It's my turn to convert...

[JayC]

A small update - I've decided to go ahead and start the shock process, in a few minutes actually. So here goes nothing!

But, an interesting occurance. I went back over to the Pool Store, and had my water tested one more time, more to see what they'd say then anything else.

According to them:

Baq: 32
pH: 6.9
Baq Oxi: 12

When I asked them how that was possible, as it was 12, 7.0 and 7 yest, the student behind the counter said he'd try another computer and lot of test kits. Once he did that, my Baq level read at a 2. The dip strips I have here that I'm about to toss said I'm extremely low too on the dreaded Baq, so my hopes are that I'm not too far away from a clear pool running on Cl.

I'm about to add 2.2 gallons of super shock (12.5%) to the pool, and hopefully start seeing pretty colors. (18500 gallons to 15ppm per bleachcalc).

Wish me luck!

Jay

[CarlD]

Good Luck!

For you, figuring the gallons had only ONE thing you didn't know from Middle School geometry--7.48 gallons per cubic foot. And I'll bet you didn't even realize you knew it all the time!

I have never done a Baq conversion. I gather it's pretty scary and you are going to use ALOT of LC on the way...but once you are there, you'll never look back.

BTW, if you have a sand filter,when your conversion is complete, dump and replace your sand. It's one of the very, very VERY few times we recommend that.

I don't know if you can clean a cartridge after a convert or if you must replace it (OUCH!--sand is CHEAP, so replacement doesn't hurt)

But of course you should be able to clean a DE filter's screens and/or fingers.

[JayC]

Ok... I have a feeling I'm going to post often here.

About 4 hours into the conversion at this point, and I've been bumping the DE filter every 15 minutes or so. Flow isn't too low, but I figure it can't hurt knowing I need to change the DE anyway after I'm done.

I've used a little less than 4 gallons of 12.5% bleach at this point, and am about to go check the level again and add in more if I need to. I figure check every 2 hours or so while I'm awake, and see how that works for me.

Pool color wise - my wife says it's a light mountain dew color sorta. Not as bright a greenish as before, and I can actually see clear water next to the sides of the pool.

Thanks!

jay

[Watermom]

If you keep at it, in no time you'll have clear water.

[JayC]

Residual CL this time!!! I got a reading of 6ppm. I added 1.3 gallons of bleach.

[JayC]

Ok, so progress is happening...

Took my last reading tonite, which would be the 6th reading and Cl addition tonite. I got between 2-3ppm Free Cl which I have to multiply x 3 as I'm using 2 shot glasses distilled h2o with 1 shot glass pool water, so I added into the pool one more gal of 12.5%.

Hard to tell color of the water when it's pitch black in the backyard, but I've gone through 8 gallons of 12.5% bleach now. I also bumped my DE filter, which is now at 23psi (meaning it's a tad higher than normal and I'll clean it out tomorrow AM).

We have no plans tomorrow other than yardwork (bark mulch is arriving at some point!) and I have to mow the lawn. Other than that, every 2 hours I'll be testing and adding Cl when needed.

Am I right that I'm looking for clear water, and no more green color when I shock it? And then I'm looking for it to hold the FC levels overnight?

I'm still less funds into the conversion than I would have been starting up the pool on Baq, so I'm still thrilled and excited. Of course, they're now predicting 86 degree weather on Monday here in southern NH, I figure there's a small (very small) chance we might be able to take a dip.

Am I also correct - I need less than 10ppm before I let the wife and kids in there, once it's nice and crystal clear and a Cl pool?

Thanks again!

Jay

[JayC]

Good morning all -

Here's an update:

At about 6:00A today, I woke up and checked the pool. It dropped about 6 or 7 ppm FC overnight, so I dosed it with another gallon of 12.5% Cl.

My DE filter also was almost completely plugged, so I took it apart to clean it. There was a brown mud-like substance which I can assume is the used up Baq covering the grids. A few blasts with the hose knocked most of it off, so I reloaded it up with DE and put it back into service. I'm back down to 13-15psi which is where the thing usually runs at.

Pool color wise, it's starting to lighten! I can't really give you a good color reference as I'm totally color blind, and have to rely on my wife and kids to help with that. I do know that my eldest daughter can read a FC color chart now, as just she and I are awake now.

I'll recheck the pool around 8:30AM today, and post again then.

Thanks!

jay