New Pool - Baquacil Regret

[MWPool]

We just setup a new 27' vinyl liner, hard sided pool. We headed out of town before the pump was hooked up and as a precaution before a long hot weekend, we put in the dealer's recommended Baquacil starter kit: Approx. 32oz CDX, 192oz Oxidizer, and 96 Oz Sanitizer + Algistat. That was 11 days ago. Our pump + sand filter was installed and running for the last 2 days. We've added nothing else. We've got 2" rain since then.

Enter Baquacil regret ($$$$). We want to immediately convert to chlorine. Are we safe to do so being that we just started and have put in low amounts of Baqacil products? Any pointers?

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! The sooner you start the better. A healthy water exchange could also help. Please see our instructions below. Be sure you have a TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit in-hand before you attempt the conversion. Accurate testing from one of those kits is a must. The TF-100 (link in my signature) is a great buy.

Convert Your Baqua Pool to Chlorine

This Step-by-step guide will help you transform your pool from Biguanide (Baquacil, SoftSwim hereafter referred to as Baqua) to chlorine. Read more

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[MR.TAPE]

We just setup a new 27' vinyl liner, hard sided pool. We headed out of town before the pump was hooked up and as a precaution before a long hot weekend, we put in the dealer's recommended Baquacil starter kit: Approx. 32oz CDX, 192oz Oxidizer, and 96 Oz Sanitizer + Algistat. That was 11 days ago. Our pump + sand filter was installed and running for the last 2 days. We've added nothing else. We've got 2" rain since then.

Enter Baquacil regret ($$$$). We want to immediately convert to chlorine. Are we safe to do so being that we just started and have put in low amounts of Baqacil products? Any pointers?

I just wanted to say that I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience using Baquacil. I've been using Baquacil for over 36 years and have never had a problem maintaining my 15x30 Sharkline above ground pool. In the beginning, my pool was a chlorine treated pool. The problem was that my job required me to travel away from home many days of the week. With no one "overseeing" the pool, I ended up having many water balance issues. Then a neighbor told me of a water treatment program that didn't require much attention and in addition would have several additional benefits, and it was called Baquacil. I jumped on board and have never looked back. NOTES: 1) I want to point out that my pool has a DE filter which I think should be a requirement for all Baquacil pools. Sand filters just don't seem to work well enough. 2) I've never used the Baquacil CDX formula. I'm still using the original Baquacil Step 1 Sanitizer & Algistat. In the end, Good luck with your conversion.

 

[anthonypool89]

NOTES: 1) I want to point out that my pool has a DE filter which I think should be a requirement for all Baquacil pools. Sand filters just don't seem to work well enough. 2) I've never used the Baquacil CDX formula. I'm still using the original Baquacil Step 1 Sanitizer & Algistat. In the end, Good luck with your conversion.

YEA!!!! Someone who comes along and actually supports and reports success with baqua. Most refreshing for sure. I think it's a great system but is obviously not without some issues for a good many users. But then, no system is completely troublefree.

I've used baqua for 22 years - and with a DE filter. Most things I've read point to just the opposite - that DE causes more problems with filtration due to the biguanide molecule coagulating in the DE grids far quicker than with sand, which does not filter as fine. I'm having severe problems with constantly increasing filter pressure - have you ever experienced this? Also, have you never had any issues wth pink slime or white water mold? Both are also common issues with baqua. I also use the Sanitizer / Algistat (which, by the way, has no algicidal properties whatsoever - just found this out by talking directly with a baquacil rep) but I also use CDX since it allegedly helps to stabilize the Oxidizer level.

Like you, I also started with chlorine and used it for about 10 years. I had no problems with it other than running into what I was told was a "demand" situation - test results called for greater and greater amounts - once it got to having to add something like 80 lbs of granular chlorine, I decided to call it quits and went to "softswim" (baqua). A friend of mine ran into the exact same problem, didn't want to keep throwing large amounts of chlorine at the pool and so he also switched BUT has a sand filter and has never run into the problems I've had.

I still find NO good reason why this stuff can't work and thus have been determined over the years to try various products to supplement the basic A-B-C program. This year is the first year, out of my 33 years of running a pool, that I have such severe filter pressure increases. Makes absolutely no sense to me. You apparently have made it work and so I'm envious and surely very curious...especially since you have DE. When the local pool store held a seminar for those who were interested in switching over from chlorine, we were told that we would "need to work with the filter". I could and did accept that, and can't even recall having to even change the DE very often. Now, of course, I'm doing it every 3rd day, which is intolerable.

Do you do any regular testing for your biguanide and/or oxidizer levels?

Just sent you a message.....

 

[jgofnj]

I am not going to criticize your use of the Baqua systems (or whatever it is called). Glad it works for you (except for the filter issue you are now having). But I am willing to bet the reason your chlorine demand was so high (before you switched to Baqua) is because your CYA was so high with all of the pucks and shock you added . Had you followed the methods on this site (which I am sure was not around 33 years ago) you would have never had a need to switch. But hey 33 years of success with Baqua - Kudos to you!!!!

 

[anthonypool89]

But hey 33 years of success with Baqua - Kudos to you!!!!

Well....I wouldn't say 33 years of complete "success". The biggest struggle over the years has been the occasional battles with pink slime and white water mold. Unfortunately this often comes along with the biguanide system because the hydrogen peroxide oxidizer is apparently just not effective enough to keep those organisms completely under control. However, at some point a product called "Assist" was introduced - no idea anymore what was in it - but that was like bringing out the big guns relative to dealing with mold or slime. Unfortunately, Assist was discontinued about 4-5 years ago, and then ensued the search for something to replace it. I experimented with all sorts of stuff - but wound up using Aqua Finesse Pool Care Tablets. They kept the water kinda nice and silky feeling, but unfortunately raised the pH all the time, so I got rid of that and for the last two years started using non-chlorine shock called Line Clean. This has worked very well and keeps the water in great shape BUT has done nothing to combat this filter pressure situation.

Thanks for the kind words...it has not been what I'd call a 'smooth ride', but surely an interesting one.

 

[anthonypool89]

But I am willing to bet the reason your chlorine demand was so high (before you switched to Baqua) is because your CYA was so high with all of the pucks and shock you added .

Totally agree! Lee (and others here) educated me on this over the past several years. I was a new pool owner and knew nada, so I figured ...ok....these chlorine sticks and similar is the way to go. I had no idea about CYA and so forth. Now, it appears that my chlorine was over-stabilized, i.e. "locked" up. Had I not run into the "demand" situation (which really wasn't the true problem), I'd likely still be using chlorine today, although the idea of a non-chlorine system held great appeal at the time (and frankly still does IF it'd continue to work).

 

[sls]

I used Baquacil for the first 4 years of owning a pool. It was costing me 1200 to 1400 per season to maintain. I used to pray it wouldn't rain because I would spend days (and $$$) trying to get it clear again. The 3rd and 4th season I fought the white mold/pink algae the complete season. After finding this site (and a similar site) years ago, I switched to chlorine and never looked back. Now I could care less if it rains and I only spend $200-$300 per season, and the pool always looks great! BTW - Don't freak out when you first add chlorine, it will go through some crazy colors during the transition.

 

[anthonypool89]

it will go through some crazy colors during the transition.

Thanks. That would appear to be one of the more enjoyable parts of the process! In my case, though, doing it next spring - with the water already looking green / swampy after removing the cover, I won't experience that psychedelic aspect of conversion. Water SHOULD go from green to blue/clear, much the same as when adding the usual start-up baqua chemicals. I plan to follow the same procedure as usual to start - just running the filter without the DE grids in and vacuuming as much of the accumulated debris first - either using a skimmer sock or else catching most of the gunk in the pump strainer. Then, I'm thinking that once I have as much of that stuff out of the pool as possible, start adding the chlorine.

I should read some threads of conversions that were done in spring, being that, with the water still impossible to see farther down than a few inches, it'll be tough to know where this alleged "baqua goo" is forming and/or accumulating. I guess that before adding chlorine though it'd be advisable to get the pH down to the recommended 7.2 - 7.4 range.

After approx. 21 years of fighting various baqua battles, it's really time to try a different approach, especially with the recent short filter cycle issue. Were it not for that, I might be willing to forge on a bit more since the pink slime / white water mold has not been much of an issue over the past several years. Water has generally been clear during the entire season.

What I do like about baqua is that sometimes days can go by without checking anything, whereas with chlorine it seems that you do need to check daily and compensate for any loss below the recommended level. Then, some of these SLAM stories sort of put me off also. Sounds like it doesn't always go real easy, but then neither is trying to keep away slime and mold.

 

[sls]

Thanks. That would appear to be one of the more enjoyable parts of the process! In my case, though, doing it next spring - with the water already looking green / swampy after removing the cover, I won't experience that psychedelic aspect of conversion. Water SHOULD go from green to blue/clear, much the same as when adding the usual start-up baqua chemicals. I plan to follow the same procedure as usual to start - just running the filter without the DE grids in and vacuuming as much of the accumulated debris first - either using a skimmer sock or else catching most of the gunk in the pump strainer. Then, I'm thinking that once I have as much of that stuff out of the pool as possible, start adding the chlorine.

I should read some threads of conversions that were done in spring, being that, with the water still impossible to see farther down than a few inches, it'll be tough to know where this alleged "baqua goo" is forming and/or accumulating. I guess that before adding chlorine though it'd be advisable to get the pH down to the recommended 7.2 - 7.4 range.

After approx. 21 years of fighting various baqua battles, it's really time to try a different approach, especially with the recent short filter cycle issue. Were it not for that, I might be willing to forge on a bit more since the pink slime / white water mold has not been much of an issue over the past several years. Water has generally been clear during the entire season.

What I do like about baqua is that sometimes days can go by without checking anything, whereas with chlorine it seems that you do need to check daily and compensate for any loss below the recommended level. Then, some of these SLAM stories sort of put me off also. Sounds like it doesn't always go real easy, but then neither is trying to keep away slime and mold.

I really don't see you ever regretting the switch. I do a quick check on the pool in the morning while the dog is out using in the bathroom. I can do it under a minute. If I need to put in LC, it takes a couple more minutes. If I'm going to be gone for a few days, I will pull out a few pucks and put in chlorinator or take it to shock level. I will normally check my PH and other things over the weekend. You can use the money you save to buy new patio furniture/poolside TV, ETC.

 

[anthonypool89]

I will pull out a few pucks

So you're using granular just for those times when away from the pool for a few days? Probably the best way.

I really don't see you ever regretting the switch.

Guess we'll find out. Time to at least see what all this chlorine enthusiasm is about on this site.

I switched to chlorine and never looked back.

What part of the year did you convert? During the season or at spring opening?

 

[sls]

So you're using granular just for those times when away from the pool for a few days? Probably the best way.

Guess we'll find out. Time to at least see what all this chlorine enthusiasm is about on this site.

What part of the year did you convert? During the season or at spring opening?

I converted in the spring opening.

 

[anthonypool89]

I converted in the spring opening.

Thanks. Any idea about how many gallons of liquid chlorine you went through? Your pool is about 2.5x more water than I have. Had you done any water exchange / draining prior to starting the conversion?

 

[sls]

Thanks. Any idea about how many gallons of liquid chlorine you went through? Your pool is about 2.5x more water than I have. Had you done any water exchange / draining prior to starting the conversion?

Sorry its been several years ago so I don't remember. I do remember it took less than I thought it would. I was just stocked up for a while

 

[Bperry]

Thanks. That would appear to be one of the more enjoyable parts of the process! In my case, though, doing it next spring - with the water already looking green / swampy after removing the cover, I won't experience that psychedelic aspect of conversion. Water SHOULD go from green to blue/clear, much the same as when adding the usual start-up baqua chemicals. I plan to follow the same procedure as usual to start - just running the filter without the DE grids in and vacuuming as much of the accumulated debris first - either using a skimmer sock or else catching most of the gunk in the pump strainer. Then, I'm thinking that once I have as much of that stuff out of the pool as possible, start adding the chlorine.

I should read some threads of conversions that were done in spring, being that, with the water still impossible to see farther down than a few inches, it'll be tough to know where this alleged "baqua goo" is forming and/or accumulating. I guess that before adding chlorine though it'd be advisable to get the pH down to the recommended 7.2 - 7.4 range.

After approx. 21 years of fighting various baqua battles, it's really time to try a different approach, especially with the recent short filter cycle issue. Were it not for that, I might be willing to forge on a bit more since the pink slime / white water mold has not been much of an issue over the past several years. Water has generally been clear during the entire season.

What I do like about baqua is that sometimes days can go by without checking anything, whereas with chlorine it seems that you do need to check daily and compensate for any loss below the recommended level. Then, some of these SLAM stories sort of put me off also. Sounds like it doesn't always go real easy, but then neither is trying to keep away slime and mold.

You can go by several days without testing. I’ve been away for a week and haven’t worried about it. (Though it’s not advised for newbies or general good practice). I expect the water will read exactly the same when I return tonight, if I’m using the salt chlorine generator and the water has been pretty much on autopilot for most the summer.

The people SLAM’ing are doing so because they didn’t keep enough chlorine in the water. Once people stop being afraid of chlorine, the algae problems seem to go away.