Hot Tub - Spa advice on Water conditions PH and such?

Keith_Angl

OK so I'm the new pool boy here and have the little Spa to tend to. Just 400 gallons of water to babysit. Test strip came up
FCI = 0 ALK = 80 PH = 7.8 CH = 100
Have Ozone and trying to do a Nature 2 enzyme system.
So what Chemical Balance do I need to know.
And any hot links?

Answer
The short answer:
Uh, you kinda posted a very open ended question. pH and sanitizer levels are by far the most important factors in your tub. As long as they're where they should be and the tub is at the temperature that you want... jump in. The Canadian National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), the US has a similar organization, website http://www.nspi.ca/ has a bunch legit resources for you to browse.

The longer answer:
Keep your sanitizer levels (bromine or chlorine) to at least 1.0-2.0ppm for chlorine and 2-4ppm for bromine. An ozone system will allow you keep a lower level of sanitizer, though.

You will may notice that your pH will consistently read above 7.8. This is due to the ozone system. Add a few tbsp's of powdered acid to the tub as needed. It is easier to fight to bring the pH down, rather then fight to raise it.

In the grand scheme of things, your total alkalinity (ALK on your test strips) is important in keeping your pH buffered (ie. at a constant correct level). But because the ozone will constantly drive the pH higher, I would just concentrate on keeping an eye on the pH.

The amount of calcium in the tub is adequate. Some will suggest adding a little bit more. In the grand scheme of things, yeah, calcium is important but pH and sanitizer levels are more important.

I personally don't like the enzyme additives. Yes, the work... kinda.. and depending on the circumstance. They're supposed to "help maintain" clear water. The key words are "help maintain". If the water is cloudy/foamy/smelly, this usually means that you don't have enough sanitizer to begin with. If you can't solve a cloudy/foamy/smelly water problem by adding more sanitizer then you can follow the "if in doubt, throw it out rule" (ie. dump the water).

Does your spa or your hot tub smell a lot?

How to get rid of the odors and to keep the spa cleanâ¦

Answer
Smelly Spa & Hot Tub Odors are caused by improper sanitizer use, water balances, lack of regular maintenance; Environmental reasons caused by uncontrolled biofilm build up. You can get rid of the odors by dealing with the chlorine and bromine sanitizers. These sanitizers when used will kill the bacteria settled at the corners, removes the waste sediment or the gas and give us a fresh fragrance.

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Hot-tub Chemicals?

Q. I have looked on alot of sites and I cannot find what I am looking for. My question is what chemicals do you use in a hottub to make it sanitary? and also how do you shock a hot-tub? 10 points to whoever is the most helpful, please list all of the chemicals.

Thanks

Answer
try these out. there are many choices for sanitizing.

Mineral Sanitizers,

chlorine,

bromine,

Ultraviolet UV Sanitizer, Sanitizes with UV rays instead of chemicals.

ionization-oxidation systems, proven to eliminate bacteria, algae, and most viruses.

Install an ozonator for cleaner water. Ozonators convert oxygen into ozone.

Shocking a spa or hot tub refers to the application of non-chlorine shock or hydrogen peroxide. The purpose is to break down the combined chlorine, organic waste and contamination. Products such as sodium dichlor and non-chlorine shock are used for this purpose, with spas utilizing chlorine, bromine, ozonation, ultraviolet treatment, mineral purifiers or ionization.

try this for the shock treatment, Oxy Spa Non-chlorine MPS spa & pool shock

hot tub question?

Patty

I am getting ready to start the hot tub up for the winter. What do I need in the form of chemicals from the start up?

Answer
First thing everytime you put new water into your hot tub or pool is you have to balance the water. First test your alaklinity. It needs to be between 80-120ppm. You cna adujst it upwards by adding Baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate/Sodium hydrogen carbonate) next adjust the ph to 7.2-7.8. YOU want it as close as you can to 7.4-7.5. Next adjust the Calcium level to 250ppm-400ppm, by adding Calicum Carbonate (Hardness increaser). After all of th add your sanitizer, being Bromine 35 ppm, or Chlorine 1-3ppm. I hope you have a CD ozonater and perhaps a mineral stick also of copper or silver. I really like using a non-cholrine shock...MPS. Of course there's are othersanitizers like biguinde and hydrogen peroxide for a shock by Baquaspa or Bioguard. I am not a fan of them, especially if you have any kind of breathing issues.

If possible take you water to a hot tub store and have them test it. I cannot stress ths step enough since then you will have a nice computerized record 6x a year showing you have nice perfectly balanced water then when the heater goes you will be able to not let the manufacture say your heater was destroyed form improper water chemistry.

The more things you use too by the way that are not needed if your water is perfectly balanced like water clarifier, fragrances and foam dispensers will cause more peoblems by dreating more total disolved solids to be in the water there fore making it harder to balance and keep clean. Be sure to clean your filters properly with a filter cleaner. Bromine is more stable at high temperatures then chlorine.

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