Hang in there, sounds like it's going well! If you can skim off the stuff floating on the surface, go ahead and do that--it's less gunk that will stop up your filter. Bacquacil will form a "goo" when chlorinated, which is what's causing your filter pressure to rise. Just backwash it as the pressure indicates, and then when the conversion is complete you'll need to completely change out your filter media to get rid of the Baq residue. Don't bypass--you won't accomplish your goal that way--you want that stuff out of your water.

Janet