are too high over a period of time. It can be treated chemically or via scrubbing with a pumice stone but this will generally only be a temporary solution in the event of high calcium hardness in your water (above 250ppm). In our experience, the best means of reducing high calcium hardness is via dilution (ie: partially drain and replace with water of a lower calcium hardness).
Like most problems in life, prevention is better than cure. Regular testing and addressing imbalances on the advice of suitably experienced pool technicians is the best approach. We strongly encourage our customers to discuss their pool’s treatment plan to get a solid understanding of the underlying principles they are applying.
In the event you are experiencing sudden calcium build up in your pool, The first step is to check and rebalance (if necessary) pH before then confirming and bringing down (again, if necessary) the calcium hardness levels via dilution back into the recommended range (200-250ppm for a Rainbow Quartz pool). Again, we strongly recommend discussing the matter with a trusted and experienced pool technician.
Rainbow Quartz
Your pool, Your colour, Your choice
The above content is of a general nature. Different pools offer different variables and Rainbow Quartz encourages you to seek the advice of your professional pool builder or technician in relation to your specific circumstances. If you’re in the market for a new pool and would like Rainbow Quartz for the finish on your concrete pool, please reach out – we are happy to answer queries and can put you in contact with vetted pool builders in your area.