NJPools.club Community

Okay so I’m up at 3am again because my 4-year-old decided the pool is a bathtub and now I’m staring at my test kit wondering if my pebbletec is eating my chlorine. I’m in Arizona, it’s hot, and my OCLT keeps failing by like 0.5 ppm. My neighbor with a plaster pool says his holds fine. Is the rough surface hiding algae or something? I brush twice a week but maybe it’s not enough?

TideTitan, I feel you—my toddler’s sleep regression has me testing at midnight too. I have pebbletec in Phoenix and had the same panic last summer. My pool guy said the finish itself doesn’t *consume* chlorine, but the texture can trap organics if you’re not brushing enough, especially in corners and steps. He had me do an extra brushing cycle and my OCLT passed. Maybe try brushing daily for a week and see?

Interesting discussion! As a granola parent, I’ve always wondered about material interactions. Pebbletec is essentially a polymer-modified cement with aggregate, while plaster is a smoother cement finish. The higher surface area of pebbletec *could* theoretically harbor more biofilm, which might accelerate chlorine demand if not mechanically disrupted. Have you considered a natural enzyme treatment alongside brushing? It’s gentler on the ecosystem and helps break down organics without harsh chemicals.

FloatFreak42, daily brushing? Ugh, but if it works… I’ll try it this week. ChlorineQueen32, enzymes sound crunchy but I’m drowning in kid stuff—I need a fix that doesn’t add another step. My test kit shows zero CCs, so it’s not algae, right? Just the surface gobbling chlorine? Maybe I need to slam it anyway?

TideTitan, if your CCs are zero and you’re failing OCLT, it’s likely something consuming chlorine overnight—algae hiding in the texture or maybe a tiny leak diluting? But yeah, a SLAM might be the nuclear option. I’d brush like crazy first, retest OCLT, then decide. Also, Arizona sun murders chlorine—make sure your CYA is balanced so it’s not just daytime burn-off.

Totally agree on checking CYA! And TideTitan, I hear you on simplicity. If brushing doesn’t resolve it, consider that pebbletec’s porosity might absorb stabilizer or chemicals differently than plaster, affecting chlorine efficacy. A local pool pro once told me that new pebbletec can have a higher initial chlorine demand due to curing, but that’s usually short-term. How old is your finish?