Starting up pool and wanting to convert from baquacil to BBB method ?

[waterbreak]

Thanks to all for helping in conversion. Pool water looks great, but new problem has occured. I am losing 1-1 1/2" of water about every 12 hours. I assume this is a significant leak for a pool this size. I have found and patched several holes in the liner the last few days that I thought would have at least slowed the leak down, but it has not. I am now thinking it is in the skimmer line or the return lines. I do have air bubbles coming out of the return lines, and I have replaced all O rings and can not find any leaks around the suction side that is above ground. This past winter I dropped the water level just below the skimmer and it held. It seems that since rasing the level and starting the pump and pool circulating that the water loss started. I am filling pool back to appropriate level this morning, and then going to shut pump off and block skimmer and return lines and see if water loss still continues, hopefully this will rule out a liner leak. As always any suggestions greatly appreciated.

[PoolDoc]

Hi Waterbreak;

Suction leaks do NOT cause you to lose pool water; instead, they allow water in. You can easily have BOTH pressure leaks (water leaks OUT of the pool or pipes) AND suction leaks (air leaks INTO the pipes between the skimmer and main drain, and the PRESSURE side of the pump -- the basket is on the SUCTION side of the pump).

Close to the skimmer, it's possible to have a leak that is BOTH a pressure leak AND a suction leak, or to have multiple leaks, but usually one or the other will predominate.

Shutting off lines is always a good way to isolate the problem area.

[waterbreak]

Thanks PoolDoc,
I isolated suction lines, return lines, and liner yesterday with the pump off. The water level seemed to stabilize when I shut the return lines in the shallow end located at the entry steps, so I think the biggest leak is there. For now I have shut them off and blocked the jets, and only running the 2 return lines on the side of the pool. I found another leak in the PVC connection from pump to pipe, so I'm going to attempt and replace that today.
My question is do you think it would be ok to run just the 2 return lines this season and try to fix the issue this fall ? Looks as if the lines are run about 30ft. under concrete

[PoolDoc]

My question is do you think it would be ok to run just the 2 return lines this season and try to fix the issue this fall ? Looks as if the lines are run about 30ft. under concrete

Without actually standing at your pool, and checking it, I can't be sure. I would guess that you can -- just try it and see.

Of course, all our usual mantra applies:
+ Get a good testkit, and learn to use it (see link in my sig)
+ Maintain correct chlorine levels adjusted to your current stabilizer level (Best Guess page, in sig)
+ Do NOT trust pool stores chemical recommendations or testing; they are not always wrong, but they often are, and once you KNOW (because you've learned to test) you won't NEED their recommendations!
+ You can't replace filtration with chemicals: clean and maintain your filter and circulation rate.