Weekend Baquacil Conversion

[mwsmith2]

Don't start slow. Aim to hit 15 ppm. Keep it there until you can hold that overnight. Starting slow...well, just makes it take longer.

Michael

[b2001]

OK, I can use your bleach calculator to figure how much to add - how do I measure to keep it there? Seems like I'm reading that I can only measure to 5 ppm with the kits?

Or will it go down so quickly that it will be in the 1 to 5 ppm range so that I know how much to add?

BTW, I have no cya stabilizer - do I need to wait until I go thru the shock period?

[Watermom]

I would wait until after the conversion to add CYA. To extend the testing range of your kit, mix one part pool water with one part distilled water, test as usual and then multiply the result by 2. If you need to go higher, mix one part pool water with two parts distilled and then multiply the results by 3, etc. Each level of dilution loses some accuracy, but is good enough to help you determine how much bleach to add.

[b2001]

I used the beach calculator last night to calculate the amount to pour into my pool and did it. Today the pool appears slightly less green and a little more milky and cloudy - so it appears that something is working.

I have an OTO test kit from Walmart and a "Complete Pool DPD" Test Kit from Leslie's Pool Supply. I just tested my water - I couldn't get any kind of a reading diluting the sample - in case it was over 5 ppm - or not diluting it.

I'm getting readings of 2 ppm FC and 3 ppm of TC with the DPD test without having to dilute the sample, which would appear to indicate true chlorine readings. As has been stated, it looks like the bleach chlorine has been reapidly consumed.

My question is, do I need to continuously replenish the bleach into the pool during the day, or do I need to wait until dusk each day to get the chlorine back up to 15 ppm, knowing the the sun will rapidly break the chlorine down during the day ...

... and I'm assuming that getting desired level back to 15 ppm is difference between that and FC, and not TC ...

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Looks like I was a little impatient on the OTO - I went back outside to dump it and it was colored - it's indicating about 1 ppm, so it seems to confirm I'm nearly depleted of FC ...

[Watermom]

You do not need to wait til dusk. As often as you want to test and replenish is fine. It will make your conversion that much faster.

[b2001]

An update on my progress ...

I have been getting frustrated at my progress. The pool is still green and cloudy; it seems to have improved a little today. Here's what I have done:

I'm either putting in 4 gallons of 5.25% bleach or 3 1/2 gallons of 6% bleach ...

Put in one dose Saturday at dusk, Sunday at dusk, Monday at dusk. After watermom's Sunday reply to this post and duraleigh's last reply to the "Softswim to Chlorine Conversion??" post, I stepped it up today, a dose at dawn and will do dose at dusk.

I'm cleaning my cartridge filter and skimmer basket sock 2 to 3 times per day. Both are definitely orange-brown when they come out for cleaning. The filter in there now is relatievly new and pressure is currently at 10 psi. When it climbs to 20 psi, I don't get very good results.

I've vacummed my pool several times and I scrubbed the walls and and all of the floor thoroughly Sunday and yesterday. The floor feels ok are far as trash goes, except I didn't go into the deep part, an area of about 10 feet by 10 feet which is about 1 1/2 feet deeper than the rest of the pool - I was too much of a chicken yesterday to go completely in the cold water. Of course, most of the trash settles there, but I believe that I have done a decent job of getting most of it. The pool is still cloudy and green enough that I can't come close to seeing the bottom of the deep end. I barely cannot see the bottom everywhere else.

No one is really home during the day - can I go ahead and get chlor-tabs to supplement the bleach process for during the day? Where should I look to buy and what brand should I look for ro avoid? The local pool place has a small container for $30.

My pool was green before starting the conversion. Will a bottle of polyquat algeacide help now?

I tested about 30 minutes ago:

OTO
Cl between 0.5 and 1.0 ppm
ph between 7.2 and 7.5 ppm

DPD
free cl is 0.5 ppm
total cl is 3.0 ppm
ph is 7.4 ppm
ta is 100 ppm
cal hrdness is 110 ppm

Thanks for any replies ...

[Watermom]

I don't think the tabs are going to help. You need to shock the pool and tabs aren't going to give you that shock. Can you shock it as soon as you get home in the evening and then again right before you go to bed at night and then again in the morning? Then, on the weekend, really hammer it with bleach as often as you can. Someone may have a better idea, but that is my suggestion. Algaecide isn't really going to do anything for you at this point. Keep your pump running 24/7. Hang in there.

[duraleigh]

Watermom is right about the poly.....don't waste your money.

YOU NEED MORE CL!!!! Sorry to shout but I want to make a point. Look at your Cl readings....not enough for even maintenance on a pool already clear!!

Try this stategy...If the direct sun is off your pool an hour before sundown, put in enough Cl to go to 16ppm. Remember it's gonna go down immediately...it may never even get to 16. Now go out just before you go to bed, test, and bring your Cl back up to 16ppm again....I'll bet you need to add a lot.

If you wake up around 4:00AM, you can do it again. If you wake up after sunrise, any Cl you put in will be quickly consumed.

You have got to repeat this pattern each evening. If you let your Cl slip back to it's current level......you get no results......that's where you are now.

Keep the faith and understand the process.....You are burning Cl at a rapid rate and you must keep it up there or you languish.....and get no progress.

Your other numbers are fine....you need Cl.

Have I mentioned you might add some more Cl?

[Guppy]

My pool was the same size w/ vinyl liner at my conversion four years ago as your pool. During conversion I used no algicide or CYA, just 4 gallons of 10% pool bleach per night for four nights. I let the pump on throughout. I'm not 100% positive, but I think your not shocking your pool with enough chlorine. I did not see any fading with my liner at that high level of chlorine, but yours may be different. Since conversion, this site (Ben) has saved me hundreds of dollars in pool chemicals. My pool has been crystal clear following Ben's protocol.

Guppy