PoolGuyNJ

OK, I propose that no Pros answer then.

Demand a new, proper fitting liner. Do not fill any more. That was his screw up.

Replace the grids as needed. Don't use a brush, just a garden hose with a spray nozzle to clean the grids.

what kind of chlorine are you using? What is the pH of your fill water? How are you testing the water? Does your pH drop or are you just unable to get it into range and it always stays low? Also please post a full set of test results, preferably done with liquid reagents. I assume the pool is vinyl since it is an AGP. Sounds like he's using Trichlor tabs or dichlor powder. How much pH Up are you adding? Is it borax or dense ash? Is the pool indoors? Getting sun?

If the builder thinks an acid wash will fix it, do it now. Your plaster needs to cure for 14-21 days before it should be drained. I personally think its calcium being sucked out of the fresh plaster. Plaster dust usually settles in the bowl area and can be brushed off even after a COUPLE days. I have had this problem and every other plasterer has had the same thing happen. Colored plaster with liquid dye is a a gamble. You can do 50 of them and they all look great then the next 2 look like crap. Acid washing your colored plaster pool empty is going to probably be a disaster, sorry to say it. They probably will try a power washer also. I have had one pool saved with this sort of problem. It looked like white dust on the walls and floor but only half the pool had it. You could feel it and it looked like clouds, kinda milky. I hired a professional service guy to do an under water acid wash. He basically lowed the Ph a lot by adding acid to the pool. It must be done by a pro because its easy to mess the finish up and the HEATER. I would suggest doing it this way instead of wasting the water,its very easy to streak a colored pool acid washing it empty!!! You have nothing to lose so let them try whatever they want, your plaster came with a warranty!!! If it doesn't work out you might want to try and get another product that they offer. You really need to have something with powder dye in the mix, they are all much better than adding liquid dye to plaster. Diamond Brite, Sun Stone, River Rok,colored quartz, any thing. Even if you had to pay the difference it would be worth it. Dont let them fool you into thinking its so much more because its only a few hundred more for the material than plaster and liquid!!!! They knew when they added liquid dye that cost 25.00 to your pool, what could happen. Sorry to be so blunt about it but i know what you just spent and what you expect to get. Get the pH down too! New plaster will raise the pH pretty quickly, causing scale. I am assuming you filled the pool with your garden hose. Hence, that was why it took a number of days to get the system up. Add a metal sequestering additive to prevent metal stains. Brush twice a day. Run the pump on bottom drain and manually skim the surface. Watch your pressure. With all the dust coming off the plaster, you will need to clean the filter pretty often for the first couple weeks. Lower water temps will slow the curing process.

Like I said, a picture will help us to help you.

A picture of your equipment pad would be helpful in pointing you to the right direction and setting your expectations correctly. General geographic would help too.

I am not a big fan of the idea. It exposes the pool wall to more moisture. On-Ground pools, IMHO, don't belong in the ground. Many years ago, a dealer tried that same pitch on me. I didn't buy it then, still don't.

Post a picture please. It could be moisture or one of several other things. What state are you in?

To suggest that other brands can hold "Bubbles" is simply not true. ASTM standards don't include her. I try my best to recommend products from companies that that are as straight forward as I am. Loop-Loc is one of those companies. I have worked with other cover manufacturers. Loop-Loc is who I am most comfortable with. The safety cover market is highly competative but not all covers are made the same. You get what you pay for, and it's not just the cover that counts, the installer has a lot to do with it, especially if the installer measured the pool too.

To keep the pH down. use muratic. For a sanitizer, start with liquid. No algaecide for several weeks.

Salt will only raise TDS. It will not mess with pH or Alk levels. New plaster will tend to raise pH in a pool seriously for the first month and continue this at a slower rate for about a year.

Bet you'll find it's cheaper to replace the heater than to lose the spa's dividing wall.

How far down is the pool's water line? It should not exceed 18 inches. After that, the snow load should sit in the water and snow floats. An empty pool will pull the cover too much and can tear the straps off the springs and go in the pool. Poolguy, I don't understand your reasoning. The way a safety cover works is that it is anchored to the floor around the edge of the pool. All of the tension is on the springs and anchors outside of the pool. A low water level or empty pool cannot hurt the cover one single bit. No, not quite. Water must be no more than 18" below in order to support a snow load. The straps will let go of the springs otherwise. I have also seen covers tear. A safety cover is not considered safe by ASTM if the pool is too low or empty. No manufacturer will warranty or accept liability for a cover in that situation. Since water weighs 7 lbs/gallon, it'll only take 500 gallons to get to a cover's break point. A wet snow fall or accumulation of about 10 inches on the cover will get you there. On top of that, as the cover sags, the snow on the edges may slide toward the center of the cover, concentrating the load. More tension in a smaller area is not a good thing. With water in the pool, the snow may float or if the pool is frozen, it will rest on the ice.

How far down is the pool's water line? It should not exceed 18 inches. After that, the snow load should sit in the water and snow floats. An empty pool will pull the cover too much and can tear the straps off the springs and go in the pool.

As long as it doesn't have liner over steps, should be ok. I have always had labs and shepherds in my pool and never a problem. Even when they "duke it out" over a tennis ball in the pool. If you are moving to a climate that the pool needs winterizing, get a safety cover. Mine is a solid with mesh panels to drain rain water. The dogs have run across it for about 200 days/year for the last 7 years. They do put pin holes in it but no tears, thank G-d.