A rough to the feel pool surface is a real issue that
many pool owners face. The plaster may feel like very rough sandpaper and may
even cut your hands and feet when you go swimming. But there are technically
two different situations that can cause this, scale and etching. Each of these
conditions will leave the plaster feeling rough to the touch, but each is a
very different condition.
Scale is formed when the water becomes scale forming
and calcium will build up on the surface. Using the LSI (Langelier Saturation
Index) is one way to tell if your pool water is scale forming or corrosive (etching).
If the water is scale forming a product that removes the scale would be
something that can be used to reverse the rough plaster surface.
SC-1000 Scale and Metal Control
“SC-1000 is one of the original Orenda Products, and
was originally used in industrial cooling towers and water treatment
facilities.
SC-1000 contains no phosphates, unlike most metal
control products available. This is meaningful because those same products
(many of which are phosphate-based) would directly conflict with phosphate
removal efforts…but SC-1000 will not. Combined with Orenda’s PR-10,000
phosphate remover, the two products work in harmony.
When applied as directed, SC-1000 controls metal
staining and scale while being fully compatible with the materials of pool
& spa construction and other treatment chemicals. It can also do wonders
for removing existing scale in pool heaters, salt chlorine generators and other
equipment.
The SC-1000′s formulation was awarded the Environmental
Protection Agency’s Presidential Green Chemistry Award for its implementation
of environment-friendly chemical technology.”
Here is more about the difference between scale and
etching from Orenda Technologies:
“Scale (calcium carbonate) is formed when too much
calcium is in solution in the water, and it falls out of solution and hardens
on surfaces. It will be evident on the face of the tile, inside pipes and heat
exchangers, salt cells, etc. The hotter the water, the more likely scale will
occur. It occurs due to an LSI violation of being above +0.30 on the LSI.
Calcite Crystals occur when not enough calcium is
present in the water, and the water stays cold for a prolonged period of time.
The water is aggressive because it is hungry for more calcium…it seeks
equilibrium and wants to be properly saturated. It will extract calcium from
wherever it can. The most available source? Plaster and grout. Crystallized calcium
is usually some form of calcite that grows out of the plaster surface and
hardens. We know of at least 4 different types of calcite crystals. SC-1000 can
help soften some of the types, but not all. Unfortunately, some types of
crystals require physically grinding them away.
SC-1000 is not a replacement for balancing your water.
It also cannot reverse etching already done. Because of this, if you’re going
to stray from the LSI safe zone, err to the high side, because the scale is
treatable. The etching is permanent.”
If your pool has scale it can be treated and slowly
reversed but like Orenda Technologies states, etching is permanent so it is
very important to check your LSI or get the LSI checked so you know if you have
scale or etching in the pool since both feels very much the same to the touch.
For the complete podcast series with Orenda:
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 1 of 6: Virtual Classroom and App
(Episode 325): https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/3040495
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 2 of 6: Phosphates (Episode 326):
https://www.buzzsprout.com/110832/3040546
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 3 of 6: Enzyme Treatment (Episode
327):
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 4 of 6: High CYA (Episode 328):
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 5 of 6: Balancing the LSI
(Episode 329):
Orenda
Technologies Water Quality Issues Series Part 6 of 6: Scaling & Etching
(Episode 330):
Visit my Website: http://www.swimmingpoollearning.com/
YouTube Video Index: http://poolmandave.blogspot.com/2014/03/swimming-pool-tips-reviews-how-to-video.html – A list of all of my videos.
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