Conversion Baquacil to Chlorine

[mellison]

Please help I want to convert mine! I hate baquacil!!!!! I have a 24ft x 52" round above ground pool. We have only had it 2 years it is 13,500 gallons and we are on a well. Draining is my last resort. I have not added any products since September of last year left my pool open all winter drained down 4-6 inches. I have cleaned out all debri added back water to vacuum on waste twice I have changed sand and cleaned the sand filter and lines. I added non chlorine shock and I have been running my pump 24 hours. Yesterday it was crystal clear today it is green and clean. Please help me with the next step Or did I mess up and do I have to drain it.

 

[mknauss]

Convert Your Baqua Pool to Chlorine

This Step-by-step guide will help you transform your pool from Biguanide (Baquacil, SoftSwim hereafter referred to as Baqua) to chlorine. Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

Take a read through the above.
Draining a significant volume makes it easier, but up to you.

Too bad you changed the sand already. That will need to be done again when you have eliminated the Baqua.

 

[mellison]

Convert Your Baqua Pool to Chlorine

This Step-by-step guide will help you transform your pool from Biguanide (Baquacil, SoftSwim hereafter referred to as Baqua) to chlorine. Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

Take a read through the above.
Draining a significant volume makes it easier, but up to you.

Too bad you changed the sand already. That will need to be done again when you have eliminated the Baqua.

When I got home it was crystal clear

 

[mellison]

Convert Your Baqua Pool to Chlorine

This Step-by-step guide will help you transform your pool from Biguanide (Baquacil, SoftSwim hereafter referred to as Baqua) to chlorine. Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

Take a read through the above.
Draining a significant volume makes it easier, but up to you.

Too bad you changed the sand already. That will need to be done again when you have eliminated the Baqua.

It was crystal clear when I got home this afternoon will it change color again

 

[mknauss]

As you have not followed the conversion process, it is likely you still have baquacil in your pool.

 

[mellison]

Convert Your Baqua Pool to Chlorine

This Step-by-step guide will help you transform your pool from Biguanide (Baquacil, SoftSwim hereafter referred to as Baqua) to chlorine. Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

Take a read through the above.
Draining a significant volume makes it easier, but up to you.

Too bad you changed the sand already. That will need to be done again when you have eliminated the Baqua.

Ok I have my ph ready I bought the test kit I have liquid chlorine can I use that or do I need regular bleach from the store? Also how do I use the calculator to figure out how much bleach to add

 

[magiteck]

Ok I have my ph ready I bought the test kit I have liquid chlorine can I use that or do I need regular bleach from the store? Also how do I use the calculator to figure out how much bleach to add

Liquid chlorine is great, it’s just a higher concentration bleach.

Use the PoolMath app to determine how much to add.

Two ways to figure it out:
If you log your current values (click the +, then log test result) then they will show on the Home Screen in the app. Then tap your current FC level on that screen. Enter your target in the box indicated. Select bleach under “what type of sanitizer will you use”, enter the % of your liquid chlorine, and it will tell you how much to add to get from your current level to the target.

Without logging results, you can also click the menu (3 lines), and use ‘Effects of Adding’ to see how much a certain amount of liquid chlorine/bleach of a specific concentration will raise your FC level.

 

[mellison]

 

[mellison]

Added liquid chlorine

 

[mellison]

Can someone explain the CYA 30ppm part of conversion?

 

[Mdragger88]

Can someone explain the CYA 30ppm part of conversion?

U are not to that part yet-
For now- Keep maintaining 15ppm fc with liquid chlorine as often as possible.

*once chlorine starts holding overnight & you change your sand (step 7)
You will then add 30ppm of stabilizer (cya) via the sock method (put granular stabilizer in a sock, tie it closed, hang it infront of a return, squeeze sock to dissolve) - PoolMath will help u calculate amounts.

 

[mknauss]

Can someone explain the CYA 30ppm part of conversion?

When you lose 1 ppm of chlorine, or less, overnight it is time to clean out your filter and change the media. Once the filter is cleaned up, add enough CYA to reach 30 ppm. Continue to maintain FC at 15 ppm.

 

[mellison]

Can I use both liquid chlorine and bleach to keep my 15ppm or do I just stay with liquid chlorine

 

[duraleigh]

Can I use both liquid chlorine and bleach to keep my 15ppm or do I just stay with liquid chlorine

They are identical chemically just the percentage of concentration is different.

 

[Mdragger88]

If u are using household bleach be sure it is just plain- No cloromax technology, fabric conditioners/protection, smells, flavors etc.

 

[ghall6292]

Hi, and welcome to TFP! It looks like you already have responses from some of the best "helpers" on the site. Your picture of your pool and your water supply situation is almost exactly where I was 2 years ago. Ahhh, Bacquacil, such fond memories...NOT!

But, fortunately, you are here in the best place you can be for your conversion. Don't worry, you got this! If I can offer any advice, it would be to ask lots of questions (nope, there's no dumb ones) and listen carefully to those who want to help you. It's MUCH easier to follow the process than to get the cart before the horse, only to find you've wasted time and money to get it back to the starting point again. Patience is your friend in this project. Read the recent conversion threads on here and you will become more proactive, and less reactive. But first, read and reread the "Convert Your Bacqua Pool To Chlorine" wiki as referenced above.

There's probably 100's on this forum who have stood in your shoes (or maybe that was "quaking in their boots" ) just as you are today. We got your back.

When done and you look back on this, you will be so glad you did it. I know we are. Good luck!

Gary

 

[ghall6292]

One thing I forgot to mention. The test kit. I mention this because I noticed in your accompanying photo that you have a kit pictured sitting on your pool rail. This is a useful kit to use, especially to check Ph. But you will find it lacking in several areas when it comes to completing your SLAM (conversion.)

You are going to save a ton of money on pool care, once you finish your conversion. You MUST have a good reliable test kit to keep your pool "TFP Clear." The one I use and recommend is the TF-100 kit available online from TFTeskits.com. It is assembled and marketed to be the quintessential test kit for the TFP method of pool care. (The business is not a part of TFP. IMPORTANT: TFP sells nothing and survives on the voluntary contributions of its members.) Compared to the kit you have, the TF-100 is light years ahead. It is also more money, but still very affordable.

But like I said, you are going to be saving a ton of money in the very near future. I believe my last year on Baquacil, I spent north of $800 trying to fix my water. Last year was my second full year on TFP, and I spent a whopping $54.00!!! Admittedly, I had a few items left from the previous year, probably around $20 worth, which is not included in the $54. But you can kinda get an idea of where you might be headed, once the expense of the conversion AND THE TEST KIT are in the rear view mirror.

Temporary inconvenience, permanent improvement. GO for it! Keep us informed on your progress.

 

[mellison]

I came home today and pool was crystal clear but my chlorine tested at 1.2 I added chlorine and this time the pool did not turn colors is that normal ?

 

[mellison]

How many days does the conversion normally take also my ph keeps creeping up I added more acid, I hope that was ok ?

 

[Mdragger88]

How long it takes depends on how much baqua was still in the water & how often u test & dose.
No more colors is good
Keep testing fc & dosing frequently.
Log all your test results & doses in PoolMath
You may be ready to start doing Overnight Chlorine Loss Test’s to see where u stand .