Hi! Found this forum after searching for answers for my son's reaction to swimming in my parents' baquacil pool. They installed the pool in summer 2014 and had good success with baqua -- up until last year. Opened the pool and it took longer than normal for the white cloudiness to go away. Lots of flocc and eventually it went clear (~2 weeks). My son started having skin rashes break out each night after swimming. All summer long he battled a painful itchy rash -- eczema, allergic reaction, breakdown from multiple hand-foot-mouth viruses, we couldn't figure it out. We went to several doctors and a dermatologist to try to figure it out. Talked to "pool guys" and the pool company about what could cause it. The only solution was "wet-wrapping" (treatment for severe eczema flare ups) each night after swimming. (Try telling a toddler he can't go swimming in the summer.) We slowly started ruling out different things -- sunscreen, hot tub, or pool? Since opening the pool this year, we finally nailed down that it is the baqua pool. The hot tub is chlorine and he never has any reaction to it (as well as no reaction to other pool/hot tubs on chlorine/salt).
After looking at baqua conversions, it seems that white water mold may be the actual problem (not a reaction to the baqua chemicals themselves). Most say ~5 years in it becomes a problem, which would be last year's season. My dad keeps the pool in great condition, and it looked good and consistently tested well. Could he still have white water mold without really noticing it? He changed the sand in the filter last year as well, but no other difference from 2018 to 2019/now (no reaction from son during 2017-2018).
So now I am in the process of convincing/helping my dad convert to chlorine. The pool is about a 16x28' with an 8' deep end, vinyl liner. Here are a couple questions:
How long does the conversion process take? I know it's dependent on size, but is the time gain worth it to drain a significant amount?
If we suspect white water mold is present, any other steps to include? Do we need to scrub/soak skimmer, ladder, pipes, etc. or will converting to chlorine fix that naturally?
From everything I see, changing the sand in the filter is necessary again -- correct?
Thanks for any responses. After perusing the forums it seems that there are many knowledgeable people on here that are willing to be helpful.
After looking at baqua conversions, it seems that white water mold may be the actual problem (not a reaction to the baqua chemicals themselves). Most say ~5 years in it becomes a problem, which would be last year's season. My dad keeps the pool in great condition, and it looked good and consistently tested well. Could he still have white water mold without really noticing it? He changed the sand in the filter last year as well, but no other difference from 2018 to 2019/now (no reaction from son during 2017-2018).
So now I am in the process of convincing/helping my dad convert to chlorine. The pool is about a 16x28' with an 8' deep end, vinyl liner. Here are a couple questions:
How long does the conversion process take? I know it's dependent on size, but is the time gain worth it to drain a significant amount?
If we suspect white water mold is present, any other steps to include? Do we need to scrub/soak skimmer, ladder, pipes, etc. or will converting to chlorine fix that naturally?
From everything I see, changing the sand in the filter is necessary again -- correct?
Thanks for any responses. After perusing the forums it seems that there are many knowledgeable people on here that are willing to be helpful.