How do you switch from Baquacil to chlorine without draining the pool?

Answer 1

If you read the directions from baquacil you will find that yes you can indeed change from baquacil to chlorine. It is extremely important that you use up all the baquacil product and eliminate it from your pool prior to adding the chlorine. I have successful changed over two different systems and chlorine is much less expensive.

Answer 2

From talking with my spa guy, the only way is to drain, rinse and then refill. This is true for going the other way too. In no way is Baquacil compatible with halides.

Just converted this year myself. You need to wait until your Baquacil reading is zero. My pool had a reading that was false (showing Baquacil when none was present) so my dealer had me take a bucket of water and add some chlorine bleach, If their is no reaction, you can start the conversion. I added 2 gallons of shock a day for 5 days and then started with the chlorine tablets. Your pool will turn a murky color and you'll neeed to clean your filter a few times, but it will clear and you'll be on your way.I would have stayed with Baquacil, but I got algae every August and my friends with chlorine had none. Chlorine is a lot cheaper too.

I was told from another pool guy in my area, if you have baquacil, let your pool drain and get baquacil really low. Don't add anything else, then when your readings are really low slowly go into chlorine. You can't just throw it in and everything, just gradually. I am HATING baquacil, I read once it is cloudy its murder to get out and THEY were RIGHT. I have almost drained my 16x32 down to the bare to just get the cloud out with drop out. I am starting back immediately with chlorine.

More detail is avaiable at http://www.poolforum.com/pf/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=223&topic_id=1242&mesg_id=1242&page=, but in brief:

Use Chlorine to Raise PPM to ~15. Filter constantly. Don't flip at the bizzare color changes that will occur.

Check Clorine several times per day, add more as needed to raise to ~15. Watch filter pressure, backwash when needed. Wait.

When water clears, replace filter sand.

enjoy your new goop-free pool!

Answer 3

No, you have to replace the sand in your pool filter; otherwise, it will be feeding Baquacil back into the pool all year giving you water problems. Besides which, Baquacil gums up the sand. So, you should replace your sand every year with Baquacil anyways.

Answer 4

ask pool dealer about chemical additive made by baquacil that eats the chlorine-i cant remember what its called; however, i know they have it because Ive used it. Initially, I had to use it to start up my pool when I first got it. Then, I thought chlorine may be cheaper-had SOOO MANY problems it was unreal. Switching back to baquacil now-about to run to the pool store and get me some of that same chemical I told you about! FYI-I love baquacil. Test weekly-add more chemicals once every 2 weeks-maybe-how much easier can you get??

Answer 5

After Shutting down the filtration system shock the pool with 2 lbs. of granular dichlor per 10,000 gallons.

a heavy and unsightly surface scum will form.

Leave it until the next day by which time it should be laying in a layer on the bottom of the pool. set the filter to waste and vacuum all of the stuff of the bottom to waste.

Stop the pump. Test your water with the Baquacil test kit. If it still shows Baquacil present repeat the procedure but halve the amount of dichlor per 10,000 gallons. The scum will be much lighter . Let the pool sit overnight, vacuum and retest. when the test kit shows no Baquacil present. top up the pool and set it up for chlorine or salt chlorination or what ever other system you have in mind

Note do not vacuum through the filter during this procedure always vacuum to waste.

Answer 6

Simple just turn of the salt chlorinator and start treating it as a chlorine pool. A salt water pool is in fact a chlorine pool . the salt in the ater is converted into chlorine gass ellectronicaly and then desolved into the water. If you want to convert to the old way of chlorinating, simply keep an eye on chlorine levels and dont run the chlorinator. Ignore the salt it will weaken over time.

Answer 7

Baquacil and chlorine are not compatible, pool must be emptied. Sand on your filter changed or cartridge replaced.

Answer 8

Honestly, the best thing to do is drain the pool and start from scratch with the chlorine. Been there, done that.

Answer 9

First you need to have the salt system installed. Next, I would drain your pool and start with fresh water. Have your filter grids changed. Fill up the pool. Then you add the salt.