Almost Losing Prime...Gurgling Sand Filter...Switch to Chlorine

[tmbier]

Thanks for your help in June.

We're back from trips and vacation so I just started two days ago to switch from baquacil to chlorine. It is going well. The pool is almost clear. I've used Turbo Schock instead of bleach. I would have used over 60 gallons of bleach so far, so shock was easier. Correct me if I am wrong.
The first week of July I changed the sand in the filter with no problems. The Baquacil had not stopped algae growth and after only one year of our new pool, the sand was completely green and couldn't filter worth a dime.

1) Before switching to chlorine two days ago, I changed the top two inches of sand, (green again) replaced the lid, and immediately got sand in the pool. What happened? I cleaned out the short PVC outflow pipe before final assembly.

2)I don't know if I have replaced the automatic air bleed inside the filter properly. there is water gurgling or bubbling inside the filter tank with the filter on. I have a Pentair Triton II - 40 sand filter. Where does the filter end of the auto air bleed hose go and where does the open end of the hose go? I thought it was right from replacing as it was installed.

3)When I turn off the filter to switch the valve to backwash, all the water in the pump strainer basket rushes back into the intakes. I don't lose complete prime, but the pump takes about 2-3 minutes to start up again. I think I have a bad gasket on the strainer top. I've poured water on it and it bubbles.

4)I don't know if I am taking it off correctly either. the directions say to relieve pressure first, but other than turning off the pump, is there a way to make it easier to unscrew the top?

Thanks for your help, in August.

[tmbier]

After four days of switching to chlorine, we had crystal clear water. The residue from the Baquacil was amazing. Chunks of orange foam floated in the pool, clung to the steps and coated the side of the pool above the water line. I used 20 bags of hypchlorite shock. I had removed about a third of the water and refilled with city water before shocking. The water to refill cost about $60. The shock cost about $65. The stabilizer (cyanoauric acid) cost about $20. I bought the chlorine tablets to put in the skimmer and they're working great. I started using bleach but did the calculation on cost and found the tablets were a better deal and much less work, storage or danger of splashing on clothes. Our pool chemical store has the cheapest chemicals around and encourged switching to chlorine and using the cheapest products possible.

The losing prime issue was solved by contacting the filter company directly. They suggested taking the top off the filter and making sure sand was not in the threads. It was! and after washing it out, prime is back, no more gurgling and the filter never ran this efficiently with baquacil.

The pool doesn't smell like chlorine. Friends are relieved it doesn't have that fishy smell (even when the water was clear with Baq). My eyes don't burn after five minutes. What an expensive trip Baq became!

Chalk me up as another convert to chlorine.

[ivyleager]

Congrats! I've never had, or been in, a Baq pool. So can't comment on quality, or lack thereof. Just see the complaints on this forum. Keep an eye on your CYA level, as the tablets/pucks tend to drive it up insidiously. I like my level around 60 or 70ppm (was 100 for almost 1 year after using pucks). The higher levels did indeed hold the chlorine for longer periods of time even in full sun, but I was having to use larger amounts to sanitize. Now, I use bleach exclusively, except when on vacation. Then I use pucks. I will admit, however, that I do miss their convenience. Enjoy your pool.

CaryB
Caniac

[Spensar]

Good point on the pucks. I think most of gurus here would aim for around 30-50 ppm even. If you don't want to use liquid, cal-hypo in the big buckets may be good to alternate with the pucks.