Any new pool with a rendered finish is most vulnerable to calcium build-up during what’s called the “start-up period”, or the first 4 weeks after installation. Ensure you strictly follow these steps in order to prevent damage to your pool surface.
- Add ‘Cal-Stop™’ as soon the pool has been filled. Cal-Stop™ is an additive designed to keep dissolved minerals, such as calcium, in their liquid form. This will prevent the minerals from solidifying and ‘scaling out’ on the surface. Note: Cal-Stop™ does not remove existing calcium scale, it is a preventative measure.
- Ensure that your pool water is balanced to the recommended levels (see inside front cover) as soon as your pool is filled. If you have used a pool builder, they often will do this for you prior to the handover of the pool. Note: Do not adjust CH until after 4 weeks (see page 8).
- Your pH will rise rapidly over the first month. If your pH level rises above 8.0, calcium scale may start forming on the walls and floor of your pool even if you have used CAL-STOP appropriately. Because of this, it is vital that your pH is maintained within the suggested range. Following this schedule will help maintain your pH levels:
- First week – every day
- Week 2 – every second day
- Weeks 3 and 4 – every third or fourth day 7
- Test TA weekly and adjust as necessary. If TA is lower than 100ppm (parts per million), increase to recommended levels by adding total alkalinity increaser (your local pool shop can provide detailed information).
- Do not add calcium within the first 4 weeks. Your calcium hardness will increase over the first few weeks as the cement in your concrete shell and in the Aristone™ cures.
- Brush the walls and floor of your pool daily with a nylon pool brush to remove chemical and mineral residues from the surface. Allow the residue to settle then manually vacuum excess residue and backwash the filter.
- Do not add salt within the first 4 weeks. Instead, we suggest stabilised liquid chlorine for water sanitation during the start up period.
Week 5 Onwards
- Test pH and TA weekly and balance to the levels recommended on the inside front cover.
- Add hydrochloric acid and total alkalinity increaser as required.
- Test CH immediately in Week 5, if it’s lower than 200 ppm (parts per million), increase to within recommended levels by adding calcium hardness increaser. Later, test CH monthly and balance.
- Brush the walls and floor of your pool with a nylon pool brush regularly to remove chemical and mineral residues from the surface. Allow the residue to settle, then manually vacuum excess residue to waste. Do this as long as residue continues to appear on the walls and floor.
- Add salt (if it has not been already added) and start the salt-water chlorinator. Spread the salt evenly around the pool (keep moving the salt in the water until it is fully dissolved). Do not allow undissolved salt to settle at the bottom of the pool, this can create salt stains.