Just started with PoolForum

[chickgreen]

Been running baquacil for years and am tired of the issues that seem to come up every year - this was the worst - took almost a month to get the pool ready for use.

[PoolDoc]

Were you wanting a better way to run Baquacil? Or were you wanting to convert to chlorine?

We can help you convert, but we don't do much to help folks actually use PHMB based products, like Baquacil.

[chickgreen]

I will be converting to Chlorine (when I run out of baquacil supplies). Currently the pool is clear, although there is an occasional bad taste to the water.

[aylad]

We'll be glad to help you with the conversion when you're ready--you might want to go through the Baquacil forum and read through some of the threads there--there are lots of step-by-step posts by other folks during their conversions that will at least help you know what to expect.

[PoolDoc]

A couple of preparatory steps:

1. Do whatever you need to be READY to change the sand in your filter, when your done with the conversion.
2. Get a good test kit. You WILL need this. Info below.

Ben

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+ Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) / phenol test kit, or if available at YOUR Walmart (check availability), get the HTH 6-way DROPS test kit, which is compatible with the Taylor K2006. Test the pool as soon and you can, and post the results. If you get the 6-way kit, ALSO test the water you FILL the pool with, especially if it's a well, and post THOSE results as well. (The HTH is the best available kit you're likely to find locally, but it's not the K-2006. It can only provide rough measurements chlorine levels above 5 ppm, and it measures "TOTAL" hardness, rather than "CALCIUM" hardness, which is not ideal.)

+ Having a good test kit makes pool care easier for EVERYONE, but is an ESSENTIAL tool for pools with problems. A good test kit means a kit that can test chlorine from 0 - 25 ppm, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and stabilizer with reasonable accuracy. Test strips (AKA 'guess-strips' ) do NOT meet this standard. Some pool store testing is accurate; most is not. The ONLY way you'll know whether your pool store is accurate or bogus, is by testing accurately your own self. On the other hand, pool store 'computer' dosing recommendations are NEVER trustworthy -- ignore them. They are designed to sell more chemicals than you need, and WILL cause many pool problems.

+ We recommend the Taylor K-2006 test kit, which meets the requirements above, for many reasons. The HTH 6-way drops kit is a great starter kit, and is compatible with the K2006 (it's made by Taylor). There are a few alternatives; for example Lamotte makes an FAS-DPD kit that's OK -- but it costs 3x as much. But, we're not aware of any test that is better, and since we are all familiar with the K-2006 (and can help you with it) we recommend it exclusively ( Test kit info page )

One caution for the 2012 season: Amazon does not stock the kits directly. So when buying at Amazon, Amato is our current preferred seller. However, they often don't list enough stock to last the whole day, so try order mid-morning. You should expect a delivered cost under $60 for the K2006A and under $95 for the K2006C. If you can't find that, wait a day.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend (you can check local availability on the HTH kit, using the Walmart link):

HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) @ Amazon

[chickgreen]

Thanks - found a taylor K2006C on Amazon and ordered it - I think I have enough chems to finish the season with Baqua, and then let the baquacil run to 0 and start over next season. I suspect my water supply has loads of chlorine - it occasionally smells pretty strong!

[PoolDoc]

Keep in mind you do NOT need to test chlorine or CYA levels till you convert. There are only about 9 CYA tests in the K2006-A, so you don't want to waste them.

[chickgreen]

Thanks - buying the kit in advance so I don't have to panic later....

[Watermom]

Thanks - buying the kit in advance so I don't have to panic later....

You are so smart! Welcome to the Pool Forum, by the way!