Found this forum too late -- need some guidance on a conversion already begun

[aylad]

I would stick with just the bleach until the conversion is complete--you want your Cl to be 100% effective. Also, if possible, you need to add the bleach 2-3 times daily, after testing for Cl, and add whatever amount is needed to get back up to 10-12 ppm. The more often you add, the faster your conversion should go. Save the dichlor for after the conversion is finished and your filter media is changed. By then, you'll need the Cl and the CYA that the dichlor offers.

Janet

[eyesfinallyopened]

Here's what's happened so far:

Even though the hot AZ sun was beating down, I put in 6 gallons bleach at 2 hour intervals today, never getting a Cl reading but knowing something was happening because of the pea soup I'd created. Had to leave for a party and when I returned at around dusk, I could see the bottom and there was a peachy blanket of precipitate on the bottom with some floating, too. I backwashed, vacuumed to waste and just added another 2 gallons of bleach. Now that I don't have daylight it's hard to tell how dark the cloud is when I add the Cl but I don't think it's as dramatic as those first applications. My latest readings were Ph 7.6, Cl 0, and TA 240. I'm off to buy more bleach so I can keep at it all night.

I'd welcome any suggestions, kudos, or whatever anyone has to offer to keep me on the right track.

Thanks,
Deborah
above ground 10,000 gal fiberglass sectional with vinyl bottom
100 lb sand filter

[prh129]

You mentioned in your first post that you took the sand out of your filter and were waiting until the conversion was done before you put some back in. I didn't see anyone comment on this but I would think you want some sand in there to filter the goop you will be getting. After the conversion you will need to dump that sand and put in new sand.

Good Luck

Peter

[eyesfinallyopened]

Thanks, Peter. Yes, I added the sand back in and have been filtering. When I woke up this morning I had yet to get any FC reading but this morning after several liters of ultra I've got it at at least 15-20 ppm which is encouraging. Even though I thought I was prepared for the hideous color, it was still shocking this morning to see the rusty water with tons of peachy baqua-crap floating all over the surface! It's difficult to skim but I'm just doing what I can.

Since I live in AZ and expect the temperature to be 105 degrees today, should I even attempt to keep the FC level up or is that a lost cause? I'm off to buy more ultra bleach but just don't know if it's worth it to try and fight the sun all day . . . Anybody think it might be possible to keep it at that level?

Thanks for all the help,
Deborah

[prh129]

I would say the longer (and more frequently) you can keep the Cl up the faster the conversion will go. Even though you will be losing some Cl to the sun, some of it will be attacking the Baquacil so just do the best you can.

Hang in there!

Peter