Baquacil, slime and ahh-some

[dmackey]

Has anyone used ahh-some in a Baquacil pool or eliminate/control slime? I usually have a problem with slime/pink "algae" midway summer when the pool gets to 80 F. I have tried many tactics to get it under control, like high peroxide (100 ppm +), high Baquacil level (80 ppm), pink algecide, AquaFinesse tablets. Every year I get slime then pink algae and when I treat it, the pool turns VERY cloudy. The I use floc and clarifier to clear it up, which takes a toll on my cartridge filter.

So again. will ahh-some help me control the slime?

Poolspecs:
14,000 gal inground pool with vinyl liner. 1 hp hayward pump, Sta-rite cartridge filter,
Baq ~50 ppm, PH 7.4, Peroxide ~100 ppm, alkalinity ~100ppm.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Ahhsome is simply a powerful surfactant that helps to remove biofilms. It’s NOT a sanitizer. All it might do is lift films BUT it’s going to be hard on your filter as well because of of that biological material has to go somewhere and it’s going to your filter.

Your problem isn’t water clarification. It’s sanitation and Baquacil is the problem. It’s a lousy and expensive pool sanitizer and the fact that every Baqua user says “I have to deal with *slime, mold, algae, etc.* every season” is proof that it is just not an adequate sanitation system. Is it really worth the expensive chemicals and constant headache? Because I can tell you that the phrase “seasonal algae” is bogus - a properly sanitized and clean pool will NEVER get algae or mold or slime. I have run my pool for 10 years now and have never had that kind of seasonal headache. As for most TFP’ers, aside from the seasonal crowd that has to close then open their pools, once they get all balanced out in the spring opening, the majority of them have crystal clear swimming pools for the entire swim season.

Rather than searching around for magical potions to make your problems go away, maybe it’s time to reconsider the choice of sanitizer in your pool?

 

[dfwnoob]

So again. will ahh-some help me control the slime?

No, but converting to chlorine will. Do a search on the forum for "pink slime" or "baqua slime" or some other permutation of baquacil and slime. I can't think of a single example of a Baqua user on here who has not battled this issue at some point. It's a lackluster, eye-wateringly expensive sanitation solution, and this is just one of it's many drawbacks.

I encourage you to read through the TFP Pool School articles, and after you do that, take a look at all of the chemicals and miracle potions you've put into your pool - and understand that for the vast majority of us here the pool sees three (or less) chemicals on a regular basis: liquid chlorine, CYA, and muriatic acid. That's it. No flocculants, no clarifiers, no algaecides (except for those who close their pool and use Polyquat 60 as an algae preventative), no "baqua shocks", etc.

Welcome to TFP, by the way. There's a wealth of knowledge here, including some very happy baqua converts.

 

[jessica0917]

As someone who had a Baquacil pool for around 10 years and dealt with the slime the last couple of those years I finally decided I had spent enough money to end up with a cloudy pool. I am able to now look back and say I am glad I converted to chlorine in 2017 (with the help of TFP.) Crystal clear pool every season since and with a fraction of the cost of chemicals. No chlorine smell or damage to my or my grandkids swimsuits. You always have the choice to stay with Baquacil though and fight the fight. This is just my two cents worth…….

 

[pookiesunshine]

... I can't think of a single example of a Baqua user on here who has not battled this issue at some point.....

While i agree that many baqua users that have posted here have dealt with pink slime, i did see a post recently about ONE baqua user that hasn't. dont remember the topic, but was surprised to find even ONE.

 

[dmackey]

I generally have a clear pool. I have managed to keep it that way by maintaining the peroxide shock level above 100 ppm. However when I get the pool temperature over 80 F the slime buildups very quickly and destroys the peroxide overnight. This leads an outbreak that usually takes me 1-2 weeks to clear up. So I was just asking if anyone had any experience with ahh-some. Sorry if I hit a raw nerve.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

No raw nerves at all, just the truth that Baquacil is a very poor pool sanitizing system. If a pool sanitizer can't perform its function above 80F and requires a pool owner to add over 100ppm of a very powerful oxidizer (peroxide) into the water, it just doesn't say good things about it. And then add on top of that how expensive the chemicals are, even on a seasonal basis, and it's a wonder that the product has managed to stick around at all. My pool routinely hits the high 80's and low 90's all throughout the summer months and I have never had to worry about water fouling issues (algae, mold, slime, bacteria, etc, etc).

Unfortunately this sub-forum is really misnamed (and I and others have complained about this in the past) - it's titled "Baquacil - Use and Conversion" but the reality is that no one here supports its use. So I apologize if you found your way here thinking there would be useful information regarding the operation of Baquacil pools. The truth is, TFP can help you convert a Baquacil pool into a chlorine pool if you want to get away from that product. But if you're happy with it and just want to get advice from other Baquacil owners and operators, then there's probably other forums or Facebook groups out there that can help.

Good luck to you.

 

[dmackey]

OK, thanks for the advice.

 

[jeffchap]

I'm just curious -- what is the annual cost to maintain a Baquacil pool? I always read about it being expensive, but how expensive?

I maintain my 27k gallon saltwater pool on $200-300 per year in consumables. And it is heated to 86 degrees normally.

 

[anthonypool89]

Sorry if I hit a raw nerve.

Happens alot here when questions are raised about Baquacil. Been there and done that. I'll message you off the board. As a 22-year user of baqua, I'm familiar with the entire chemical arsenal you describe and will be able to help you.

 

[anthonypool89]

what is the annual cost to maintain a Baquacil pool?

It's expensive compared to chlorine. Hard to say exactly what I've spent each year since some years I buy extra chemicals that carry over to the next year. On average over the long run - adding in a few additional products beyond just the algaecide, oxidizer, and sanitizer - probably $500-600 per year? That's just a rough estimate though. This year alone I spent another $250 to buy new DE grids and a ton of extra DE since June was an entire month of super short filter cycles. All the above said, sometimes many days or even a week goes by where I don't check or add anything. It's such a fairly simple system (IF all goes well of course) that it's easy to forget to check levels. That's probably how I wind up with extra stuff at the end of the season.

If a pool sanitizer can't perform its function above 80F and requires a pool owner to add over 100ppm of a very powerful oxidizer (peroxide) into the water, it just doesn't say good things about it.

This is a bit of exaggeration. Oxidizer should NEVER be that high, nor should there be a need to get it up to that level. The recommended range is 40-80. That said, it can be hard to maintain a level for various reasons. Hydrogen peroxide surely is not as effective an oxidizer as chlorine. No argument there. As to the baqua sanitizer, it has often been said to be more stable in the water than chlorine. I suspect this is true cause I've never have to add it on any regular basis.

then there's probably other forums or Facebook groups out there that can help.

I've been looking for years and have never found any, at least relative to internet forums. I'm not a member of FB so can't speak to that. That said, there are people here who have used baqua and willing to chime in with their experiences.

 

[anthonypool89]

will ahh-some help me control the slime?

Short answer..yes...definitely. It is probably the best product designed for that purpose since "Assist" was discontinued. That said, there's something else you can do that will help much more. More detail on this in the message I just sent. Keep me posted.

 

[anthonypool89]

it's titled "Baquacil - Use and Conversion" but the reality is that no one here supports its use. So I apologize if you found your way here thinking there would be useful information regarding the operation of Baquacil pools.

Absolutely fair statement, but probably best to keep the title designation as is since baqua users can wander in here and then current or past users (of baqua) can still offer advice based on their experiences - both good and bad.

 

[anthonypool89]

You always have the choice to stay with Baquacil though and fight the fight.

Also a fair statement. I think it's reasonable to say that one has to really want to NOT use chlorine in order to have the patience, etc. to forge on wth the potential issues that baqua can present.

I generally have a clear pool. I have managed to keep it that way by maintaining the peroxide shock level above 100 ppm.

No....I don't think that's the reason. I also, for nearly an entire season each year, also have basically clear water (no...probably not "TFP clear") but still looking pretty good probably 90% of the time and have never had the oxidizer level anywhere near that high. Many times I can't even get a reading at all and yet the water is clear. Once again, I go into further detail in the conversation I started. As you seem to indicate, unless dumping in endless numbers of gallons of Oxidizer, you'll never be able to sustain that level anyway.

I might ask...how do you do your testing? Pool store or test kit? There is a special Taylor kit that tests for oxidizer and sanitizer, but I've never gotten the sanitizer side of the kit to work due to quat interference with reagent titration / color change. There is a LaMotte kit that effectively tests the sanitizer level.

 

[Flying Tivo]

I've been looking for years and have never found any, at least relative to internet forums.

Interesting business opportunity, will do well to purse it!

 

[anthonypool89]

AquaFinesse tablets.

Sorry I forget to address this in my message. I tried this stuff for a few seasons. It's a fine enough product I suppose, but I found that it didn't do what I hoped it would. What it DOES do, however, is constantly raise the pH. Got tired of adding pH decreaser every time after the aqua finesse and so stopped using it beginning of last year. I'd probably discontinue the use of this. AF is 25-50% sodium carbonate - hence the pH issue. Also 20-25% disodium metasilicates - strongly alkaline.

 

[ghall6292]

Hi dmackey, and welcome to TFP. I am a former Baquacil user who converted to the TFP methodology a few years ago and have never regretted it. Pink slime, white water mold, etc., were causing me a lot of stress, costing me a lot of money to fight, and eventually was putting a strain on our marriage. Thus, the decision to go TFP. Best pool decision I ever made.

Anthonypool89 and I have posted and PM'd back and forth several times, both before and after I converted. He is easily the most knowledgeable, honest, and open person for you to go to concerning anything Baquacil. He will tell you what he knows, and he will tell you if he doesn't know. He also has to be one of the most stubborn guys I know. (I mean that in a good way!)

His stand on Baq has made some on this forum lose a little patience, but he's a good guy who will do all he can to help you. Despite sometimes getting "flamed" a bit, he remains always a gentleman with a good sense of humor.

Hope this helps. At any rate, good luck on your adventure, and have a great day!
Gary

 

[anthonypool89]

He also has to be one of the most stubborn guys I know. (I mean that in a good way!)

Gary...thanks, as always, for your kind words!! I've been in contact with dmackey. He has worked with all the various chemicals that I have, so we've had some interesting conversation as to Baquacil. Thanks once again for your strong and honest endorsement of TFP and chlorine conversion. I'm surely leaning heavily in that direction for next spring.

 

[kapmcbride]

Happens alot here when questions are raised about Baquacil. Been there and done that. I'll message you off the board. As a 22-year user of baqua, I'm familiar with the entire chemical arsenal you describe and will be able to help you.

I have an indoor pool and have used Baquacil for 10 years....pink slime is an issue here and there....what is in your arsenal? I do love Baqua, but it is troublesome at times....any tips? Thank you!

 

[anthonypool89]

Well, after aLOT of experimentation, I'd say that the best approach - at least for my pool - is to, besides the usual baqua chemicals, also do monthly ahhsome and a weekly dose (right in the skimmer) of Baquacil Line Clean. I use 1/2 lb. That's basically it. Is it a total panacea for keeping away any trace of pink slime? No. Does it pretty much keep away white water mold? I'd have to say yes. Even when I wire brush, no evidence of the white stuff coming off the plaster. I also do a half-gallon of Oxidizer (Baquacil Clarifier) every week. So during the course of a week I do Line Clean, then 3 days later the Oxidizer, then 4 days after that the Line Clean again and continue that way throughout the season. You have more water than I do so you'd have to figure out the amounts. Also, indoor pool could be a completely different situation.

Have you used any other products besides the A-B-C chemicals? I will add that I'm unable to maintain the desired level of oxidizer. Never have been. Not sure why - could be algae is consuming it. It has been speculated here with a fair degree of certainty that I probably have a nascent algae bloom that is causing my rapid filter pressure increases. This season I experimented with buying a new set of grids - will either do the same for next year or else convert to chlorine.