White splotches, spots, and lines (stains/fading?) in 3 year old fiberglass pool

[aylad]

Hi,

I'm not the person that can answer your question, but the ones that can should be by shortly. I will tell you this, though--one of the first things they'll ask for is a set of test results on your water, taken with drop-based testing, and a list of what chemicals (ingredients, not product names) have been put into the pool. With that info, hopefully somebody can give you some good info to help solve the problem!

You can also use the google search linked in my sig to search the forum for other posts regarding the same problem--you'll just have to log out to read the responding threads until your registration is upgraded by the forum's owner, Ben.

Welcome to the forum!

[viking]

Thanks! I retyped and posted this twice because it said I wasn't logged in the first time. Sorry. I am getting the info now.

[aylad]

I deleted your other, duplicate post. When new posters put posts up, they go into a queue to wait for a moderator to approve them before they show up on the forum. It's one of the steps in place to keep hackers/spammers out of the forum. One of us is almost always on the forum, so usually you don't have to wait long to see your post show up, but I guess we were all off at the same time last night!

[PoolDoc]

Hi Viking;

I don't know the answer to your question, but I have some ideas. However, I'm going to ask Waterbear, who's worked with FG pools, to see if he has any ideas -- you may have to wait for his reply; he's sorta on vacation this week.

Meanwhile, please
(a) send me those pictures -- [email protected],
(b) get some Vitamin C tabs, and put some on some areas that are NOT white, and see if they lighten up.
(c) also, sit a small pile of them on WHITE faded area, and see if they have any effect over a 24 hour period.

[viking]

Thanks for the reply. This morning I tried scrubbing a white splotch, after much effort, it lightened just a tad but is still there. It's as though it's part of the pool surface, like a rust stain would feel. It is completely smooth. I applied a descaler to it and scrubbed. I also applied 50/50 concentrations of m acid....no change! I am so disouraged.

I have a correction to make....my pool is ONLY 2 years old, not 3. Also, if it helps, I live in South Louisiana.

How do you suggest I apply the Vitamin C tabs? (I lowered the water level in the spa to expose/dry some of the staining.)

Thanks! This is consuming my time.

==========================================

I emailed some pics to you. Also, I just dropped a few C tabs in affected and non-affected area in the spa, which will be easier for me to monitor.

Thanks bunches!

[viking]

Hi there, here is an update:

After 24+ hours, there was no change on both affected and non-affected areas where the vitamin C tabs were placed.

We did hear back from the manufacturer. They claim that it IS scale, even though it is smooth. They said one of their display pools did the same thing, and they had to buff it down (after little success with chemical treatment). Our question to him was.... How could that happen? Did you not maintain proper water balance? (How odd for the manufacturer's pool to have problems; they are the pros.) He said the guy in charge of that claims he did maintain proper water. (I just wonder....if our water chemistry has been fairly good/normal, how can this happen so easily? I question the quality control of our pool surface?? I mean, it will likely happen again if we never had water problems. What do you think??? ....I'm ranting)

We will try to use a power buffer/sander as per the manufacturer's recommendation with the spa and see what happens. (I hope we are not sanding off the gel coat!) I'm not getting my hopes up, after all, I scrubbed yesterday with no success.


If this is what we may have to end up doing to the pool IF IT WORKS in the spa, my question is now: how in the world can we sand/buff a 20,000 FB pool? How will we drain water from a fiberglass pool with no drain hole at the bottom? AND isn't it dangerous to empty a FG pool? I know it can be done, but I am sure there are several precautions to take. (I am ranting.)

Awaiting your input. Thanks bunches!

[PoolDoc]

Be careful.

If you expose the surface to air, put mix a 1:3 solution of muriatic acid (1/4 cup acid to 3/4 cup water) and then put a spoonful on the 'scale'. If it's calcium scale, it will fizz. I don't have any experience with FG pool surface problems, but right now, my guess would be manufacturer defect, not scale.

Once you grind, you've taken responsibility for it though. So, I'd hold off. You can still swim and NOT affect any warranty or mfg defect claim. Waterbear is out of touch at the moment, but he has some knowledge of FG pools. You might want to wait till he's back.

Also, I'd call the mfg back and ask "What sort of scale?"

I'll get your pics posted, but I don't think they will necessarily be that helpful, till we get someone who has some experience with FG.