Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: goneaway on September 09, 2013, 02:43:10 pm
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Cleaning my old filters i found the pleats full of brown sludge.
Its the same brown sludge I'd see on the sides of the tub shortly after using antifoam, in which case I'm refusing to use it on the new filters.
Its obvious to me, that its not water soluble.
Are there any alternatives, or home grown recipies that work well without clogging the filters.
My latest fill is only a week old, and despite taking a shower before use, and not washing costumes in soap, there's already the early stages of bubbles forming.
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What's your calcium hardness level? Sometimes when that's low the tub can tend to foam
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Good question, of which i'm not sure of the answer.
I use 4 way test strips, which shows all OK.
I'm pretty sure the latter is hardness, which is OK, however, i have nothing in my arsenal of chemicals to effect that.
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Test strips usually only test for Total Hardness, not Calcium Hardness, and they aren't always accurate anyway. A Taylor K-2006 kit will test everything accurately including Calcium Hardness (CH). A CH of 120-150 ppm is usually enough to prevent foaming but not so high as to cause scaling.
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Hi Chem Geek.
It's already complicated :'(
I have however, found this water quality chart from my local water company.
Is this any good as an indicator ?
Average Calcium readings were = 93 mg/l
http://www.ywonline.co.uk/web/WQZ.nsf/0/DB5E5071F371110F802574FD003D32D1/$file/Grimethorpe%202004%20WSZ.pdf (http://www.ywonline.co.uk/web/WQZ.nsf/0/DB5E5071F371110F802574FD003D32D1/$file/Grimethorpe%202004%20WSZ.pdf)
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I agree...1st thing to do is to figure out where the faom is coming from.
Product we like is called SeaKlear Self Floccing Defoamer. It encapsulates the material and takes it to the filter, rather than creating the scum.
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I'm struggling to find that in the UK.
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Also, are you adding in the foam out product by pouring it into the tub? If so, put it in a spray bottle and spray it directly on the foam. I don't have much of a foam product, so whenever I do use it, I remember to rinse the filters out 24 hours later.
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I was originally putting it directly in to the water as directed, and then picked up on the spray bottle trick.
To be honest, having seen the state of the old filters, i'm now refusing to use the gunk stuff.
If it means changing the water more often, then so be it.
I did find a MSDS for the SeaKlear you mentioned, it has very little in it.
98% water
1% Acetic Acid
1% Chitosan (whatever this is)
and trace elements of Silicones
Is this kind to the filter, and how well does it work ?
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I found Chitosan locally, which also contains silicones.
Acetic acid is available in the super market, which i'm buying this evening.
Watch this space for results of my chemistry experiment.
I'll report back in a week or so, if i have any eye brows left !! 8)
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LOL.....fascinating!!!
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So I concocted a recipe last night, however, i'm not sure it worked :(
How long do you normally leave the SeaKlear in to see any results ?
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Results are immediate
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So my recipe didn't work.
What are your thoughts on the following please chaps.
Would it be possible to simulate a foaming situation using household detergents.
If i connect a fish tank air feed to a gallon of hot tub water, then introduce a detergent to simulate the hot tub foaming, I could experiment with different formulae.
;D
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you can just do it in your kitchen sink with dish soap.
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Zilibon cleaning defoamer(http://www.zilibon.com/), this product is mainly designed for the foaming characteristics of the cleaning industry's cleaning process, use this product can effectively control the cleaning agent to produce foam.
Mainly used for cleaning and defoaming of various cleaning agents such as yellow robe cleaners, equipment cleaning agents, neutral degreasing agents, parts cleaners, detergents, degreasers, household detergents and electronic cleaning, etc..
Performance performance
Good mutual solubility with cleaning agent, no floating oil, no silicon spot.
Use less, high efficiency, alkali resistance.
The unique defoaming effect is conducive to wastewater discharge.
This product is non-toxic and odorless, which is conducive to production safety.
Instructions
Diluted with clean cold water 2 to 5 times, select the foaming point, add by adding drops can achieve defoaming requirements. The general usage is about 0.2 to 1 inch. Production cleaning agent according to the surfactant content of 2 ~ 5 ‰
storage method
This product is non-toxic, non-flammable and explosive products, stored in a cool, sheltered place, sealed. The storage period is 6 months without obvious stratification. The storage time exceeds the best use period marked on the label does not mean that the product can no longer be used. However, to ensure product quality in this case, it is necessary to re-examine the relevant nature of the product.
Reference data
Appearance: Milky white liquid
pH: 6±2
Working temperature:0～120°C
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I had a customer who said they got results from fabric softener. I have never tried it, but you guys seem to be pretty good at searching for all the specs on things - why not check out the specs for a couple of brands of fabric softener?
HTH
8)