Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: benalexe on July 08, 2008, 07:45:25 pm
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I had not been in my tub since Saturday.
I opened the tub today and the water was cloudy and merkey. First time I had this issue since I have had the tub.
The only thing that I did different was to clean the filters with filter cleaner.
To rectify the probelm I put in 2 oz of dichlor, Water clarifier, and a little PH up.
I did a water test and the levels were pretty good before I added anything.
The only reading that was off was the stabilizer. (not even sure how to increase stabalizer)
Now the tub is running all pumps to circulate the water. I have the cover open. The kids wanted to go in but I would not let them go in the merk.
Any ideas why this happened? What to do? How to prevent it from happening again?
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Sounds like low or no sanitizer. This is the only time our tub goes cloudy: we don't go in it for a couple of days, for whatever reason, and if we don't go out and throw some dichlor in we get a cess pool.
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Okay so what do I do? I just went out there and it is still Murky.
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Add enough dichlor to reach a FC reading of 10ppm or higher, increase filtration, thoroughly rinse filter(s), and if it's still cloudy in the morning add a few ounces of clarifier.
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I have the strips and it is on purple so I am assuming I added enough.
I guess it is just a wait and see. No quick fix.
So at this point I do not need to empty the tub and refill right?
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Yeah, it takes time. How old is your fill, what's the average bather load, and how often is it used?
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about 6 weeks. the kids go in about 3 days a week. I too go in about 3 days a week. Sometimes there are 5 kids in.
The only other change was the filters that i cleaned with the filter cleaner stuff.
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It definetly wouldn't hurt to do a refill. I know a few members here do an extra refill during the summer b/c their kids use it a lot more.
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Any more advice here before I dump it? Work up this morning and still the same. In addition it has a weird smell.
I dumped a little more dichlor in it. Anything else?
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Nothing else you can do, but wait. It will clear up, but it could take a few days. Dumping and starting over is sometimes the easiest 8-)
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Another case for Chas' Law.
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Ah yes. That's the one that says new owners should do a refill after the first month, right? I plan to be one of those VERY soon! The gravel bed got dug to a proper level yesterday, and the first layer (stone dust) is in. Today it gets levelled and I put down the weed block fabric. Tomorrow the pea gravel, then the border. This weekend we put the tub in position. Electrician is scheduled for next week.
I am sooooooo psyched!
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I had cloudy water a couple weeks ago. Turns out it wasn't the chemistry at all.
I too cleaned my filters a couple days before it happened. My problem was I didn't "purge" the filter when I put it back. Thus, there was an air pocket and basically the water wasn't being filtered.
Skellman
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You should also check the bypass in the bottom of the filter housing if it has one. If the by-pass breaks, most of the water will bypass the filter and not get filtered causing yucky water.
Have kids rinse off feet ect before using the tub or it will always be hard to maintain water clarity.
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When in doubt, drain it out! 8-)
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I got home today and the water seems to be somewhat improved. I was debating on draining it but figured since it was late when I got home from work I can wait until tomorrow.
I put some shock in it and some clairifer and then rinsed out the filters.
What I still don't really understand is why this happened?
If the water clears up will it be as good as new?
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NO
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Why?
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Benny, water is cheap. I would dump it. Since you like it cool you can use your spa as a pool again. Nothing's like a fresh fill.......
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I dumped it out.
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While we are on the topic, how do I prevent this from happening again? Do I shock more or often? Anything else I should do?
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The only reading that was off was the stabilizer. (not even sure how to increase stabalizer)
Now the tub is running all pumps to circulate the water. I have the cover open. The kids wanted to go in but I would not let them go in the merk.
Any ideas why this happened? What to do? How to prevent it from happening again?
Who told you to test for stabilizer in a hot tub and why? :-? That's a pool reading and not for spas.
Keep your sanitizer between 1-3ppm (add after each use to prevent cloudy water), shock properly weekly and after heavy use, clean your filters monthly, test water as often as possible initially, make sure your filter settings are filtering at least 6 hours a day and keep soaps, perfumes and oils out of the water.
The key to watercare is understanding how you and other bathers effect the water and being proactive instead of reactive. I'm also a huge advocate of getting your water tested monthly at a local dealer.
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I think the bottom color on the test strip is stabilizer.
I understand keepthing the sanatizer level up. Usually I either put a tablespoon of Dichlor per person or a tablespoon of shock per person after each soak. I never really know which to use so I just vary.
But... when you say shock, how much and which dicholor or shock?
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Who told you to test for stabilizer in a hot tub and why? :-? That's a pool reading and not for spas.
Keep your sanitizer between 1-3ppm (add after each use to prevent cloudy water), shock properly weekly and after heavy use, clean your filters monthly, test water as often as possible initially, make sure your filter settings are filtering at least 6 hours a day and keep soaps, perfumes and oils out of the water.
The key to watercare is understanding how you and other bathers effect the water and being proactive instead of reactive. I'm also a huge advocate of getting your water tested monthly at a local dealer.
IMO, we really should know the stabilizer levels only because the chlorine becomes less effective as the stabilizer goes up. Not much of a problem when the stabilizer is from 0 to 100 PPM but after 100 it can be the reason water doesn't clear up as fast or goes bad.
I agree it's more useful for pools as most spa owners don't pay attention to it. I also agree that it is important to understand water care and be proactive.
People have to remember that bacteria doubles every 20 minutes in a tub.
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IMO, we really should know the stabilizer levels only because the chlorine becomes less effective as the stabilizer goes up.
I dunno Vinny... I'm not saying you're completely wrong but in 15 years, we never tested for it with our customers for spas. Maybe if they didn't have a cover....maybe, but in Alberta, if you're stupid enough to not have a cover on your spa, I'm not wasting my time testing your stabilizer! ;)
Our belief was that with proper watercare and balancing and due to the fact that we drain 3-4 times a year anyway, stabilizer never becomes a factor in that timeframe anyway. Joe & Joanne consumer have enough issues with sanitizer, pH, Alk, Cal hardness, shocking and TDS to throw one other reading into the mix that really never becomes a factor.
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Keep your sanitizer between 1-3ppm (add after each use to prevent cloudy water), shock properly weekly and after heavy use, clean your filters monthly, test water as often as possible initially, make sure your filter settings are filtering at least 6 hours a day and keep soaps, perfumes and oils out of the water.
Won’t a chlorine level of 1-3ppm be on the low side? :-?
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Won’t a chlorine level of 1-3ppm be on the low side? :-?
Not according to the suggested range that chlorine should be kept at in a spa.
Bromine is 3-5ppm.
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Not according to the suggested range that chlorine should be kept at in a spa.
Bromine is 3-5ppm.
Oh really, I thought it was 3-5ppm for hot water. I keep my pool in the 1-3ppm range for chlorine, though.
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Oh really, I thought it was 3-5ppm for hot water. I keep my pool in the 1-3ppm range for chlorine, though.
Never heard of that. Did you read that somewhere? I'm certainly not opposed to a 3-5ppm reading of chlorine myself but some may be more effected by a higher reading than others.
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Never heard of that. Did you read that somewhere? I'm certainly not opposed to a 3-5ppm reading of chlorine myself but some may be more effected by a higher reading than others.
That’s the recommended chlorine level in my Tiger River Manual. Maybe it’s because I don’t have one of those fancy no by-pass filters. ;D
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make sure your filter settings are filtering at least 6 hours a day
Steve,
You think you need to filter your water at least 6hrs per day? Seems a little excessive to me. Have mine on 2 hrs per day and works out fine. Me and wife are in it at least once per day and water remains clear between changes at 3-4 months. However no kids in it and very rarely guests. Add dichlor after every soak usually. Other than that advice was straight on.
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Here's a question for you Canadians - Are you using dichlor?
I thought it was hard to get dichlor in your neck of the woods.
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make sure your filter settings are filtering at least 6 hours a day
Steve,
You think you need to filter your water at least 6hrs per day? Seems a little excessive to me. Have mine on 2 hrs per day and works out fine. Me and wife are in it at least once per day and water remains clear between changes at 3-4 months. However no kids in it and very rarely guests. Add dichlor after every soak usually. Other than that advice was straight on.
For a new user, 6 hours is what I would recommend until they gain a clear understanding on watercare. The amount of filtration has a great deal to do with the quality of the water and newbies need all the help they can get! ;)
For the amount of power these pumps draw on low speed filtration, I would never suggest less than 4 hours per day. Stagnant water is not a good thing in a spa. The less filtration, the greater the chance for problems. If it cost you an extra $5 per month, it is really the cost that's preventing you from what most would consider a "standard amount of filtration" in a 24 hour period? :-/ We all waste at least $5 PER DAY on crap we don't really need to buy right?
I don't understand why (and I'm not suggesting this is you) some people spend $8000+ on a spa (a luxury item requiring significant disposable income) then try and pinch pennies on something as important as the quality of water. It's the reason why I would never suggest to someone that they filter only 2 hours per day. Your savings would be out the window trying to overcome cloudy water and other issues that inadequate filtration can cause.
It's what I consider "stepping over a dollar to pick up a dime" mentality and I don't get why so many choose to put their water at a greater risk with minimal filtration and want to buy the cheapest crappy watercare products at the box store.
I rant...therefore I go to bed! ;D
Steve
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Here's a question for you Canadians - Are you using dichlor?
I thought it was hard to get dichlor in your neck of the woods.
Dichlor, Crack and Ecstasy are easy to get. ;)
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Dichlor, Crack and Ecstasy are easy to get. ;)
Now I'm disappointed ... in a country where people don't lock their doors, you can get all that nasty stuff! ;D
Maybe it's being imported from that evil Quebec Providence!! ;)
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Now I'm disappointed ... in a country where people don't lock their doors, you can get all that nasty stuff! ;D
Maybe it's being imported from that evil Quebec Providence!! ;)
lol... not quite. Oh..., and we don't ride Skidoos to work or live in igloos or play hockey on frozen ponds with frozen sh*t! ;D We do have healthcare and Shania Twain though!
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No sh**-pucks?!! Man, you just ruined one of my oldest Canadian beliefs. What a buzz-kill. Next you'll try to tell me that the Canadian alphabet doesn't start with "eh".
Uh-oh, here I go, new to the site and already insulting people. And I'm not even from N.Y.
Gotta say I really appreciate the forum you have here. As a real newbie to spas, I've already gotten some good info just tonight from those of you in the know.
Thanks