SCALE: Excess calcium in the pool water will lead to a build up
of scale that can be readily deposited on the pool walls, floor, plumbing
or equipment. In order for scale to be present, an excessive amount of
calcium must be present and water chemistry must be out of balance. Scale
is obviously unattractive on the pool walls and floor, but it can become
a potential problem if it builds up in the plumbing or on the equipment.
For more specific information on scale, select from the following
topics:
CAUSES OF SCALE FORMATION: Scale is a build
up of calcium that can be readily deposited on the pool walls, floor,
plumbing or equipment. Scale will appear as a white, calcified deposit.
In order for scale to be present, an excessive amount of calcium must be
present and water chemistry must be out of balance - typically either
high pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, or a combination of any of the three. If
calcium is present and the water is out of balance, the calcium will be
precipitated out of the water, by either heat or evaporation, and will
deposit itself on the pools walls, floor, plumbing and equipment in the
form of scale.
Scale is obviously unattractive on the pool walls and floor, but it
can become a potential problem if it builds up in the plumbing,
restricting water circulation and filtration, or if it builds up on the
equipment, causing equipment failure and premature replacement.
It is due to this potential build up of scale that dictates that
Hardness, often called Calcium Hardness, must be tested and adjusted.
Visit your local pool professionals approximately once per month and have
them test your Hardness level, as well as all your other chemicals, on
the computer.
HOW TO TREAT SCALE FORMATION: If scale
occurs, either the pH, Alkalinity, Hardness, or a combination of any of
the three is high. You must test and adjust the Alkalinity,
Hardness, and pH - in that order. Then, once water chemistry is in range,
a Metal Sequestering Agent should be added to the water to remove the
scale. Read the instructions on the label before any application is made.
It will also help to brush the scale off of the pool walls and/or floor.
If scale occurs, poolmanual.com recommends that you take a water sample
to your local pool professionals and have them test the pH, Alkalinity,
and Hardness levels of your water on the computer and then listen to
their advice on the proper treatment.
SHOCK AS IT MAY RELATE TO SCALE FORMATION:
Since calcium can lead to scale formation and its destructive results, if
you traditionally have hard water (primarily due to high levels of
calcium), you should use Lithium Hypochlorite instead of Calcium
Hypochlorite to shock the pool. As the name implies, calcium is an
ingredient of Calcium Hypochlorite shock
