Steps - Switching from Baquacil to Chlorine

[Watermom]

I wouldn't bother with cleaning the pool yet and especially not changing the sand. I'd just start adding bleach. You say that your Baq. level is at zero or close, but you may find out that you do still have a little more in there than you think. When you add the bleach, you'll find out. It may turn some funky shades of green. After you are able to hold a chlorine level overnight and the pool water remains clear, then is the time to change out the sand. Wait to vac until you see if your pool does turn green. No sense in wasting water. Keep us posted with progress.

[madwil]

second what watermom said- don't change your sand until after you get a clear pool, the residual baquacil can cause you to have to change again!

[CarlD]

Yeah, you'll need to change the sand when it's all done, no choice in the matter, but it's a total waste of time and money to do it before.

Filter Sand is usually pretty cheap. A lot of the stores in my area regularly put it on sale for $5-$7 per 50lbs.

Carl

[GeneNTN]

madwil & CarlD (and all others!),
Your feedback is greatly appreciated – changing of the filter sand will be delayed until after a stable FC level (overnight) has been established. Sand in our area is $10-13 / 50 lb bag – as the local choices are very limited! Once the test kit arrives ~Tuesday (I hope), I’ll start dumping the bleach into the pool. Have a great day!
Gene

[GeneNTN]

Finally - an update!

After several days of very heavy rain showers - and more scheduled for later tonight, I un-covered / our pool, the water level was ~3-4” high, proceeded to start the circulation pump, brushed the pool walls & bottom, and cleaned some of the floating debris. And, took some pictures!

With my new Taylor K-2006 test kit in hand, the following readings were completed (or at least attempted!).
FC - 0 (did not turn pink!)
PH – 7.6
TA ~ 50 (purple instead of red, biquanide is assumed)
CH ~ 60 (purple color once again, 2nd on 2nd test the Hardness Agent was added 1st, but turned very light blue after the R0016 reagent was added, assumed 6 x 10 =60?).

Added 10 gal. of chlorine bleach (6%) - in order to proceed with the changing from Baquacil to Chlorine – and the water soon begun to take on a whole new nature (brownish green?)! So the water / pictures in the a.m. should really be interesting!

Should I re-test later tomorrow evening or just add the next batch of bleach?

Like always, any and all thoughts are welcomed!
Gene

[madwil]

I would test for FC and add bleach as often as possible- add enough to get FC to 15, keep adding (hourly isn't to often) however often you can until the pool holds the FC, then continue your conversion.
The more frequently you add the bleach, the faster the process will go- it's just like shocking the pool to get rid of algae, your just "killing" the chemicals from Baqua instead of a plant!

[GeneNTN]

Switching from Baquacil to Chlorine
Friday, May 27, 2011
As of 7 p.m. our pool has a cloudy bluish color (can not see the bottom in the shallow end), along with some floating matter and a smell of chlorine (from the dead junk still in the water?). However, not as bad as I originally expected, especially after only one 10 gallon dose of sodium hypochlorite (6%). Throughout the day today I did brush the sides and bottom of the pool – but I have NOT added any other additives! The test results for this evening are as follows:

Water temp = 68 degrees
FC = 20 ppm
CC = 10 ppm
pH = 7.0 (low)
TA = 50 ppm
CH = 40 ppm

My best guess would be to raise the pH level first by adding 2.0 – 2.2 lbs of Sodium Carbonate (Borax), via a sock in the strainer. However, I not sure if the high CC level should be addressed as well? The TA & CH could be increased once the pH has been raised.

A secondary question, is it possible that with a FC = 20ppm (24 hrs after the first dosage) has our pool for the most part already completed the transition from Baquacil to chlorine? From what I have read, this seems unlikely to me? But if this is fact true, when should we consider changing the filter sand, etc.?

In advance – “thank you” for taking your time to read and answer my concerns!
Gene
PS – A Great Weekend to everyone & and please take time on Memorial Day to remember all of our military – Past & Present!
PSS – I have some progress pictures of our pool, but not yet allowed to post any attachments. However, I could send them to you privately if anyone is interested?