First time posting here; I appreciate the resources provided. I wanted to pose a question to the group. First some background:
I have a 24’ x 15’ oval above ground pool (just under 10K gallons). I’ve used Baquacil since we moved here in 2009 as that’s what the prior owner used. We’ve been looking to switch to salt water for a while and decided to use the quarantine time here in PA as an opportunity to do so - we’re home, no one is coming over anytime soon, and it’s still too darn cold to go in the water anyway!
Opened up on Easter Sunday, raised the PH a bit, and then on Monday added some LC to start the process as per the helpful directions on TFP. I then kind of put it on pause for a few days then while waiting for my TF test kit to arrive as I realized I was flying blind and probably wasting bleach (test strips were useless). I got my kit in the mail this afternoon and now I’m ready to go.
Other relevant info: I have a DE filter but I use only Fiber Clear in it, which leads to really short - like 1 hour - filter cycles with the goop from the Baqua; I used a skimmer sock today to try to keep some of it from getting into the filter. I change the sock often but the filter stays ok longer. The LC I’m using is 10% bleach pool chlorinating liquid (from Lowe’s). I changed the liner about 5 years ago so at least I don’t have 20+ years of residual Baqua in the pool.
The last time we added Baqua was when I closed the pool last October. I’ve been using the 3 step - Algaecide, Oxidizer, CDX. I dipped a test strip when I opened on Sunday and it did register some residual Baqua.
All that to set up this question: I’m debating whether to drain halfway and refill or try to use LC without the partial drain/refill. Is there something that would indicate when to pull the plug on LC-only method and go with drain/refill? Does the use of CDX at all In the prior year make the conversion difficult, or only if was added recently?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
I have a 24’ x 15’ oval above ground pool (just under 10K gallons). I’ve used Baquacil since we moved here in 2009 as that’s what the prior owner used. We’ve been looking to switch to salt water for a while and decided to use the quarantine time here in PA as an opportunity to do so - we’re home, no one is coming over anytime soon, and it’s still too darn cold to go in the water anyway!
Opened up on Easter Sunday, raised the PH a bit, and then on Monday added some LC to start the process as per the helpful directions on TFP. I then kind of put it on pause for a few days then while waiting for my TF test kit to arrive as I realized I was flying blind and probably wasting bleach (test strips were useless). I got my kit in the mail this afternoon and now I’m ready to go.
Other relevant info: I have a DE filter but I use only Fiber Clear in it, which leads to really short - like 1 hour - filter cycles with the goop from the Baqua; I used a skimmer sock today to try to keep some of it from getting into the filter. I change the sock often but the filter stays ok longer. The LC I’m using is 10% bleach pool chlorinating liquid (from Lowe’s). I changed the liner about 5 years ago so at least I don’t have 20+ years of residual Baqua in the pool.
The last time we added Baqua was when I closed the pool last October. I’ve been using the 3 step - Algaecide, Oxidizer, CDX. I dipped a test strip when I opened on Sunday and it did register some residual Baqua.
All that to set up this question: I’m debating whether to drain halfway and refill or try to use LC without the partial drain/refill. Is there something that would indicate when to pull the plug on LC-only method and go with drain/refill? Does the use of CDX at all In the prior year make the conversion difficult, or only if was added recently?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
