Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: martyz4 on February 08, 2007, 02:04:20 pm
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has anyone tried a handful of baking soda in their spa along with the bromine floaty? i was told by a couple of people they do this to make the water nice and soft. does it sound feasible? appreciate any advice you can give me.
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Baking soda will raise the alkalinity of your water. It's what the alk up products are made of (sodium bicarbonate). I use it to occasionally boost my alk if it drifts lower. It doesn't seem to do anything special to the water.
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Baking soda increases total alkalinity and pH. If TA is low, adding it is great. :D If TA is high, not a good idea. :P
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What's the best formula for adding baking soda -- say if your ph is 7.0 in a 400 gallon tub, how much bs should be added?
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What's the best formula for adding baking soda -- say if your ph is 7.0 in a 400 gallon tub, how much bs should be added?
I've never seen a formula for baking soda to raise pH, only TA. I add a tablespoon at a time and retest. In my 485 gallons, one tablespoon will generally bring my pH from 7.0 to 7.5.
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Be sure to allow things to settle down for several hours before retesting. Sodium Bicarbonate or Sdium Bisulfate will cause a drastic swing in pH and TA which will even out in about three or four hours.
If I am double checking, I usually test the following day.
8-)
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What's the best formula for adding baking soda -- say if your ph is 7.0 in a 400 gallon tub, how much bs should be added?
I was told by the delivery crew to add one "capful" per "square" on the test strips to bring it up. We only have a 225 gallon tub and one capful usually does the trick. You'll have to add it until it comes up.
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Be sure to allow things to settle down for several hours before retesting. Sodium Bicarbonate or Sdium Bisulfate will cause a drastic swing in pH and TA which will even out in about three or four hours.
If I am double checking, I usually test the following day.
8-)
Excellent point (naturally).
I usually test the next day and adjust if necessary. So, only one tablespoon per day. ;)
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Heck it takes me 3-5 OZs. of Baking soda per water change to raise it from 6.8-7.0 and maintain it during 3-4 months.
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from the directions on the back of the Leisure Time Spa Up bottle (sodium bicarbonate):
if pH is 6.8-7.2 add 1 oz. (2 tbs) per 500 gallons
<6.8 add 2 oz. (4 tbs) per 500 gallons
Spa up should be used when pH is below 7.2
It should be raised to between 7.2-7.8
Dissolve it first in a bucket, then add to the hot tub
Retest after 3 hours
I just keep re-filling my bottle with baking soda!
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Heck it takes me 3-5 OZs. of Baking soda per water change to raise it from 6.8-7.0 and maintain it during 3-4 months.
I have to add four to six ounces of spa down every time I change my water. About the same when I fill a tub on the showroom floor.
I throw in four ounces - which is about the most you would want to add at one time - then I check the next day to see if I need the other two ounces.
I 'spose I should be adding 3 ounces max - I think it says that somewhere...
8-)
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sounds like everyone is familiar with baking soda then. thank you for all the input. i have to get this thread printed out! :)
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If you haven't already checked it out, Doc's site: rhtubs.com has a bunch of articles on water management issues like this, complete with dosage charts and background info.
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sounds like everyone is familiar with baking soda then. thank you for all the input. i have to get this thread printed out! :)
I bought a container of TA Increaser (Baking Soda) which has a nifty chart printed on the side (telling you how many Tbs to add to raise TA so many points for so many gallons). I refil it with Arm & Hammer whenever it needs refilling.
I still buy and use pH UP (Sodium Carbonate I believe) for when my TA is OK.
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I still buy and use pH UP ([glow]Sodium Carbonate [/glow]I believe) for when my TA is OK.
Correct, it's also called Soda Ash.
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I use baking soda, and it usually raises the TA of my 390 gal tub 10points for every TBSP or 1/2 oz. I always measure the next day or 2 days later. I keep a calandar of "tub events" which makes trends like this easy to observe.