If you are about to fill your swimming pool please keep in mind that the longevity of your pool and equipment depend on doing things correctly.
New Pool / Spa Installations
Newly plastered swimming pools and spa's (i.e. not tiled, fiberglass or liner pools) undergo a series of chemical reactions during the curing of the cement. During this time (approximately 90 days), lime leaches out of the concrete, raising pH of the water and forcing the water balance towards a scaling condition. If neglected, Calcium Carbonate will form, resulting in coffee-like stains, roller marks and coarse deposits on the pool surface.
To reduce the risk of scale formation, acid must be added on a daily basis and the pool / spa must be brushed during every visit. Ideally the owner should be informed of the situation and educated to add approximately ¼ gallon of acid per day until the pH stabilizes. The acid should be diluted in a bucket of water and poured into the deep end (away from the walls). Be very careful not to splash acid on the decks! If you pour undiluted acid directly into the pool, it will roll down the walls of the pool / spa (i.e. the density of acid is far greater than water) etching the plaster.