Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: countryboy on December 16, 2004, 12:25:34 pm

Title: Scale
Post by: countryboy on December 16, 2004, 12:25:34 pm

I'm a week into my second water change and I'm getting scale on the whole tub. I'm on a well, didn't have this problem with the first two fill ups. Alk is fine, Ph is slightly high but working to get it down, clorine is a little low but its getting in the right range, water hardness is 250. any words of wisdom out there?

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: Drewski on December 16, 2004, 12:55:54 pm

Ouch. That dosn't sound good.

This might be a question for SUPER CHAS, he has some of the best "fixing water problems" posts I've read. I'm sure he'll read this...

Good luck!

Drewski

8)

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: stuart on December 16, 2004, 12:59:49 pm

Quote

I'm a week into my second water change and I'm getting scale on the whole tub. I'm on a well, didn't have this problem with the first two fill ups. Alk is fine, Ph is slightly high but working to get it down, clorine is a little low but its getting in the right range, water hardness is 250. any words of wisdom out there?

In the past for this problem when people are on a well I have used Perfect PH but be sure and remove your filters when you first put it in as it will clog them.

Sounds strange but it works...

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: Chas on December 16, 2004, 02:25:00 pm

Drop the pH to about 6.8, and the TA to 80 or below. Keep them there for about two or three days, and the calcium will go right back where it came from.

You have to be pretty agressive with this: add what it takes to get it down in the first day, and check the pH twice a day and add another ounce of spa down if it starts to creep up.

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: stuart on December 16, 2004, 02:27:29 pm

Chas,
Have you ever tried to control it with Perfect PH?

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: Chas on December 16, 2004, 02:30:27 pm

Quote

Chas,
Have you ever tried to control it with Perfect PH?

I have never had good luck with pH balancing chems. You have to get everything perfect first, and once that's done it's so easy to keep it that way.

But I have had several folks do expensive damage by not getting the hardness in the right range first.

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: countryboy on December 17, 2004, 10:26:54 am

Thanks Chas, I got it down last night, will see how it goes.

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: Russ on December 17, 2004, 10:34:25 am

Quote

I have never had good luck with pH balancing chems. You have to get everything perfect first, and once that's done it's so easy to keep it that way.

But I have had several folks do expensive damage by not getting the hardness in the right range first.

 

WHAT!!  :o  expensive damage!?!?!?!..."paranoia setting in now"

Title: Re: Scale
Post by: Chas on December 17, 2004, 03:14:08 pm

Quote

WHAT!!  :o  expensive damage!?!?!?!..."paranoia setting in now"

Are you kidding? Go price a new heating element, installed, and if you don't call that expensive, then add me to your Christmas list.

I have replaced many heaters due to "pH Perfect" or similar products. The customers didn't read the label, and cost themselves money. I had to flush a couple of them out multiple times to get all the crud out of the systems.

Now the good news is that HotSpring and others are offering no-fault warranty coverage on heaters these days, so if you are talking about one of those tubs, then go for it.

But if the money is coming outa' your pocket, then I would be very very careful of these products.