Brand Specific Forums > Hot Spring Spas
2013 HS Grandee W/ ACE Salt Progress Real Life results
chem geek:
I'm glad the system is working out well for you. There have been a few posts in this thread that I'd like to comment on.
First, the Hot Spring® ACE® Saltwater Sanitizing System is not just a saltwater chlorine generator so can't really be compared directly with those. Because of its boron-doped diamond electrodes, it generates not only chlorine but also hydroxyl radicals and other active oxygen species (as dunecritter noted). Ozone from an ozonator breaks down to produce hydroxyl radicals so in some ways one can see the ACE® system as a combination of a saltwater chlorine generator with an ozonator.
Second, it is not exactly true that bromine is more stable in hot water or more effective at higher pH. These statements are only true when chlorine is used in the water with no Cyanuric Acid (CYA). If there is CYA present, such as from the use of Dichlor, then this significantly lowers the active chlorine level reducing its rate of outgassing so that it lasts longer and it also buffers the active chlorine (hypochlorous acid) level against a change in pH. With no CYA in the water, going from a pH of 7.5 to 8.0 lowers the active chlorine level by 50%, but with 30-40 ppm CYA in the water the active chlorine level only drops by 15% (of course, it's also starting from a much lower level).
For the ACE® system or for any saltwater chlorine generator, it would be a good idea to use a small amount of CYA in the water (again, 30-40 ppm is reasonable) as this will lower the active chlorine level so that it oxidizes swimsuits, skin and hair more slowly, outgases more slowly, degrades hot tub covers more slowly, etc. 3 ppm FC with 30 ppm CYA even at hot 104ºF temperature has the same active chlorine level as 0.5 ppm FC with no CYA. You can, of course, try and maintain a very low FC level, but that's hard to do. It's easier to use CYA and let it buffer the chlorine level for you. The initial use of Dichlor when starting out added some CYA, but the CYA likely gets broken down over time where in a manually dosed hot tub using bleach the CYA loss is around 5 ppm per month. I don't know the loss rate in an ACE® hot tub.
Finally, you have minimal buildup on your plates due to keeping the CH low per ACE® instructions and the use of their Vanishing Act™ Calcium Remover, but for those who still have a problem the use of 50 ppm borates (usually added from boric acid) will not only slow down the rate of pH rise, but it will lower the rise in pH at the hydrogen gas generation plate by roughly half so helps prevent scaling.
There is a thread on another hot tub forum (not sure if I'm allowed to link to it so I won't unless someone official from this site says it's OK) that has reports from 13 ACE® owners plus dealer reports who have installed hundreds of them plus info from a Hot Springs® representative as well. The main problem is cells going out and this happened more frequently in earlier units. The majority of installations are without incident, but some people have cells go out in 6 months or a year. This doesn't seem to only be due to scaling as some owners were diligent about keeping calcium levels low and pH and TA in line.
dunecritter:
--- Quote from: chem geek on March 01, 2014, 01:39:13 pm ---There is a thread on another hot tub forum (not sure if I'm allowed to link to it so I won't unless someone official from this site says it's OK) that has reports from 13 ACE® owners plus dealer report who have installed hundreds of them plus info from an Hot Springs® representative as well. The main problem is cells going out and this happened more frequently in earlier units. The majority of installations are without incident, but some people have cells go out in 6 months or a year. This doesn't seem to only be due to scaling as some owners were diligent about keeping calcium levels low and pH and TA in line.
--- End quote ---
I do not belong to any other Hot Tub forums nor have I searched for any other results else where other than on this forum. Chem Geek...Your a pleather of water wisdom and your input is appreciated.
So far so good...5 months now I have had excellent results with my ACE system and have followed the manufactures suggestions very closely other than stretching my cell cleaning two months over due. The only thing that I can see myself doing differently in the future as Chem Geek has already suggested earlier in this thread is the use of CYA to help with keeping the PH from rising so readily and the help with minimizing outgas. But for now I am testing the system as Hot Spring suggests to all users as this is how most will maintain theirs and I will know with my own personal experiences all good and bad (if any). I will admit that this is the longest I have ever stretched my water before feeling that It needed to be changed and for the simple fact that I let my tub go 2 weeks without any manual attention what so ever is great. My water truly looks, smells, no foaming and feels like it was just filled. I have had many soaks in it without adding one ounce of bottled sanitizer yet. I have only added PH down a handful of times over the past 5 months to my water and I really am loving it so far. I have not yet "Boosted" my cell and I am not going to unless I have a large group sitting in my Tub. If my cell lasts the estimated 3 plus years...Id buy it again without hesitation and as bzy as I get...Even if didn't Id buy it again regardless as My time is worth more to me (That's just me and my laziness)...Besides, It keeps my water soak ready at all times even If I was unable to add chemicals to a "Normal" bottled chlorine system and that's the best part. I will keep posting with future results.
kurt6137:
I have a question for you Dunecritter, I have a 2013 Hot Springs Sovereign, that I do not have the salt system, it runs great, but i chose not having the salt system, due to the fact it was so new and chlorine definitely works and no issues to deal with like problems with hardware and running the system. My question, can I add a salt system to my Sovereign down the road, if I like and how hard is it to install, could I do it myself ? I don't think, I would want to, due to the fact , if it breaks, probably is not covered, let me know, thanks Kurt.
d00nut:
--- Quote from: kurt6137 on March 04, 2014, 09:34:36 pm ---I have a question for you Dunecritter, I have a 2013 Hot Springs Sovereign, that I do not have the salt system, it runs great, but i chose not having the salt system, due to the fact it was so new and chlorine definitely works and no issues to deal with like problems with hardware and running the system. My question, can I add a salt system to my Sovereign down the road, if I like and how hard is it to install, could I do it myself ? I don't think, I would want to, due to the fact , if it breaks, probably is not covered, let me know, thanks Kurt.
--- End quote ---
You can get the ACE system back to 2010 HSS models. If you go before that, I believe there is a retrofit kit that goes back to 2006 or 2004... I can't remember.
You can install them yourself, as it's pretty easy. However, check the warranty just in case. As dunecritter has alluded to, make sure you start up right and you will have awesome success with the system!
dunecritter:
Creeping up on six months soon and still have Awesome results...I'm still amazed by the Ace water care...I've read recent posts about some people having issues with their Ace systems and just not sure what to think about their issues? Are they using it correctly? Have they been properly instructed on how to operate the Ace system on their tub? ...My partner has his Ace system going on 7 months now and feels exactly the same as I do with excellent results...I hope the system holds up as I have very high hopes for it. But my water is absolutely awesome and I'm not adding any bottled sanitizers or chemicals other than balancing my PH with PH Down a few times. So far so good! ;D
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version