Taking the Plunge - Baquabeast conversion starting

[lizzie64]

Watermom = thanks for the reassurance

Was just outside. Did my testing and CL was 5.0. That's the highest it's stayed so maybe we are making progress.

Have to go out and buy some more bleach today. Been through 52 jugs already. WOW

Also, the color didn't turn so much when I added the bleach this time, so I guess that's progress.

[lizzie64]

So I think we're making progress.

It's taking only 4 jugs instead of 6 or 7 now. I'm checking every 2 hours.

Also - while the water is still a murky cloudy green, it looks like the green is separating from the water. Does that make sense???

When I look in the pool, I see some clarity and what looks like particles floating throughout.

Someone please tell me, this is normal

[aylad]

Keep going, you're doing fine! Just keep an eye on your filter and backwash it as necessary--once the Baq starts coming out, it may gum your filter up pretty quickly.

Janet

[lizzie64]

Thanks Janet!!

So for the last two days all the bleach I've put in has basically gone to breaking down the baq. Is that the separation I'm seeing??

I've already gone through about 69 jugs of 6% bleach.

Funny thing is I may have the guy at Aldi's convinced to switch too. LOL

[aylad]

Yup, you're breaking down the Baq so it can be filtered out and removed from the pool. You'll see that once your water starts improving, you'll have to add less and less chlorine. And when it doesn't drop overnight, you'll know you're done! (Except for changing your filter media, which you will have to do to get the rest of the Baq out of your pool)

Janet

[lizzie64]

Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!

I've noticed that I've gone from dumping 7-8 jugs to 3-4. That makes me happy.

I should have really overexaggerated the estimate of how many jugs of bleach we'd need. Had I done that, I wouldn't have to listen to hubby say "I though you said 80 jugs, it's going to be double that".

[revhendrix]

Lizzie...sounds like you're doing great. I used 80 gals of bleach...each jug was 1.42 gal each. I never expected to need that much because my Baquacil levels were low at the time of conversion.

Keep up the good work and soon you'll start to see the water clearing even more.......

REV

[lizzie64]

Rev - thanks for the encouragement. I could use it. This is such a daunting and scary thing to do.

My kids are mad because they can't swim. They would have complained that the water was too cool for them, mind you. However, now that it warmed up a bit outside, the good news for them is : Not only do they get a nice sparkling crystal clear pool to swim in, but it's also now at 84 degrees.

[lizzie64]

I can't believe it

I'm starting to see the bottom of the pool. It's still looking green, especially in the center, but it's gone from the mucky green pea soup to that lime green gatorade.

the only thing that worries me is that the pressure on my pump really hasn't risen much this whole time. I've backwashed it when needed, but I got the impression the pump was constantly going to be rising.

Is something wrong there?

[lizzie64]

woo hoo!!
Pool is looking very much clearer. I can see the bottom most of the way around. Can't see the deep end, but I guess we'll get there.

The kids are pretty anxious about when they can swim again. This is killing them.

It still has a green tint to it. Looking like that lime gatorade.

Please oh Please, don't let it be too much longer. We're going on day 4, so I guess I shouldn't complain, but try telling that to a 7 and 5 year old.