Pool Care

BaquaCil Start Up

    1. Fill pool to within 4" of top of pool.
    2. Add 1 gallon of BaquaCil Shock per 10,000 gallons of water.
    3. Allow pool to circulate (filter) for 24 hours.
    4. Follow instructional booklet for regular start-up.
    5. It is safe to swim immediately after chemicals are added.
    6. For best results circulate water for 72 hours stopping only to remove filter and clean with BaquaCil Filter Cleaner.
    7. Pool may appear cloudy for a few days as contaminates are being removed from the pool water.

What is Baquacil?

BAQUACIL SWIMMING POOL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT is a chlorine-free polymeric sanitizer that is effective against a wide variety of microorganisms. Because it forms insoluble complexes with pool contaminants, BAQUACIL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT works in conjunction with the filter to physically remove impurities from the water as it sanitizes.

Its complex chemical structure makes BAQUACIL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT extremely stable in the pool. Unlike the efficacy of halogen sanitizers (chlorine, bromine), BAQUACIL SAN1TIZER AND ALGISTAT is not affected by sunlight, temperature, or pH fluctuations.

This stability allows a pool to be properly maintained for longer periods (generally 10 to 14 days depending on consumption patterns) before additional BAQUACIL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT is required, providing more consistent bacteria control and greater ease of operation. Pool owners should check BAQUACIL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT weekly.

You also won't have the bleaching of hair, fabrics, or vinyl liners usually associated with chlorine, and you're less likely to encounter skin or eye irritation.

The Baquacil Family of Products

BAQUACIL SWIMMING POOL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT: A highly effective polymeric swimming pool sanitizer and algistat that contains no chlorine and is highly stable in use. The active ingredient is polyiminoimido-carbonylimino-imidocarbonyl hexamethylene hydrochloride and it is not compatible with chloe'me pools.

BAQUACIL SHOCK AND OXIDIZER (Baqua Shock): Anon-chlorine oxidizer used to oxidize organic compounds (swimmer waste) from tile pool water in order to clarify it. Not compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL ALGICIDE (Baqua Check 50): Supplemental quaternary ammonium algicide. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL (Baq Out): Chemical used to tie-up dissolved metals, preventing discoloration of pool water and staining of pool sides and bottom. Not compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL CHLORINE NEUTRALIZER (Baqua Start): A reducing agent that eliminates free available chlorine mid/or bromine from water prior to conversion. Not compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL FILTER CLEANER (Baqua Clean): An acid-based liquid cleaner for cartridge, diatomaceous earth, and sand filters. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL FLOCCULANT (Baqua Floc): Can be used to clarify pool water either as a filter aid or by broadcasting product in the water. This will pull together small particles and will settle them to the bottom where they can be easily removed by vacuuming. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL FOAM DISPERSER (Baqua Burst): Silicone-based antifoam for the elimination of foaming in pools and spas. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL SURFACE CLEANER (Baqua Brite): Highly concentrated gel used to remove metal stains, oil, scale, and dirt above and below the waterline. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL PERFORMANCE ALGICIDE (Baquacide 1000): A low foaming algicide for the treatment of persistent algae. Compatible witIl chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL COVER CLEANER (Baqua Fresh): Effectively cleans away soil and other debris to prevent unnecessary deterioration of pool and solar covers. Compatible witIl chlorine pools. 

BAQUA PLUSTM OXIDIZER INCREASER: An additive used to start-up a BAQUA PLUSTM pool and used weekly to help maintain the level of BAQUACIL SHOCK AND OXIDIZER on a continuous basis. By stabilizing the BAQUACIL SHOCK AND OXIDIZER level, the pool's clarity is maintained. Available in granular form for start-up. Available in tablet or granular form for maintenance. Not compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL FILTER AID (Baq Aid): Assists the tilter in clarifying dull or cloudy water. This product can be used with all filter types. Compatible with chlorine pools.

BAQUACIL BALANCE CHEMICALS (all are compatible with chlorine pools):

BAQUACIL TOTAL ALKALINITY INCREASER: High-purity, low-dusting product used to raise alkalinity to the recommended level.

BAQUACIL pH DECREASER: High-purity, highly active dry acid product used to lower pH and total alkalinity.

BAQUACIL pH INCREASER: High-purity, highly active dry alkaline product used to raise pH.

BAQUACIL CALCIUM HARDNESS INCREASER: High-purity beads (prills) used to raise calcium hardness.

Water Balance

Factors that affect the quality of pool water are total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, and total dissolved solids. The relationship between these factors is called "water balance." When these factors are properly adjusted, it is unlikely the water will deposit scale or corrode exposed equipment. Well-balanced water also provides maximum swimmer comfort.

To balance pool water, use the BAQUACIL Balance Chemicals. BAQUACIL Balance Chemicals have been formtflated and thoroughly tested to ensure complete compatibility with BAQUACIL SWIMMING POOL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT, as well as chlorine-based sanitizers.

To test for water balance:

Pitting, Cloudy etching, water, short stripping of filter runs, metals (stains staining, often caused eye & skill as a result), irritation eye & skin irritation

Use the PinpointTM Water Analysis System to test for BAQUACIL SANITIZER AND ALGISTAT, BAQUACIL SHOCK AND OXIDIZER (Baqua Shock), total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, and metals.

Always test and adjust total alkalinity before adjusting pH.

On the next few pages, we'll take a look at each of these factors individually.

The source of the water (such as, treated municipal water, grotmd water, or well water) will impact many of these factors in different ways. Knowing the water's source will help you know what steps to take to balance the pool and keep it balanced.

Total Alkalinity

Total alkalinity (TA) is the amount of alkaline buffer in the pool water that helps it to resist dramatic changes in pH, sometimes referred to as "pH bounce."

Total alkalinity is measured in parts per million, commonly referred to as "ppm." That's the pool industry's measurement of chemical concentrations in swimming pool water.

Do not lower total alkalinity more than 10 ppm/day.

Do not raise total alkalinity irtore than 50 ppm/day

The following charts show the recommended total alkalinity range, effects of low and high total alkalinity, and the corrective action to take.

Total Alkalinity Range & Effects

Action

Total alkalinity above 150 ppm: scaling & problems similar to high pH.

Total alkalinity below 80 ppm: corrosion, pH bounce, & problems similar to low pH.

pH

Of all the factors discussed in this section, pH has the greatest effect on water balance. The pH of water is a measure of its acidity or basicity.

Factors such as rain, dust, swimmer wastes, and algae affect a pool's pH. The pH range runs from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral (that is, not acidic or basic). Values less than 7 are acidic and values greater than 7 are basic, pH must be maintained within the recommended range to ensure bather comfort and prevent corrosion and scaling.

The pH scale is logarithmic - that is, a unit change in pH represents a ten-fold increase in acidity or basicity. For example, pH 8.5 is ten times more alkaline than pH 7.5 and pH 9.5 is one htmdred times more alkaline than pH 7.5.

The following charts show the recommended pH range, effects of low and high pH, and the corrective action to take.

pH Range & Effects

Effects

The amounts of adjustment chemicals required can be determined by using the tables that follow as an approximate guide for making pH adjustments. pH above 7: water is basic, pH above 7.8 causes scaling, cloudy water, short filter cycling, staining, eye & skin irritation.

pH below 7: water is acidic, pH below 7.2 causes corrosion, pitting, etching, staining, metal stripping, liner wrinkles, eye & skill irritation.

Calcium Hardness

Calcium hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium in the pool water. All water contains some natural hardness that will vary regionally and from source to source within a region.

The charts that follow show the recommended calcium hardness range, effects of low and high calcium hardness, and the corrective action to take.

If calcium hardness must be increased more than 50 ppm, add BAQUACIL CALCIUM HARDNESS INCREASER in ~Z increments, then wait four to six hours between further additions.

Calcium Hardness Range & Effects

400 [ Calcium hardness above 275 ppm:

calcium may come out of solution,

resulting in cloudy water. Extreme cases result in scale on the pool's surface, plumbing, & in filter.

Calcium hardness below 180 ppm: soft water that is corrosive, attacking exposed pool equipment; foaming.

Total Dissolved Solids

The total dissolved solids (TDS) is the total amount of material dissolved in the water. The TDS level is measured with a TDS meter. The TDS level of the water naturally increases with age through evaporation and chemical addition.

The following charts show the recommended TDS range, effects of high TDS (low solids are not a problem), and the corrective action to take.

Solids that are dissolved can't be filtered. Tlris makes it important to check the dissolved solid range in a pool and correct it if necessary.

Total Dissolved Solids Range & Effects

 

TDS above 1500 ppm: problems with water clarity, sanifizer efficiency, eye irritation, & taste may occur.

Metals

When water is corrosive, metals can be stripped from any exposed metal surfaces. No detectable metals should be present in a pool at any time.

For a reading of 2 ppm or less, add BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL (Baq Out) at a rate of 1 bottle (1 lbs.) per 10,000 gallons.

For a reading over 2 ppm, adjust the dosage of BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL proportionally (that is, for 4 ppm metals, add 2 bottles [2 lbs.] BAQUACIL METAL CONTROL per 10,000 gallons of pool water).

It is important to understand that properly balanced water consists of both an acceptable Saturation Index and acceptable water balance parameters (total alkalinity, calcium hardness, and pH). It is possible to have an acceptable Saturation Index and improperly balanced water.

in order to ensure maximum comfort for the swimmer, the pH, calcimn hardness, total alkalinity, and Saturation Index parameters should all be within their acceptable ranges as discussed in this section.

Langelier Saturation Index

Saturation Index Range & Effects

Langelier Saturation Index

Dr. BFtifred Langeller developed a formula to determine if water is corrosive, scaling, or properly balanced. In this particular equation, an average factor is included for total dissolved solids, which is assumed to be less than 1500 ppm.

To determine whether water is properly balanced, use the Langelier Saturation Index. The Saturation Index (SI) is a numerical value that indicates whether the water has a tendency to deposit scale or to corrode pool equipment. The optimum Saturation Index is zero.

Important Points to Remember

In order to provide the swimmer with maximum comfort, and protect the pool and equipment, it is important to maintain a well-balanced pool.

This involves keeping the Saturation index, total alkalinity, pH, calcium hardness, total dissolved solids, and metals within their acceptable ranges as shown on the summary table below.

If a pool is not properly balanced, take immediate action by suggesting the correct product and ensuring the customer understands the label directions.

 

If the Saturation Index is zero and the water chemistry factors are all in range, the water is in perfect balance.

Saturation Index values between +0.3 and -0.3 are considered satisfactory for swimming pool operation, as long as other water chemistry parameters are within specifications as well.