Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: wmccall on May 25, 2004, 12:20:34 pm
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I'm comfortable enough in my water care routine after 14 months of spa ownership to feel that if I now give Nature2 a try I might be able to see the benefits.
(I use Dichlor with occasional MPS)
First question, who manufactures it and do they have a website so I can read their information?
Next, it looks like your supposed to insert in inside your filter(s) I don't think that will be possible with my design. I'm guessing the idea of putting it in the filter is to ensure water flow over the product. My system has two filters and a basket inside the filter compartment to keep out the really big things. Is it effective to just place the cartridge in this basket? The skimmer door should keep the product in the filter compartment. ( I assume it doesn't float.
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1) The N2 cartridges are made by Zodiac. If you read on their site that you can go with N2 and use no chlorine, don't believe it. You still will need to add a bit of chlorine. Those that try the chlorine free way inevitably have to use chlorine when their water ends up getting murky.
2) Typically you put the N2 cartridge inside the filter or the filter standpipe but if that's not feasible many do just place it in the filter basket as long as you can do so without it interfering with the basket's ability to skim.
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i am opposite, i started using a similiar product to nature 2, (monarch silver cartridge) and i still use mps and chlorine...i am really questioning how well it really works, as mine cost 40 dollars a pop. they last 4 months, but chlorine isn't that expensive for 4 months and i am basically keeping standard levels in my spa now...so i am going to go without the silver cartridge when i hit the 4 month mark and see if there is a difference.
i am sure it helps some, but i wonder if it is worth 120 dollars a year!
anyone else try with and without a mineral/silver cartridge and see a big difference?
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I think these products are a scam. Maintain your spa the spa way without it and see what happens, nothing.
If you have a spa with a good ozone system do yourself a favor and save your the few nickels for something else.
Gary
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The N2 cartridge (same as Monarch) is not a scam IMO but it is secondary to the sanitizer much as the ozone unit is. A price of $40 per is very steep though, as I've seen it at other places for much less at places like Dr Spa, spapartsdepot.com, poolandspas.com, etc.
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nature 2 and the Monarch cartridge are the same thing. Monarch is just branded for Caldera. Zodiac also makes D-1's Vision cartridge. nature 2 reduces the amount of dichlor you need to use in your spa on a regular basis. it also makes the water feel softer, and it is also easier on your skin then chlorine/bromine. You can get by using just mps and the nature 2 IF AND ONLY IF you have 24 HR ozonation and shock after every use with MPS. Now if your spa frequently has high bather loads (greater then 2) you will have to shock with dichlor as it is a stronger oxidizer then mps is. MPS is simply an oxidizer (think booster shot for your spa), where as Dichlor is both an oxidizer(when raised to levels above 8ppm) and a sanitizer. that's the difference. Hope this helps.
Jason,
Store manager for a D-1 and Caldera dealer
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Jason-
I've got a question for you. I recently bought a chairman II. I filled it up for the first time last week. I checked the PH with the test strips and the PH and Alkalinity was high from the start. I've been adding a cap full a day since and finally today it looks like its getting close. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong? Also when they delivered the spa they told me to add some stain and scale remover to the water, and not to put the vision cartridge in for 4 days. I forgot to put the stain and scale remover in for 2 days, so I didn't put the vision cartridge in till about 6 days arter fill up. The shock they gave me is the SPA Essentials Spa shock Xtra. Is this the right stuff, and how much and often do I use it? Also does the vision cartridge go on top of the filter on the right if your standing above it? Is there anything else I need to get to get my PH, ALK, and chlorine levels right? Thanks in advance for your help.
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The shock they gave me is the SPA Essentials Spa shock Xtra. Is this the right stuff, and how much and often do I use it?
In this case, this is dichlor in a lower concentration that most dichlor's you can buy. The label just lists "other ingredients" as about 50% of the contents. But the description lists those other contents that are suppose to cling to dirt and grime in the spa and help it get filtered out. I pour in about 2 ounces every other Friday night on weekends where I plan on changing the filters.
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wmccall,
I doing the opposite. I was using the Zodiac product Freshwater III ag+ cartridge (same as N2). I used it for 6 months, but since my dealer quit selling spas and my nearest HS dealer is in Stillwater (OSU home), I think I will try without it. I have been adding more chlorine, but only 1 tsp. average more and things seem fine. Just changed my water at the beginning of May, so time will tell.
I'll let you know.
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Hey,
I've been using n2, ozone and dichlor. I heard you need to use some mps to "activate" the n2 cartridge. Is this true?
Thanks
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Some people try (unsuccessfully IMO) to use N2 with MPS only in their weekly routine (no dichlor). The directions tell them on start up they need to add some DICHLOR to activate the N2 cartridge, not MPS to activate it.
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wmccall,
I used it for 6 months, but since my dealer quit selling spas and my nearest HS dealer is in Stillwater (OSU home), .
No, No, No, OSU's home is in Columbus!
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2) Typically you put the N2 cartridge inside the filter or the filter standpipe but if that's not feasible many do just place it in the filter basket as long as you can do so without it interfering with the basket's ability to skim.
Maybe it will help when I see it, but I had fears of putting it in the standpipe and not being able to get it back out, the same with putting it in the filter.
I'll order one soon and see what happens.
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It comes with a couple extentions so you can keep it high enough so you can get at it.
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It comes with a couple extentions so you can keep it high enough so you can get at it.
Thanks for that reassurance.
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I don';t know how your dealer recomends setting up the D-1 spa witht eh vision cartridge but I'll tell you what works best here in central NY. We have our customers initially add a stain & scale / metal control when there is about 2 inches of water in tub while it's filling. Then wait two days and add 2 oz of dichlor to sanitize the source water, 30 mins later add 2 oz of non-chlor shock (MPS) to help alleviate the chlorine odor. Wait 24 hrs and then test the spa water (bring sample into the store to be tested), and make the proper adjustments to Alkalinity, pH, & calcium hardness. Aftwer the water is balanced we have them add the vision cartridge. The vision goes on top of the filter that doesn't have the floating weir. Now in our experinece with the vison and also Nature 2 cartridges the pH in your spa will almost always be around 7.8 or higher, due to the fact that the cartridge itself(the minerals in it to be exact) has a pH of 7.8. It should also be noted that if you use a non-chlor shock(MPS) over the course of a week or two it will lower your alk. AWe recomend to our customers that they keep their spas Alkalinty on the higher side of the scale, more towards 150-200ppm. This helps maintain your pH at 7.8-8.0 and also gives you more leway when shocking with MPS. Now please be aware that when and if your pH goes higher then 8.0 your spa WILL scale. I hope this helps you out, if you have any questions please feel free to ask me, but keep in mind that it is pool season here in NY, so my response time will most likely be delayed.
Jason,
Store manager for a D-1 and caldera Spas dealer
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Can you refill your tub (after two months) and still use the same N2 cartridge or do you need to use a new one?
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They're supposed to be good for 3 or 4 months...
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as long as you make sure it doesn't dry out, so keep it in a bowl of water, ditto for DS-1's vision cartridge.