Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Bama on January 11, 2007, 06:07:26 pm
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I may use my tub several times per day, ok?
I use the Vermonter's method and toss in 1 Tbl of 97% Dichlor every evening into the 650 gal tub.
I shock every Saturday whether it needs it or not.
So, when do I stink?
Since I soak so much, I skip bathing inbetween or I would be wet all day long.
I bathe in the morning before soak and at night after the final soak, it's inbetween that I find I don't like the way my skin smells. My husband says he doesn't smell anything, but then he's not known for having a good sniffer anyway. There is a definite skank smell I got going on. I'm careful not to use lotions or anything, because I know I'm going right back into the tub soon. I don't smell anything in the water when I raise the cover on my hot tub, it's just me! :-[
I don't know why I would stink??? :o
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if it's an issue, you might consider a quick rinse off after tubbing...not a full shower, just enough to rinse off any chlorine and "funk" afterwards..
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Is it a chlorine smell?
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I think for me, it would depend on where the smell was coming from. :o
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Bacteria can grow rapidly in warm water. It is possible that your morning dip uses up any residual chlorine left from the previous night's dose, and waiting until the end of the day to dose the tub allows anything left behind from your multiple soaks several hours to grow. :o
IMO your 1 tbl dose is a little light, especially with the amount of use. Consider adding 1/2 tsp after each dip during the day, and a bigger dose at night, for a total of 1.5 - 2 tbl/day. The small doses should help keep things in check, but not create enough residual to bother you. If multiple doses is too much hassle, another alternative would be to dose 1 tbl after your morning soak, and another tbl at the end of the day.
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Bacteria can grow rapidly in warm water. It is possible that your morning dip uses up any residual chlorine left from the previous night's dose, and waiting until the end of the day to dose the tub allows anything left behind from your multiple soaks several hours to grow. :o
IMO your 1 tbl dose is a little light, especially with the amount of use. Consider adding 1/2 tsp after each dip during the day, and a bigger dose at night, for a total of 1.5 - 2 tbl/day. The small doses should help keep things in check, but not create enough residual to bother you. If multiple doses is too much hassle, another alternative would be to dose 1 tbl after your morning soak, and another tbl at the end of the day.
Reese,
Since the smell left on my skin is NOT a chlorine smell and my test strips show no free chlorine (strip does show total chlorine) prior to soaking...
I think you may be right....it's probably bacteria, but I didn't want to soak in chlorine either. Hmmm? Chlorine or bacteria, which way do I go???
I believe I soak more than the average person. I was tossing in 2 TBL of dichlor every night, but I think that may have been too much at once. You may have the answer to a happy medium! I'll try this.
I'm still pretty new at this and I still don't have it right yet.
Thanks for your help.
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Bama, I have a super sniffer...is the smell that you are detecting a clean fish-tank kind of smell...not nasty, but earthy? Remember, you are sweating while you are soaking too...and you don't instantly stop sweating when you step out of the tub..I know the one thing that I don't like is when my head sweats...I have noticed on occasion a non-chemical earthy kind of smell...but I usually shower or at least rinse after I soak.
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I would be wet all day long.
There's nothing wrong with that.
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Bama, I have a super sniffer...is the smell that you are detecting a clean fish-tank kind of smell...not nasty, but earthy? Remember, you are sweating while you are soaking too...and you don't instantly stop sweating when you step out of the tub..I know the one thing that I don't like is when my head sweats...I have noticed on occasion a non-chemical earthy kind of smell...but I usually shower or at least rinse after I soak.
Yes, it is an earthy smell, I never thought about sweat. I'm not sure that would be it since my water temp is only 97. Maybe, that could be part of the problem???
Since I may soak up to 4 times in one day, I was skipping the extra rinse.
I have already started rinsing after each use, but I can't help but be curious about the smell.
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Have you looked into aromatherapy?
Bluesman 8-)
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re:"I may soak up to 4 times in one day"
I doubt that will continue for very long....
but until that slows down Bama I would rinse off in the shower
after every soak.....you say you don't wanna be wet all day
but if you are already wet when you exit the tub whats it really
gonna hurt to extend it another couple of minutes by rinsing off in the shower?
I am no doctor, but I wouldn't think sitting in a hot tub 4 times a day is
even very good for you or your skin.
On average.....how long is each soak?
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Maybe it's your hair. I mean, didn't you post about your long beautiful locks? You should be shampooing at least every day or two.
I would forget the tub problems and just start showering more.
Stay wet...and don't forget to post those pics! ;)
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Bama, I know the smell then, and I am guessing that it may also be bacteria but it is probably not occurring at a level high enough to cause problems. Obviously the baceria levels in the tub fluctuate up and down and sometimes the levels are just higher..I also know that there are people who have a super sensitive sniffer...so probably everyone experiences this but they arent sensitive enough to detect it.
I have found that, for the most part, I can tell my bromine levels with just a smell...and when the water is starting to bloom (like when your water is not cloudy, but not crystal clear and you know something is not right), I can smell that earthy smell and sometimes a Pseudomonas smell (almost like fermenting grapes)...So I think you have a great sense of smell and are just detecting water that is a bit under treated... ;)
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Boni, I'm inviting you over to sniff our tub and help get it in order. ;)
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I am by no means a chemist so this is a long shot. Maybe the lotion, perfume, rinse, shampoo etc. you use is reacting with the spa chemicals. We were experiencing an stong ammonia smell while we showered. It turned out that the bar soap and shampoo when they lathered and came in contact with each other gave off the ammonia smell. Both were name brands, maybe you can try a different lotion, rinse, perfume etc.
Like I say it's a long shot, ammonia is nothing like an earthy smell. (Unless the earth where you live makes your eyes water and takes your breath away) :D
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re: "pseudomonas smell"
Pseudomonas = http://textbookofbacteriology.net/pseudomonas.html
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I think Bama's smell is a non-chemical water born bacteria smell.
I used my fishtank water as an example because (this probably really sounds nuts) I smell the water when I feed my fish..If I get that "earthy water" smell, I know all is well..anything else, I look for bodies :'(... when my tub has gone cloudy and I shock like crazy, I get that pseudomonas smell... the nose knows!
That earthy fishtank smell is a reason that I can't eat catfish...they smell just like that raw and cooked (probably because they are bottom dwellers!).. :o
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But Bama says the tub water doens't have an odor itself. So it makes me think it's a reaction of Bama's own body chemistry reacting to something. Some one who showers 2x a day and soaks for hours in clean water shouldn't really have an odor.
Bama, you've mentioned that you've been changing the dichlor amounts that you add after you soak. Have you tested them to ensure you're reaching 5ppm?
If the water is balanced and the dichlor levels drop below 2 ppm when you go back in the tub, thats pretty clean water, I'm at a loss of why it would cause you to get skanky. Unless something needs to be cleaned in the tub, have you checked behind the spa pillows, and wipe down along the water line? (a MR clean sponge works well). Other areas folks forget about are under the filter lid, and the inside ring of the filter floater doohickey.(some tubs don't have this).
Or perhaps it's something else? (diet, laundry detergent, new perfume)? - something aint mixing right o r agreeeing with you. Perhaps we are jumping to conclusions that the "eau de skank #5" is hot tub related?
:)
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If the water is balanced and the dichlor levels drop below 2 ppm when you go back in the tub, thats pretty clean water, I'm at a loss of why it would cause you to get skanky.
Drewstar, every now and then you make a post like this that makes it seem like you didn't bother to read the whole thread.:-? ;) We are all just guessing here, but by applying chlorine only once at the end of a day of multiple soaks, Bama is likely taking several dips in untreated water, because any chlorine residual is probably used up after her first soak of the day. Since bacteria multiply exponentially, she could easily be carrying bacteria out of the water, where depending on the type, it could continue to grow on her skin (or die --either way think skank) -- long before they have created enough waste in the tub water to cause an odor.
The "Vermonter" method of dosing after use works fine for many people who use their tub once/day or less... often alone or with immediate family, but has weaknesses for multiple uses, infrequent use, guests, and parties -- due to not maintaining residual chlorine at all times. IMO, those situations require a system that maintains a sanitizer residual, like regular doses of chlorine, a bromine floater, baqua, etc.
Bama, this little rant reminded me of some thing else that may help in this situation. While Nature2 should be considered a secondary sanitizer, not a replacement for regular chlorine doses, it may help keep bacteria growth in check between doses. The mini-doses we talked about, along with N2 may be a good system for you.
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Drewstar, every now and then you make a post like this that makes it seem like you didn't bother to read the whole thread.:-? We are all just guessing here, but by applying chlorine only once at the end of a day of multiple soaks, Bama is likely taking several dips in untreated water, because any chlorine residual is probably used up after her first soak of the day. Since bacteria multiply exponentially, she could easily be carrying bacteria out of the water, where depending on the type, it could continue to grow on her skin -- long before they have created enough waste in the tub water to cause an odor.
The "Vermonter" method of dosing after use works fine for many people who use their tub once/day or less... often alone or with immediate family, but has weaknesses for multiple uses, infrequent use, guests, and parties -- due to not maintaining residual chlorine at all times. IMO, those situations require a system that maintains a sanitizer residual, like regular doses of chlorine, a bromine floater, baqua, etc.
Bama, this little rant reminded me of some thing else that may help in this situation. While Nature2 should be considered a secondary sanitizer, not a replacement for regular chlorine doses, it may help keep bacteria growth in check between doses. The mini-doses we talked about, along with N2 may be a good system for you.
Reese. You may be right, but then again, you could be wrong. Does my suggestion that it may be somehting other than what you think bother you? Lately I get the impression that I am annoying you some how?
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Reese. You may be right, but then again, you could be wrong. Does my suggestion that it may be somehting other than what you think bother you? Lately I get the impression that I am annoying you some how?
Hopefully, with phrases like "we're all just guessing here", and "IMO" I have left the impression that there are other potential solutions. 8-)
As far as you annoying me: nah, more often I find you entertaining, which I believe is your intention. When you offer advice on a forum, you expose yourself to differing opinions, and have to expect challenges. As long as they are well thought out, and take into account the information that has been presented, that is healthy for a forum. In this case, I took exception to your statement that as long as the tub is dosed to 5ppm, it should be safe -- for the reasons I explained.
As for the times we've disagreed on things like ozone and the size of your chlorine scoop: I'd hope that we are both big enough to be able to move on with no hard feelings. At least we haven't resorted to calling each other out over things that were posted years ago, which I saw in another thread. I especially appreciated your balanced presentation of the pro's and con's of ozone the other day, even though I know that you believe in it strongly. Perhaps, I should have posted to say that -- as I probably should have restrained from the "do you even read the whole thread?", comment. ::) My apologies.
Now back to the matter at hand. What do you think is the likely explanation for Bama's concern?
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Thats cool Reese thanks for your response. -just needed a sanity check.
I do slightly disagree with your condition that all posts be thought out, I take that to imply that you belive open thinking posts are frowned apon. If so, I'm going to be on the other end of the spectrum.
I had no problem with the scoop thing. I was happy to post my mistakes.
But anyhow, what's the cause of bama's stench? As I posted (Reese, do you take the time to read all the thread? ;)) it could be many things and have absolutely no connection to the tub, as I stated. However, if it's the water, you seem to be addressing those concerns, however, in addition to the water, bacteria may be some place else, pillows, side walls, and such.
If we wanted to seeif indeed it was the tub. Bama could forgo using the tub for a few days, while keeping everything else constant. If the smell persists, It's not the tub, If it goes away, I think we could assume its something to do with hot tub use.
And I'd recomend an Ozinator over the N2.
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...And I'd recomend an Ozinator over the N2.
Aw, c'mon! In the newfound spirit of detente, that should have at least had a ;) after it. ;) ;D
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:P
;D ;)
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I know I am treading on thin ice, since I almost detect an agreement with with Reese, but I believe the bacteria theory..Because I have also experienced the same "earthy" smell. And you will experience that same smell when the chlorine levels in your swimming pool are low. I try to keep the chlorine levels in my pool as low as possible. I know when I smell that odor on the kids, it's time to push the chlorine...it is almost a pond water smell. BUT you have to have a very good nose to even detect it...
Bama, I am sure if you follow the methods that these guys have suggested for your tub, you will no longer smell like you came in from the swamp! ;D ;D ;)
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Try upping your chlorine a bit. You might not want to soak in chlorine, but it's really not going to hurt you (unless you have a medical reason to not, but then you'd maybe not even be using dichlor).
If with higher levels of chlorine result in the odor problem going away, then it's probably bacteria. Another suggestion migh be to super chlorinate your water and try something different- like bromine. Bromine leaves a definate scent on your skin- not skanky or anything.
Or try the N2 route. It's supposed to go okay with low levels of chlorine anyway.
I've never tried it so I can't personally vouch for it.
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I know I am treading on thin ice, since I almost detect an agreement with with Reese...
;D ;D :-?
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Trixie,
How 'bout testing your FC, TC and extrapolating your CC after each soak for a day or two using your once daily dosing method. This would give us some concrete evidence and allow us to either rule in or rule out your dosing routine. I know it would be a pain but it may answer your questions completely.
And if you need help doing this, just give me a call...Tallahassee can't be too far away....and you won't have to model a bathing suit for me...;)
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Smells are so hard to describe and to convey to one another! I find it sort of interesting that we have two threads now regarding recognizing odors- ozone and Bama! Anyway, for what it is worth, pseudomonas is also decribed as smelling like wet corn tortillas. That may sound weird, but you'll know it as soon as you smell it!!!!
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I'm anxious to test the smaller increments of dichlor after each soak as opposed to one big dose at night. However, for the last couple of days, I've been sick, so I haven't soaked...therefore, I've been smelling like Este' Lauder-Pleasures! SWEEEETTT! What a change!
I suspect Reese is on the right track, cuz my water is pristine and no smell. I'm the only thing that is smelly and I don't notice it until I'm dry.
I think my body has been invaded by bacteria....HELP!!!!!
Bonniebelle...I'm glad I'm not the only stank-skank on this forum!! ;D ;D
Drew, to answer your question on the 5ppm...uh, no I don't check it.
I just look at the pretty colors on the test strip to see if they match the colors on the bottle that say, "ok". :o
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I'm glad I'm not the only stank-skank on this forum!! ;D ;D
:o :D I like that.....or the "eau de skank #5".....somewhere they could get good money for that scent, yanno.
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I just look at the pretty colors on the test strip to see if they match the colors on the bottle that say, "ok". :o
That's what i do. Under the pretty colors are actual values. So if the colors match, you are hitting what's recomended.
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I DON'T STINK ANYMORE!!!!! :o :o
The problem solved!
I toss in a teaspoon of dichlor after every soak during the day, as opposed to one Tablespoon at the end of the evening.
Thanks so much to everyone for helping me figure this one out.
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I DON'T STINK ANYMORE!!!!! :o :o
Good, I have to fly to Chicago but have been putting it off in case I was on one of your flights. I can't imagine being on an aircraft where one of the attendants smelled like 'Pig Pen' looks. ;D ;D
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Well, don't let my stink slow you down...Stinky smells are very common on a flight full of people, especially since the air is only recirculated and not fresh from outside.
In addition to body smells, flatulence is a very common side effect of flying for most everyone. ;D
But, at least there won't be my Swamp Thang stinch. ;)
See ya, here, there, or in the air!
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I remember when flying wasn't a step below "Going Greyhound". I used to love flying, not anymore.
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Swamp Thang stinch. ;)
You'll be easy to pick out on your flights. You'll be the only one with 3 names on your tag.
Trixie, Bama, and Swamp Thang. Maybe we should start calling you 'Sybil' :-/
(You're a true southerner, Swamp Thang, just like my kids would pronounce it) ;D
I still like to fly, reprocessed air or not.
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You'll be easy to pick out on your flights. You'll be the only one with 3 names on your tag.
Trixie, Bama, and Swamp Thang. Maybe we should start calling you 'Sybil' :-/
(You're a true southerner, Swamp Thang, just like my kids would pronounce it) ;D
I still like to fly, reprocessed air or not.
Everyone in the south has at least 2 or 3 first names...
At least that's whet my deddy (Joe Bob) and my mama (Betty Jo) tole me! ;D
About Trixie... for the record, it's Trixie Jo. ;)
you know that evolved from a joke, right?
No offense to anyone out there named Trixie Jo. :-*