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Nitro's Guide to Water Maintenance

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Nitro:

--- Quote ---I usually tell people this: pH and TA should go up and down together. Add Spa Down if they are too high, Spa Up if they are too low.
--- End quote ---
One problem with this is, if the TA is really high (>200, 300 etc), they won't realize how much acid it takes to get it down. A lot of times, they will just give up on it. And if you were to add enough acid to lower TA to an ideal level all at once, your pH would drop FAR too low (<7.0), creating an acid bath and possibly damaging the tub. If you limit the acid, it could take a week or two to balance the water. Why wait when it can be done safely in a few hours? Check out my Lowering TA Guide on how to do it.

The other problem is, there would be a tendency to over shoot the ideal levels, requiring way more chemicals (acid, bk) than necessary.

I find it much easier (requiring a lot less chemicals) to focus on TA and get it tuned so that pH stays at the ideal level. If you get your TA tuned, pH will stay right in line, without the need to add acid or baking soda.


--- Quote ---Add a tablespoon of dichlor after every use.

Test the chlorine level daily for the first few weeks, and adjust the amount of chlorine you add after use until you have it so that there is JUST a readable chlorine level when you next go to use the spa.
--- End quote ---
The problem is, Dichlor adds CYA to the tub, reducing the effectiveness of the Chlorine. After a month of using the tub only 3 times a week, you would have ~60 ppm CYA. The Active Chlorine (FC/CYA ratio) would be far lower then in the beginning of the month. After 2 months with CYA > 100 ppm, you're at a much higher risk of developing something nasty, even though the FC is the same.

I recommend using Dichlor until your CYA is 20-30 ppm, then switching to bleach. Bleach is easier to get and cheaper anyway.


--- Quote ---Change the water every three or four months.
--- End quote ---
If you're using only Dichlor, I would not recommend going longer than 2 months. And if you have a high bather load, I'd recommend you change your water every month.


--- Quote ---Do NOT test pH and TA more than once a week, and do NOT retest pH and TA sooner than 6 hours after adding Up or Down.
--- End quote ---
I'm not sure the logic here. You can test TA at anytime, and it will give you the exact amount. You can test TA 15 mins after adding Acid or Baking Soda. It will not change what so ever if you wait longer. pH will tend to rise from aeration. If you understand this, you can balance your water perfectly in a few hours.


--- Quote ---And testing for pH and TA with a high chlorine content is useless.
--- End quote ---
Again TA can be tested anytime. Chlorine will not effect TA. pH will go down as Chlorine gets used up, so I do recommend testing pH before you add Chlorine. But again, you should not try to control pH directly. The key is to tune TA to an ideal level, in order to keep your pH balanced.

 ;)

kokanee001:
and what's the best way to bring the chlorine level down to a just readable level

kokanee001:
If there's anything I hate about my hot tub, it's fighting with the chemicals, water balance, etc. When things are going OK, great; but when they're not, it's total frustration.

I see one of the hot tub dealers in our area is offering to make once weekly checks on the water in your hot tub and adjust things accordingly. Of course, they charge a few bucks for this service, but the beauty is you're worry and frustration free. Thinking seriously of going that route.........

Nitro:

--- Quote ---and what's the best way to bring the chlorine level down to a just readable level
--- End quote ---
Your goal is not to bring your Chlorine level down to a readable level. Your goal is to keep a residule chlorine level (>=1 ppm) at all times.

Nitro:

--- Quote ---If there's anything I hate about my hot tub, it's fighting with the chemicals, water balance, etc. When things are going OK, great; but when they're not, it's total frustration.

I see one of the hot tub dealers in our area is offering to make once weekly checks on the water in your hot tub and adjust things accordingly. Of course, they charge a few bucks for this service, but the beauty is you're worry and frustration free. Thinking seriously of going that route.........
--- End quote ---
You are exactly the reason I wrote this guide. Have you read it yet? Do you have questions?

Hot tub water maintenance is not difficult, IF you learn to do it correctly. The problem is some dealers (not all) push their spas out the door without telling the customers what's involved in maintaining the tub. You'll hear, "just add pH Up or pH Down to balance the water" and "add a TBS Dichlor after every soak and you'll be fine". That's just not good enough. Either these dealers don't know themselves, or don't want to make it sound difficult. Either way, you're out of luck, unless you go online.

Why pay someone when you don't have to? If you can learn to pay your bills and balance you checkbook, you can learn to maintain you hot tub water, IF you want to. I suggest you read this guide and try this method. If you have questions, there are plenty of people on this board that are willing to help. I can almost promise we can get you up and running, where you will be maintaining your own tub.

"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for life."

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