For those who have converted - I want to know if there is any chlorine odor or dry feeling on the skin after swimming

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Anthony, my experiences with WWM were in the return lines, not on the pool walls. I could see the flakes coming out the returns. In fact, the year i converted, I still found some WWM coming out the lines, so I went into a line clean operation to get rid of it. I isolated the return lines by breaking open the line downstream of the filter, capped off all returns but the farthest, added a vertical extension to that, flushed the isolated line with fresh water, then added some of hydrogen peroxide to the isolated line. Let it work for a while, then blew out/flushed the isolated line. The peroxide is strong; be sure to use safety gear if you do this and be careful. Do not get careless.
 
mguzzy said:
When you get ready to putl the trigger.. heck even now, post up a pic of your equipment pad. There are some very creative thinkers on the forum.. Adding the two items for an SWG (controller and cell) may be easier than you think. I'm just thinking ahead for you ;)
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OK....so here's the equipment pad.....note the original '89 apollo VA-52 filter. Still going after 31 years! No plastic parts on that one...


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pookiesunshine said:
Anthony, my experiences with WWM were in the return lines, not on the pool walls. I could see the flakes coming out the returns. In fact, the year i converted, I still found some WWM coming out the lines, so I went into a line clean operation to get rid of it. I isolated the return lines by breaking open the line downstream of the filter, capped off all returns but the farthest, added a vertical extension to that, flushed the isolated line with fresh water, then added some of hydrogen peroxide to the isolated line. Let it work for a while, then blew out/flushed the isolated line. The peroxide is strong; be sure to use safety gear if you do this and be careful. Do not get careless.
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I was just going to use the Baquacil line cleaner as per the instructions - to put it in the skimmer.
 
anthonypool89 said:
OK....so here's the equipment pad.....note the original '89 apollo VA-52 filter. Still going after 31 years! No plastic parts on that one...
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OMG.. that thing just gave me a nightmare flashback... I was so glad to get rid of the one I had from the original pool install when moved into the house. I redid the pool equipment in 2005 and took it out. Years of gorilla pool service men had stripped the belt clamp, The filter vanes were in pieces inside the fabric bags. When I moved into the house and disassembled it the thing was clogged with DE.. The previous oweners/pool guys only ever back washed it.

As to adding a SWG... you've got LOTS of room. That long return line from the heater would easily accommodate the cell and flow switch. And the control box can be mounted on top of the post or on a little extension.
 
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Holy old-filter Batman! I’d love to see inside that thing next time you clean it.

It’s so comical to me how much you remind me of my in-laws @anthonypool89. It’s actually their pool who I converted from chlorine years ago. Maybe somewhere deep down inside that’s why I want to see you succeed in pool care so Deeply! They too tinkered with chlorine then bromine then chlorine again before using Baquacil. I suspect Baqua’s main audience anymore consists of those who used chlorine and hated it. They too hated the dreaded chlorine lock and the countless chemicals that they were sold at the pool store. Money wasn’t the barrier, success was, they had bad times with chlorine and acceptable times with Baqua......so they stayed with Baqua.

Both my in-laws have passed on but the finial years my father-in-law cursed frequently at how amazing the pool looked with TFPC and the methods we teach. He had a stroke in roughly 1980 that left him struggling to speak, turns out curse words commonly are the first words you relearn. These curse words he used concerning the pool were always words of joy as he loved his pool once again, not like how he stressed about it when he used Baqua.

I promise you @anthonypool89.....we at TFP can make you curse with joy too!
 
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Leebo said:
we at TFP can make you curse with joy too!
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I have happy curses all the time.

**** that looks good !!
**** that was easy !!

All I ever heard from friends was bad curses because they were doing it wrong, but at the time I had no idea. I thought having stuff out of whack and going green twice a season was normal and I was in no rush to be a pool owner because of it. I went with SWG from the get go and pool ownership was easy peasy from day 1.
 
Leebo said:
Holy old-filter Batman! I’d love to see inside that thing next time you clean it.
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I guarantee you and mguzzy that the inside of my filter is absolutely fine! There is no gunk in there. Once I lift the grids out and spray and wipe out the inside of the tank, you could probably eat off it - shiny and smooth as a baby's behind. Don't forget that I have it apart every few days and thoroughly clean everything. I don't have any sort of vanes, fingers, etc. I have an assembly of 10 grids like this. The inside of the tank is stainless steel and clean. There's very little in there once you remove the grids. If you don't believe me, I'll grab pictures the next time I take it all out (which unfortunately will probably be in a few days again). The most ironic part of all of this is that everytime I DO take it apart lately, I see NO evidence of any mold. Believe me I KNOW what the stuff looks like. After backwashing for a bit, and then removing the top of the tank, all that's on there is DE - hardly used since, well, it's hardly used - only a few days' worth. I bought an extra set of grids 2 years ago so I can alternate between the two. So the one is brand new, and the other is still in good shape. There is NO way I'd have the clarity of water that I do if my filter was in the decrepit shape being suggested. I guarantee no matter I do I have no plans to get rid of the Apollo VA-52. You'll find some articles that refer to it as being one of the best ever made.

Interesting story about the in-laws!!! I think you had relayed some of that in an earlier post. I DO admit to often being stubborn and "set in my ways" as the saying goes. I appreciate the good vibes (well, except for you guys jumping on my filter - I take some offense to that...don't do it again thank you very much LOL) and I know that you all mean to help, along with everyone else here. Let's see how things play out yet for awhile.
 
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mguzzy said:
OMG.. that thing just gave me a nightmare flashback... I was so glad to get rid of the one I had from the original pool install when moved into the house. I redid the pool equipment in 2005 and took it out. Years of gorilla pool service men had stripped the belt clamp, The filter vanes were in pieces inside the fabric bags. When I moved into the house and disassembled it the thing was clogged with DE.. The previous oweners/pool guys only ever back washed it.

As to adding a SWG... you've got LOTS of room. That long return line from the heater would easily accommodate the cell and flow switch. And the control box can be mounted on top of the post or on a little extension.
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I don't have any vanes. I have the VA-52 10-grid assembly, which is in fine shape. Both sets that I have were in the cleaning fluid this season already. My belt and clamp operate as well as when new. All I've done in that regard is to replace the nut - and have lots of extras that I'll probably never need. I've replaced the o-rings on the backwash handle, the big o-ring on the inside of the tank several times already (I silicone lube it every time I have it apart), and about 8 years ago a local pool tech had to re-solder the connection from the filter to the return lines following a real botch job when the pool store used a fernco fitting on the pressure side of the system. The d**n thing literally blew apart and, had we not been home, the pool would have emptied, flooded the yard, and likely burned out the pump.

Sounds like your "gorilla" service guys didn't follow the simple instructions listed on the outside of the tank - only tighten the nut till the two ends of the clamp are within about a half-inch of each other. I don't even go that far unless there is a slight leak, which is hardly ever.
 
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Newdude said:
‘How old is your filter ?’ ‘Well for one thing, it’s named after the moon landing........ ‘.

then again, they built stuff to last back in the day...
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LOL....1989 - original filter that went in with the pool. I really wasn't given any sort of choice. It's apparently what Anthony (now Anthony / Sylvan and not as good from what I hear, but then what is?) used for their installations. As you say, stuff was built to last. This is why we still have our '81 Maytag washing machine and dishwasher. Still going. The techs from the local appliance store, who SELL the new stuff even told us to keep the old ones going as long as I can cause the new ones will likely only last 5 years. This is why I still drive a 1995 Buick Riviera (on its 3rd engine - LONG story there) and just last summer put a new Kohler K-301 engine in my '72 Cub Cadet (when they were still made by International Harvester and built like a tank. Newer Cub Cadets by MTD...nah....can't even compare). You won't get 40 years on ANY garden tractor made today. So, yeah, the VA-52 stays for the long run. Thing'll probably be working yet (if still used) long after I'm gone....
 
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anthonypool89 said:
I don't have any vanes. I have the VA-52 10-grid assembly, which is great shape. Both sets that I have were in the cleaning fluid this season already. My belt and clamp operate as well as when new. All I've done in that regard is to replace the nut - and have lots of extras that I'll probably never need. I've replaced the o-rings on the backwash handle, and a local pool tech had to re-solder the connection from the filter to the return lines following a real botch job when the pool store used a fernco fitting on the pressure side of the system. The d**n thing literally blew apart and, had we not been home, the pool would have emptied, flooded the yard, and likely burned out the pump.
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I did not have the advantage of the previous owners taking care of the equipment as they should.. so by the time I got to it It was being held together with binders twine and duct tape. Our's did blow apart a few times and did flood the yard, and did partially drain the pool. So I was ready for some newer technology. I took out all the pool equipment and put in a new heater, filter, pumps and SWG.. well it was new for 2005. But it was a new enough jump that all that stuff is still easily serviceable. Kudo's to you for keeping it going. Hopefully it will last another 30 years later ;)
 
mguzzy said:
so by the time I got to it It was being held together with binders twine and duct tape. Our's did blow apart a few times and did flood the yard, and did partially drain the pool. So I was ready for some newer technology. I took out all the pool equipment and put in a new heater, filter, pumps and SWG.. well it was new for 2005. But it was a new enough jump that all that stuff is still easily serviceable. Kudo's to you for keeping it going. Hopefully it will last another 30 years later ;)
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Geez louise...So you mean the clamping ring was no longer functional and literally was tied together somehow to hold the tank lid on? Holy smokes...surprised the lid didn't blow off under pressure like a rocket - or is that what you're referring to?! My issue was with the copper fitting that comes off the end of the filter, where it joins to the PVC return line. The pool company, in their alleged expertise, used a rubber fitting with a hose clamp. Bad idea cause the inside of the pipe that the rubber went on is perfectly smooth and so the clamp didn't take long to just ease its way out until, viola! Ran out of metal to hold onto!! It was astounding. Doing dishes at the sink and my wife said..."look, there's some sort of geyser taking place out at the pool!" LOL Should have gotten a few seconds worth of video. Berks county version of "old faithful".....

I always try my best to take care of everything I own...even dis here white mold...I keep 'er lookin' good.....🤪 Anyone care for a swim wid da mold? YAH mon......
 
Yep.. she blew. more than once. When I added up the costs to get everything functional, (new grids, new multiport, new can... etc) I was in the ballpark for new equipment...

I don't know how much you pay for Baqua stuff. the cost saving going to an SWG is verifiable for me. If a calculate the amount of time I saved, it paid for itself in the first year. And BTW if you switch to an SWG.. the white mold issue goes away.
 
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