This just might be my new favorite thread. You are doing a great job Dabuddy! I really like the updates with numbers and pictures.
Ready to Convert - am I?
- Thread starter dabuddy
- Start date
Thanks Veja, I really appreciate the support! I am really having fun doing this but am torn now that I am at work and my wife gets to have the fun. I KNOW my pool is going to end up perfect and although I hesitated some in the beginning I want to document my experience so as to encourage others to do the same.
Took readings before I left for work:
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
35 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Strips only go to 10 for TC ad FC so estimated:
Total Chlorine: 10+ (not as dark as when I took the reading just after adding)
Free Chlorine: 10+ (not as dark as when I took the reading just after adding)
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I can't wait for my wife to get readings and add more. I'm hoping this will be the first time I do not need to add the full 6.5 gallon dose! She is running errands and should be dosing about 10:30 EST.
Took readings before I left for work:
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
35 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Strips only go to 10 for TC ad FC so estimated:
Total Chlorine: 10+ (not as dark as when I took the reading just after adding)
Free Chlorine: 10+ (not as dark as when I took the reading just after adding)
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I can't wait for my wife to get readings and add more. I'm hoping this will be the first time I do not need to add the full 6.5 gallon dose! She is running errands and should be dosing about 10:30 EST.
You surely are doing a great job! Talk about hammering it!
....and you know how we just love pix
Welcome to the forum!
....and you know how we just love pix
Welcome to the forum!
You are satisfying our fix with the pic! 
As for brushing and vacuming, yes, I would do that daily, especially the brushing. The vacuming you shouldn't have to do as often, but the brushing will help and it will also stir things up so the filter can clear it better....
Keep up the great job...you'll be sparkly in no time.
As for brushing and vacuming, yes, I would do that daily, especially the brushing. The vacuming you shouldn't have to do as often, but the brushing will help and it will also stir things up so the filter can clear it better....
Keep up the great job...you'll be sparkly in no time.
Nice job it looks as if the free Cl2 is going up higher after each addition. Keep it up there is a sparkling pool waiting.
Daughter is leaving for camp now but I had her do a reading for me before she left. She says the pool is a cool aqua color - kinda like her favorite color she says. Had her backwash as the PSI was about 24.
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
Reading at 10:40 AM
3 hr 45 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 4.0
Free Chlorine: 2.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.8
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
Reading at 10:40 AM
3 hr 45 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 4.0
Free Chlorine: 2.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.8
My wife made it back from errands and did a reading and dose for me.
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
Reading at 11:20 AM
4 hr 25 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 3.0
Free Chlorine: 1.5
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons (Pool Calculator Hooray!) First time I didn't need to do the full dosage!
Reading at 11:33 AM
8 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I see that I have a tracking number for the Test Kit, thanks Duraleigh! No ETA yet.
Daughter sent me a phone pic of the pool. Not a high-res photo and hard to tell the color but I got to see what she was describing. Picture was taken at 11 AM and prior to my wife adding more bleach at 11:25.
[attachment=0:28ex68j7]Day 2 11 AM.jpg[/attachment:28ex68j7]
6:55 AM Added 6.5 gallons
Reading at 11:20 AM
4 hr 25 minutes after adding 6.5 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 3.0
Free Chlorine: 1.5
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons (Pool Calculator Hooray!) First time I didn't need to do the full dosage!
Reading at 11:33 AM
8 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I see that I have a tracking number for the Test Kit, thanks Duraleigh! No ETA yet.
Daughter sent me a phone pic of the pool. Not a high-res photo and hard to tell the color but I got to see what she was describing. Picture was taken at 11 AM and prior to my wife adding more bleach at 11:25.
[attachment=0:28ex68j7]Day 2 11 AM.jpg[/attachment:28ex68j7]
Attachments
Called my wife for a reading:
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons
Reading at 12:45 PM
80 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: 150
pH: 8.0
Not much color change, she describes it as a light aqua or light greenish but very milky. Sound normal? Should we expect it to go to that clear brownish color next?
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons
Reading at 12:45 PM
80 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: 150
pH: 8.0
Not much color change, she describes it as a light aqua or light greenish but very milky. Sound normal? Should we expect it to go to that clear brownish color next?
Called my wife for a reading and to add another dose:
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons
Reading at 3:10 PM (she went shopping so there was almost 4 hours between doses) shopping - sheesh :-D
3 hours 45 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 5.0
Free Chlorine: 4.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.8
3:20 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 3:25 PM
5 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
Pictures she took at 3:15 PM
[attachment=1:22kaelxo]Day2-315a.jpg[/attachment:22kaelxo]
[attachment=0:22kaelxo]Day2-315b.jpg[/attachment:22kaelxo]
11:25 AM Added 5.25 gallons
Reading at 3:10 PM (she went shopping so there was almost 4 hours between doses) shopping - sheesh :-D
3 hours 45 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 5.0
Free Chlorine: 4.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.8
3:20 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 3:25 PM
5 minutes after adding 5.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
Pictures she took at 3:15 PM
[attachment=1:22kaelxo]Day2-315a.jpg[/attachment:22kaelxo]
[attachment=0:22kaelxo]Day2-315b.jpg[/attachment:22kaelxo]
Attachments
On my commute home (i have a 45 minute drive) called my wife for a reading:
Reading at 4:20 PM
60 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 9.0
Free Chlorine: 5
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Ok, I arrived home from work and saw the pretty blue-ish color. I assume at this point it won't be turning brownish? I scrubbed the walls and floor. Took a reading before scrubbing:
Reading at 5:10 PM
1 hour 50 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 5.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
I scrubbed and added another dose. I've not vacuumed yet for those wanted to know...
5:11 PM Added 4.25 gallons
5 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I can't wait to get my kit so I can do some accurate tests! I can see the shallow end bottom!!! Deep end is still dark but you know, if I look really, really, really, really close, and imagine REAL hard, I think I can see the drains in the deep end! :lol:
Pictures as of 5:15 PM, approximately 27 hours after conversion start:
[attachment=2:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMa.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
[attachment=1:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMb.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
[attachment=0:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMc.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
Reading at 4:20 PM
60 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 9.0
Free Chlorine: 5
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Ok, I arrived home from work and saw the pretty blue-ish color. I assume at this point it won't be turning brownish? I scrubbed the walls and floor. Took a reading before scrubbing:
Reading at 5:10 PM
1 hour 50 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 5.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
I scrubbed and added another dose. I've not vacuumed yet for those wanted to know...
5:11 PM Added 4.25 gallons
5 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
I can't wait to get my kit so I can do some accurate tests! I can see the shallow end bottom!!! Deep end is still dark but you know, if I look really, really, really, really close, and imagine REAL hard, I think I can see the drains in the deep end! :lol:
Pictures as of 5:15 PM, approximately 27 hours after conversion start:
[attachment=2:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMa.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
[attachment=1:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMb.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
[attachment=0:2y0vs8m8]Day2-515PMc.jpg[/attachment:2y0vs8m8]
Attachments
Ok, all evening I simply watched the clarity get a wee bit better each hour! I really CAN see my deep end drains now! This transformation is really something to behold! Kids are off to camp now and wife will be in Florida doing a seminar later this week so it is just me and the pool - gonna get it DONE before I go on vacation. No pictures this evening as there hasn't been much change since early evening but like I said I CAN indeed see the drains.
5:11 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 6:45 PM
1 hour and 34 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 9.0
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Reading at 8:05 PM
2 hours and 54 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 7.0
Free Chlorine: 5.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Reading at 8:55 PM
4 hours and 44 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 4.0
Free Chlorine: 3.0
Total Alkalinity: 180
pH: 8.4+
TA and pH were a weird reading, not sure what happened.
9:00 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 10:00 PM
1 hour after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10.0+
Free Chlorine: 10.0+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
Can't wait to see it in the morning. G'Nite.
I really CAN see my deep end drains now! This transformation is really something to behold! Kids are off to camp now and wife will be in Florida doing a seminar later this week so it is just me and the pool - gonna get it DONE before I go on vacation. No pictures this evening as there hasn't been much change since early evening but like I said I CAN indeed see the drains.5:11 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 6:45 PM
1 hour and 34 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 9.0
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Reading at 8:05 PM
2 hours and 54 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 7.0
Free Chlorine: 5.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.6
Reading at 8:55 PM
4 hours and 44 minutes after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 4.0
Free Chlorine: 3.0
Total Alkalinity: 180
pH: 8.4+
TA and pH were a weird reading, not sure what happened.
9:00 PM Added 4.25 gallons
Reading at 10:00 PM
1 hour after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 10.0+
Free Chlorine: 10.0+
Total Alkalinity: funky color
pH: 8.4+
Can't wait to see it in the morning. G'Nite.
Oh my frickin-goodness-gracious-fantabulous! What a pretty site this morning! Woke up to a pretty darn near perfect pool! :-D :lol: The transformation is simply amazing to go through!
9:00 PM Added 4.25 gallons (last night)
Reading at 7:00 AM
10 hours after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 7.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.2 (seems low compared to what it normally has been)
I see some Baqua-Crud residue in my hair basket so I am going to clean in and around that this morning. I see I received a DHL tracking number for my kit so that will be soon I think!
Question: Keep it at shock level all day?
Question: Anything else until my kit gets here?
Question: Should I worry about my pH?
For those interested, here are the pictures!
[attachment=2:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMa.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
[attachment=1:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMb.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
[attachment=0:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMc.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
9:00 PM Added 4.25 gallons (last night)
Reading at 7:00 AM
10 hours after adding 4.25 gallons:
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 7.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.2 (seems low compared to what it normally has been)
I see some Baqua-Crud residue in my hair basket so I am going to clean in and around that this morning. I see I received a DHL tracking number for my kit so that will be soon I think!
Question: Keep it at shock level all day?
Question: Anything else until my kit gets here?
Question: Should I worry about my pH?
For those interested, here are the pictures!
[attachment=2:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMa.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
[attachment=1:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMb.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
[attachment=0:2axvd3qm]Day3-700AMc.jpg[/attachment:2axvd3qm]
Attachments
7:15 AM Added 3.5 gallons
Reading at 7:20 AM
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: 120 (actually get a reading now after adding bleach, have not in the past right after adding)
pH: 8.2 (not going off the chart high like it used to just after adding)
Question: Do I maintain shock level (15 ppm) all day or am I at the point where I only add in the morning and eveing?
Reading at 7:20 AM
Total Chlorine: 10+
Free Chlorine: 10+
Total Alkalinity: 120 (actually get a reading now after adding bleach, have not in the past right after adding)
pH: 8.2 (not going off the chart high like it used to just after adding)
Question: Do I maintain shock level (15 ppm) all day or am I at the point where I only add in the morning and eveing?
You didn't lose all of your FC overnight, so you are into the second stage. During the second stage, the remaining baquacil is turning into goo and is oxidizing more slowly. You will be losing more FC to sunlight than gets used fighting the baquacil. For maximum speed of conversion you can continue adding bleach all day, but it will use significantly less total chlorine to only add bleach in the evening.
Thanks Jason, I appreciate the advice. I'll maintain during the day today as my wife is off to Florida tomorrow and won't be able to dose during the day. I happen to be working from home today so I can try to maintain 15 all day especially now since it is turning overcast. Gonna get some rain too looks like.
7:15 AM Added 3.5 gallons
Reading at 9:30 AM
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.4
Hard to distinguish colors on the chart compared to the stick. Chart goes by 5's for TC and FC so I am guessing at the color between 5 and 10 at 8. My kit is scheduled to be here tomorrow! Hooray!
I have a full 7 days before I go off on vacation so I want to get stablized as soon as possible!
7:15 AM Added 3.5 gallons
Reading at 9:30 AM
Total Chlorine: 8.0
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Total Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.4
Hard to distinguish colors on the chart compared to the stick. Chart goes by 5's for TC and FC so I am guessing at the color between 5 and 10 at 8. My kit is scheduled to be here tomorrow! Hooray!
I have a full 7 days before I go off on vacation so I want to get stablized as soon as possible!
Thought I'd share Bleach usage.
48 of the 1.42 Gallon (6%) jugs - 68.16 gallons
Costco - 24 jugs (Clorox) @ $2.33 each: $55.92
Target - 4 jugs (Clorox) @ $2.79 each: $11.16
Target - 20 jugs (Target Brand) @ $2.54 each: $50.80
Total cost so far: $117.88
48 of the 1.42 Gallon (6%) jugs - 68.16 gallons
Costco - 24 jugs (Clorox) @ $2.33 each: $55.92
Target - 4 jugs (Clorox) @ $2.79 each: $11.16
Target - 20 jugs (Target Brand) @ $2.54 each: $50.80
Total cost so far: $117.88
Molson
LifeTime Supporter
