Plaster Start-Up Guides
We recommend you follow your Pool Builders start-up instructions for new plaster if provided. Below are start-up guides for reference.
You may also be interested in Plaster Installation threads that contains tips like this:
- The normal CSI guidelines are not applicable to new plaster finishes under 30 days old. It is actually necessary, to achieve a smooth and dense surface, to have about a +0.5 CSI during the first 30 days. This is because the plaster (cement paste) surface contains about 20% calcium hydroxide, which is somewhat soluble in balanced and slightly positive CSI water and can be dissolved away. The plaster surface needs to be "carbonated" before the CSI should be lowered to the acceptable and balanced range. And that generally is achieved during the first month under balanced water.[1]
TFP Guides
Bicarb Start-up guide for TFP members
Orenda Technologies start-up program
Installers Guides
Diamond Brite or Diamond Brite
NPT - JewelScapes/StoneScapes/QuartzScapes
WETEDGE 28 Day Start-Up Instructions
WET EDGE PEARL / SATIN MATRIX START-UP PROCEDURES
WET EDGE PRIMERA STONE START-UP PROCEDURES
Plaster Start-Up Chemistry
Newly plastered pools (less than 30 days) have completely different needs than when the plaster has been under water for at least one month. Keep that in mind with these suggestions for you to follow for the first month of your new pool.[2]
Since your plaster is less than 30 days old, the pH will always be very difficult to keep under 8.3. That is just the way it is. Fortunately, there is one way to ease that difficulty, and that is by maintaining the CSI (or LSI) at about +0.4 to +0.5 for 20 to 30 days. To achieve that high CSI, it is best to have a high alkalinity if possible, and the pH between 7.8 and 8.3. The calcium hardness should never be adjusted upward (if needed) until the pH is under 8.0. Daily additions of small amounts of acid will probably be needed for the first two to three weeks.
The following is an explanation about the above program, and it only applies to new plaster, not a plaster pool that is beyond 30 days. If or when the pH is low and/or the alkalinity is low, and the CSI is below +0.4, some plaster material (calcium hydroxide) will dissolve into the pool water and immediately cause the pH to rise dramatically. Only by maintaining the CSI at a high level will prevent the dissolution of calcium hydroxide from the plaster surface. Once 30 days have past, there is no longer any calcium hydroxide on the plaster surface because it has been carbonated. It is no longer a problem to deal with. The above information has been proven by @onbalance through many experiments.
One other point, do not use liquid chlorine for the first month unless you add acid at the same time. Liquid chlorine has a very high pH and could cause scaling when added if not neutralized by adding acid more than 15 minutes after, not at the same time, and brushing afterwards to remove scale (if present) and to circulate the water.
If you have low pH and high TA in your fill water, add acid and bicarb at the same time to lower the pH. If you add 7 lbs. of bicarb for every gallon of 31.45% acid, that will negate any change to the TA. But it will lower the pH. Get the CSI to a higher level mentioned above. Brushing is always necessary and vital for new plaster pools. Thousands of pools are successfully using the Bicarb Startup program or the Orenda's Positive LSI Calcium startup program.
Once your pool is beyond 30 days, maintaining the CSI near the 0.0 level, and maintaining a low TA will help ease the constant pH rise and have to add acid constantly.
