How to start up again after re-marbelite
What is Marbelite?
Marbelite is a coloured marble plaster with a cement base that comes in a variety of colours. If done correctly marbelite can last 15 to 20 years but at some point, you might need to re-marbelite your pool. In order to do this, your entire pool will need to be drained but you can use water storage bladders to save money and re-use the water.
PoolSense will help you maintain the water quality in your pool however refer to this great start-up guide generously provided by ACME Pool and Spa.
Guide to the chemical treatment of water in a refilled pool
Test the Source Water
Before the pool is plastered, a sample of the tap water should be taken to a pool shop who will test it. This is particularly important if borehole water is used.
- pH (not to be below 7.4).
- Check for the presence of iron or copper in the solution. If metals are present, add metal remover. (See day 3 step 4 below). It is advisable to add a metal remover even if no metals are found to be present.
- Calcium hardness. The ideal is 250 ppm for start. Below this, calcium chloride should be added (See day 3 step 3 below).
- Total alkalinity. The ideal is 100 ppm. Below this, an alkalinity increaser (Sodium Bicarbonate) should be added. (See day 3 step 5 below). Correct Total alkalinity level helps stabilise pH and Low alkalinity will cause volatility with your pH level.
Your nearest pool shop will recommend the appropriate products to remedy the quality of the water, but you will need to provide the correct volume of the pool for accurate prescriptions. (Your contractor can provide volume, but you may want to take a meter reading if you are filling from one source with a water meter, just to verify and have an accurate number in future.) The water quality varies from area to area within the same town/city and rarely meets the requirements needed for a chemically well balanced pool.
Filling the pool
Fill the pool from the deep end
- Commence filling the pool from the deep end. We recommend the use of a deflector on the end of the hosepipe to prevent damage to the surface. Fill the pool in one go to avoid a water-ring from forming. Damp down the exposed PoolCrete (coloured marble plaster) every hour to prevent premature drying. Protect the plaster from staining (particularly from mud splashes) until the pool is filled. Add the required calcium chloride in flake form (dissolved in a bucket of water – large quantities should be split and added in 2 or 3 doses an hour apart as the pool fills and starting when the water is ± 300mm deep).
Add metal remover, brush the pool and start the filter
- Add metal remover while filling.
- Once the pool is filled, add the required alkalinity increaser (dissolved in a bucket of water – large quantities should be split and added in 2 or 3 doses an hour apart) and check again for metals, total alkalinity and calcium hardness. Brush the pool using a nylon pool brush. Vacuum to waste to remove dust and debris.
- Start filter. Do not introduce an automatic cleaner to the pool for 3 weeks. Using a nylon pool brush, brush the pool regularly to remove dust, chemical precipitation and debris.
- Use your PoolSense device to ensure that the pH remains above 7.6 but not more than 7.8. This will aid the curing and hardening process of the PoolCrete. Do not use any acid for the first 3 weeks.
- Dose only with small quantities of unstabilised granular dry chlorine, or unstabilised liquid chlorine during this period.
After 3 weeks
- Day 22. After 3 weeks check the pH and add only 25ml hydrochloric acid per 10 000L of pool water (e.g.100ml per 40 000L pool) dissolved in a plastic bucket of the pool water in any single 6 hour period with the filter running. Repeat the dose until the pH reads between 7.4 and 7.6. It could take over a week before the pH is corrected. Never use sulphuric acid in the pool.
- The water should be balanced to the following parameters:
- Total Alkalinity > between 80ppm and 125ppm
- Calcium hardness > between 200ppm and 275ppm
- pH > 7.4 to 7.6
- Chlorine > between 1 to 3
- Stabilizer > between 40ppm and 70ppm
- Follow your PoolSense instructions for dosing from now on.
If a salt water chlorinator is installed
- If a salt water chlorinator is installed the following should be observed:
- Turn off your pool’s salt chlorine generator before adding the salt. (±1 bag for every 20 000 litres of water). Only good quality, evaporated, granulated, food quality salt-free of iodine, caking agents and metal oxides should be used. Do not use rock salt. Some salt chlorine generators may need to continue running during treatment to process the salt. Refer to the literature included with your generator to find out whether to turn it off or leave it on.
- Tip: Make sure you leave the pump on. The gentle circulation of the water will help the salt dissolve faster.
- Walk around the pool pouring in the salt a little at a time. Snip the corner of a bag of salt and begin shaking it (avoid lumps) in while you slowly circle the pool. This will help distribute it more evenly throughout the water. Try to sprinkle the salt 0.5m away from the edge of the pool to keep it from piling up around the walls or simply drifting into the skimmers. Do not dump bags of salt onto the pool surface as this may discolour PoolCrete and cause surface deterioration.
- Use a brush to disperse salt that’s settled at the bottom of the pool. Focus on low-lying spots, such as the area around the main drain. The motion of the brush will also encourage the salt to dissolve more rapidly.
- Continue running your pool’s filter until the salt dissolves completely. For most average-sized home swimming pools, this will take 18 – 24 hours, depending on the water temperature and strength of circulation. Larger pools will take longer depending on the size of the pump and filtration type.
- The automatic pool cleaner can now be introduced to the pool.
Important information
- Always follow the chemical manufacturers’ instructions when adding chemicals to the pool. Chemicals should be added in a controlled way as it is not advisable to overdose with any chemical hoping that the effect will last two weeks rather than one.
- Overdosing can damage the PoolCrete Overdosing with acid causes etching of the PoolCrete surface and destroys total alkalinity. Always dilute acid before dosing, and add while the pump is running to ensure even distribution.
- Overdosing with calcium hypochlorite (dry granular chlorine) causes scale build-up and high pH.
- Overdosing with trichloroisocyanuric acid (stabilised chlorine) causes a drop in pH and etching of the PoolCrete surface as it neutralises itself by leeching the calcium from the PoolCrete. Keep chlorine pills or granules well away from the immediate plaster surface of the pool. Also, keep out of the direct jet and away from or near the weir.
- The use of a gas chlorinator is not recommended. Due to the chemical reactions that take place where the gas is introduced to the water, HCl is formed which causes etching of the PoolCrete surface and results in serious staining.
- We recommend the use of Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (pH neutral chlorine) as the best way to chlorinate with the least risk of radical pH changes.
- Correct water balance is critical to ensure the proper performance of the pool products, protect your investment and obtain maximum enjoyment from your pool by using a PoolSense Smart Pool Monitor to ensure clean, balanced and clear water.
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