Ed here. I'll ask my question first and then give some back ground as I want to share some info and a few lessons so far.
QUESTION: I am at stage 2 of Baquacil to chlorine conversion process ie CYA 30, FC 15ppm and keeping CC<.5 for 2 days. Do I need to get my CYA down to 30 pronto or can I wait for it to maybe go down with some rain we are due to get today?? CYA: 50 and has been 50 for past 12 hours, FC: 15ppm, CC's: .5 PH: 7.4-7.6
Been reading on this site for 6 months now. Great Info! Thank you all TFP and especially ssJody and his conversion thread. So Iam at Day 6 of my conversion and at stage 2 where I am holding FC at 15, CYA at 30 and no more that .5 CC's and wanted to share some info.
Starting last year I quit adding any Baquacil about a month prior to closing pool. During winter I covered pool and drained all rain water into pool(and of course drained pool when water got to high). I used a few old RV water filters at end of drain hose to keep dirt and junk out. This made draining cover take longer but worth it I think(last month of draining was the "pollening" season here). I calculated I drained about 3 feet of water into pool over winter.
Opened up pool 2 weeks ago and it was a little green and mostly just cloudy. Notice yellowish film on sides and bottom so decided to brush and vacuum to waste. Our water here is not that expensive and the water company here is good about filling pools and will not charge you the sewer fee if you call them and tell them how many days you will be filling pool so did that. I calculated another 2 feet of water doing this vacuuming to waste. With this complete decided to go for it and not replace water using tarp method. I used some left over Baqucil test strip and they showed no Oxidizer. AHHH well it really showed low oxidizer and there is no test for the CDX(I did have Baqucil and maybe cdx still left in there as my conversion proved).
Day 1 started the conversion using TFP pool school Baquacil to Chlorine conversion process. Started with 10 gallons of Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid from WALMART($3.47 a gallon) Ha! not nearly enough and was back on day 2 getting 10 more.
Day 2- 4 Adding chlorine checking FC levels scooping leaves. SUN EATS CHLORINE almost as fast as you can add it. In hindsight I think I should have put pool cover back on for these days. I read some threads where yall suggested that with some people. anyway was really concentrating on overnight loss of FC.
Morning Day 5 No overnight loss of FC, maybe 1, but I declared victory and am now on to stage 2.
Day 5 Changed out sand filter. UGH!! What a pain and it always has been(PS Iam in my early 60s and its different now than 15 years ago when I first started all this pool maintenance, Ha!). Added CYA using sock method and put it my filter basket for about an hour. Then I sat and squeezed the sock for about 30 more minutes. Would have LOVED to have some liquid CYA at this point cause I was beat just from the sand filter change out. But I realize from more TFP threads this is the best way for adding CYA. So I waited another hour for stuff to circulate and tested for CYA. It came up around 30 - 40. That dang dot test is a bit tricky. FC was a little low at 8 ppm ie sun had been up for 3 hours. Added Chlorine to fix that.
Evening Day 5 CYA now shows 50(did 2 tests to make sure) FC a little low again so added Chlorine. CC: <.5
Morning Day 6 before sun up CYA still at 50, Chlorine solid at 15 ppm, CC: <.5
So above pics are of the Chlorine I got from WALMART, Pre Day 1, Day 1 of adding Chlorine and now Day 5
What a transformation I will attest Baquacil never got my pool this clear. I now know the definition of a sparkling clear pool! For Maddie of Yippie Skippy I did not get the 70's acid trip but it was a wild flourescent green for about a day.
QUESTION: I am at stage 2 of Baquacil to chlorine conversion process ie CYA 30, FC 15ppm and keeping CC<.5 for 2 days. Do I need to get my CYA down to 30 pronto or can I wait for it to maybe go down with some rain we are due to get today?? CYA: 50 and has been 50 for past 12 hours, FC: 15ppm, CC's: .5 PH: 7.4-7.6
Been reading on this site for 6 months now. Great Info! Thank you all TFP and especially ssJody and his conversion thread. So Iam at Day 6 of my conversion and at stage 2 where I am holding FC at 15, CYA at 30 and no more that .5 CC's and wanted to share some info.
Starting last year I quit adding any Baquacil about a month prior to closing pool. During winter I covered pool and drained all rain water into pool(and of course drained pool when water got to high). I used a few old RV water filters at end of drain hose to keep dirt and junk out. This made draining cover take longer but worth it I think(last month of draining was the "pollening" season here). I calculated I drained about 3 feet of water into pool over winter.
Opened up pool 2 weeks ago and it was a little green and mostly just cloudy. Notice yellowish film on sides and bottom so decided to brush and vacuum to waste. Our water here is not that expensive and the water company here is good about filling pools and will not charge you the sewer fee if you call them and tell them how many days you will be filling pool so did that. I calculated another 2 feet of water doing this vacuuming to waste. With this complete decided to go for it and not replace water using tarp method. I used some left over Baqucil test strip and they showed no Oxidizer. AHHH well it really showed low oxidizer and there is no test for the CDX(I did have Baqucil and maybe cdx still left in there as my conversion proved).
Day 1 started the conversion using TFP pool school Baquacil to Chlorine conversion process. Started with 10 gallons of Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid from WALMART($3.47 a gallon) Ha! not nearly enough and was back on day 2 getting 10 more.
Day 2- 4 Adding chlorine checking FC levels scooping leaves. SUN EATS CHLORINE almost as fast as you can add it. In hindsight I think I should have put pool cover back on for these days. I read some threads where yall suggested that with some people. anyway was really concentrating on overnight loss of FC.
Morning Day 5 No overnight loss of FC, maybe 1, but I declared victory and am now on to stage 2.
Day 5 Changed out sand filter. UGH!! What a pain and it always has been(PS Iam in my early 60s and its different now than 15 years ago when I first started all this pool maintenance, Ha!). Added CYA using sock method and put it my filter basket for about an hour. Then I sat and squeezed the sock for about 30 more minutes. Would have LOVED to have some liquid CYA at this point cause I was beat just from the sand filter change out. But I realize from more TFP threads this is the best way for adding CYA. So I waited another hour for stuff to circulate and tested for CYA. It came up around 30 - 40. That dang dot test is a bit tricky. FC was a little low at 8 ppm ie sun had been up for 3 hours. Added Chlorine to fix that.
Evening Day 5 CYA now shows 50(did 2 tests to make sure) FC a little low again so added Chlorine. CC: <.5
Morning Day 6 before sun up CYA still at 50, Chlorine solid at 15 ppm, CC: <.5
So above pics are of the Chlorine I got from WALMART, Pre Day 1, Day 1 of adding Chlorine and now Day 5
What a transformation I will attest Baquacil never got my pool this clear. I now know the definition of a sparkling clear pool! For Maddie of Yippie Skippy I did not get the 70's acid trip but it was a wild flourescent green for about a day.
