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Biguanides to Chlorine
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Stop
adding your baqua-chemicals! duh! Allow levels to drop down very close to 0. You may want
to run filter longer, and add an algaecide (not baqua-cide) when levels begin to get low.
This process may take several weeks.
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Clean the filter. Biguanides can clog up filters, and leave
chemical residue which may react with
chlorine. If you have a Sand Filter, it is
recommended that you
change the sand in the tank. If this is not done, you must at least
use a sand filter cleaning product made by your biguanide manufacturer (Baquacil, Soft
Swim, etc.) The same applies to Cartridge Filters. You should
replace the cartridge, or at
least clean it and then soak the cartridge in a similar
cleaning product, and rinse
thoroughly. If you have a D.E. filter, backwash it and open the filter tank; following
printed instructions on tank. Remove filter, hose off thoroughly, then soak it in the
cleaning product mentioned above. Hose again thoroughly and reassemble.
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Balance the pool
water chemistry. Then shock the pool with
non-chlorine shock, Also called potassium peroxymonosulfate. Add it at a rate of 8 lbs. per 10,000 gallons of pool water. So, if
your pool is 22,000 gallons, you'll need 17 or 18 lbs. Add 1/2 the shock, wait 24 - 48
hrs and then add the remaining. Add the shock according to directions on package,
with the filter pump running. Pool may turn cloudy for a few days if biguanide levels are
not zero. Re-check and balance
water chemistry. Run filter 24 hours
a day, 7 days a week until water clears,
backwashing as necessary.
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Finally, we begin to add
chlorine, very slowly. Place one tablet
in skimmer basket,
floater or
chlorinator. If your pool doesn't react to it (by turning
funny colors) keep it in until it dissolves. Then add 2 tablets, and so on, until you are
able to get chlorine readings of 1.0 ppm with your
test kit. Maintain this level with
tablets. Refrain from using chlorine shock products for one season, substituting
non-chlorine shock, as needed.
That's It! At least that's how
we've done it. Let me know how it works!
A good time to switch may be in the spring,
after a winter of not adding any baquacil or soft swim. I have heard reports of others who
have said that they simply let their pool go very green, made sure the baquacil levels
were 0 and then shocked it with chlorine. A simpler approach to be sure. |
