Taking the Plunge - Baquabeast conversion starting

[revhendrix]

Hi Lizzie...I just read your question to me over in my thread.

I did run the filter 24/7 throughout the conversion and I backwashed and cleaned out the skimmer basket everytime I added bleach (up to 6 times a day). The nylon sock over the skimmer basket saved a lot of goop going through the filter. We ended up using over 80 gal of bleach (20,000 gal IG). I found a good deal at Sam's club - 3 nice 1.4 gal jugs in sturdy box. I think it was $6 and change per case - but also convenient. The process took us 11 days...but was well worth it.

Feel free to fire more questions, and hopefully, I can help...

REV

[lizzie64]

Hey Rev - I've been reading your forum as well. Glad you're finally done. 11 days scares me a bit. My kids are going to kill me when I tell them they can't swim. But, the weather here in NJ is going to be rather crappy the next couple of days, so I figured, nows the time.

I will be putting the skimmer sock on too.

I'm home so I'll be testing and adding bleach every couple of hours. Hopefully that will speed the process along.

Wish me luck.

I can't wait really. I'm tired of looking at a cloudy pool.

[Watermom]

It may not take your conversion 11 days. The more often you test and the more often you add bleach, the faster it will go.

[lizzie64]

OK first 6 gallons of 6% bleach are in.

What a lovely shade of green. LOL You had to see the family out there admiring this color.

My neighbors will wake up tomorrow and wonder what the heck happened.

Oh yes, tried to get the leslie's test kit, as I can't wait for Ben's but Leslie's was closed. I was only left with the HTH 6 way test from Walmart. I will go to Leslies tomorrow and purchase the right kit.

So - when I check tomorrow, it will check for TC not Free Chlorine. How do I know how much bleach to put in

Off we go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[aylad]

Use the bleach calc at this link, based on your gallonage and strength of bleach...

http://www.hal-pc.org/~mwsmith2/BleachCalc262.exe

Each time you test, add whatever amount it takes to get back up to 12-15 ppm.

Janet

[lizzie64]

Well we added 7 jugs of 6% at 7:30

Tested at 11:30 and the TC didn't even register .5 which we expected, after reading many of the conversion threads.

Added another 7 jugs based on the bleach calculator.

Will test again in the morning

I'm so pysched. Can't wait to see crystal clear water finally

[lizzie64]

7:00 am Results

TC 1.0
PH 7.5

Pouring rain and windy, so I was being quick and didn't test for alkalinity.

Poured another 7 Jugs of 6% per calculator.

Pump pressure increased about 4 PSI overnight
Water in pump and skimmer not orange, but same pea green color as pool.

Will run out this morning buy some more bleach. I plan on checking and adding every 2 hours

This walmart kit tests CL to 5.0. is it when it goes higher that I will have to dilute or buy the new kit?? Are the CL readings I'm getting now good, since they are still low enough to register??

Thanks guys.

I'm starting to get nervous and want to make sure this is going the right way.

[lizzie64]

10 :29 am

Cl 2.0
PH 7.8

Looks like my PH is climbing a bit. Anything to be worried about???

Will be dropping 5 gallons of bleach per the calculator.

Also pump pressure went up 10 psi - so I've backwashed.

Pool is pea green and cloudy. - no clearing yet

I feel like a chemist. This is cool!!

[lizzie64]

2:00 pm

CL 1.0
PH 7.5

Off we go to the bleach calc.

Pool is still very green and can't see bottom at all anywhere.