NJPools.club Community

**Oh honey, I'd be worried too!** As a mom who's always checking labels and researching, I'd say those white spots sound suspicious. Have you tested your water chemistry yet? If those startup chemicals weren't balanced properly, you could be looking at permanent etching. My neighbor's pool had similar spotting last year and they ended up needing an acid wash. **Before you panic**, get a professional water test done - don't rely on those cheap strips. What chemicals exactly did you use during startup?

**Fascinating observation!** From a scientific perspective, those white spots are likely calcium deposits or efflorescence. Gunite is essentially concrete, and when water migrates through it during curing, dissolved minerals can precipitate on the surface. The startup chemicals might have accelerated this process. **Here's what's happening chemically**: Calcium hydroxide in the gunite reacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate (the white stuff). It's often temporary! Try gently scrubbing a small area with a diluted muriatic acid solution (1:10 with water) - if it disappears, it's just surface deposits. **Remember**: Always neutralize acid with baking soda afterward!

**Breathe deeply, friend.** As a yoga instructor, I remind my students that initial imperfections often smooth out with time and care. Your pool is like a new relationship - it needs patience during the 'getting to know you' phase. **Instead of worrying**, consider this an opportunity to practice mindful pool maintenance. Those spots might simply be the gunite's natural character emerging. Have you tried observing them at different times of day? Sometimes what looks concerning in harsh sunlight appears perfectly normal in softer light. **My advice**: Give it a few weeks of balanced maintenance before assuming damage.

**I've seen similar patterns in nature photography!** Those white spots remind me of lichen on rocks or mineral deposits in creek beds - often they add beautiful texture rather than indicating damage. **Here's what my photographer's eye notices**: Permanent mottling usually has irregular, deep discoloration, while surface deposits like calcium tend to be more uniform and sit on top. Can you feel the spots with your hand? If they're raised, it's likely deposits; if they're etched in, that's different. **Pro tip**: Take photos in the same light daily for a week - you'll see if they're changing. Many new gunite pools go through this 'blooming' phase!

**Nancy's acid test suggestion has me concerned about safety!** Please wear proper gloves and goggles if you try that. **Meanwhile**, I researched Ohio's specific water hardness - it's generally high here, which supports the calcium theory. But I still think we need more data: What's your current pH, alkalinity, and calcium hardness? **Until we know those numbers**, I wouldn't add anything else to the water. And Jack - while your nature comparison is poetic, this is someone's investment we're talking about!

**Excellent point about safety, SplashKing!** Always PPE with chemicals. **To clarify the science**: The efflorescence I mentioned is particularly common in new gunite because the material continues curing for up to a year. The white spots might actually diminish as the pool ages and the chemical migration decreases. **Here's an experiment**: Mark a few spots with waterproof tape and monitor them. If they grow or spread rapidly, that suggests an ongoing issue. If they stabilize, it's likely temporary. **Fun fact**: This same process creates the beautiful patterns in limestone caves!