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Okay I just emptied my tub after using bromine, I want to try a Nature 2 cartrige and my dealer gave me Dichlor and MPS (non chlorine, non bromine shock). I am wondering, I just filled the tub with the hose, what chemicals do I add first? Do I even NEED mps if I am using Dichlor?and how do I test for MPS and dichlor? I just ordered one of those Aquacheck Trucheck digital strip reader things.. I think it says it does Chlorine, PH, and Alk. But I don't think it does MPS so I'm not sure how to test my water now that I'm making the switch?also because I'm using the N2 cartrige, how much dichlor and mps will I need for a 385 gallon Sundance spa? I have a CD Ozonator too btw.Thanks
First, you have a choice of N2 cartridges to use with your Altamar. You can purchase the cylinder type and place on your filter or you can purchase a SunPurity cartridge that fits in your brominator in the filter weir door of Sundance Spas. The SunPurity is made by Nature2 but built to fit Sundance spas and can be purchased at a SD dealer.
okay I read both those articles you pointed to, very good info... but they both don't recommend using MPS.. they say there are many drawbacks to MPS but don't list them?My dealer gave me Dichlor and MPS. I also went with the SunPurity N2 cartridge. So why would I use MPS versus NOT using MPS and ONLY using DiChlor? what works better at shocking?Do you need to change the water more often with MPS regular use verus Dichlor?also, if I am using the SunPurity N2 cartridge, do I still need to maintain 2-3ppm of Free Chlorine? I thought I could use LESS Chlorine (maybe like 1 ppm of Free Chlorine) and be fine because of the N2 cartridge?BTW.. you should check Free Chlorine like 10 minutes after adding it to get your reading right? If you check like an hour or two after adding it your levels will be much lower correct?Thanks
well on the directions for the N2 it says nothing about using Dichlor after each bath use. It only says to use MPS after each spa use, but on the bottle of MPS I have, it says just to use it once per week as a shock....so what should I do? should i use the N2 but after each time I use the spa should I add DiChlor? and then just put in MPS once per week? I'm confused!
P.S.-> I thought I read somewhere that using N2 you only have to keep like .5 ppm of Dichlor in order for proper sanitation?
okay makes sense, so I will just use Dichlor after each soak, then once a week I will shock with MPS? I wonder why I shouldn't just return the MPS and buy more Dichlor and just use the Dichlor to shock as well. So what if i have to wait a day to go in the spa, it will probably be a cheaper solution and less chemicals to worry about buying. The MPS I have is from SpaGuard and it says it's PH Buffered so it won't cause PH flucuations... will using Dichlor as a shock cause PH Fluctuations?ThanksP.S.-> I thought I read somewhere that using N2 you only have to keep like .5 ppm of Dichlor in order for proper sanitation?
My Nature 2 instructions say "Before each use: Test the water with the nature 2 Spa Test Strip (or equivalent). If the MPS level is low, add 1 tablespoon of MPS to spa per 250 gallons." A note at the very end says "Note: As an alternative to MPS, an EPA registered source of dichlor may be substituted: 1 tablespoon dichlor = approximately 3 tablespoons of MPS." This is on pages 6 and 7 of the Nature 2 booklet that came with my N2 cartridge - the SunPurity directions may be different. Either way, you're supposed to check the sanitizer levels each time you use the spa, and make sure there's a residual - either MPS or dichlor - before you soak.Some people prefer to add the sanitizer AFTER they soak. Technically, adding the sanitizer before you soak is safer, but then you have the hassle of waiting until the sanitizer is dissolved & mixed, then testing to make sure the levels are correct, before you go in. That's kind of a pain, so most people just add it afterwards. That way, it's probably going to be at the proper levels the next night, which you can test with your test strips.
so you are saying I should just return the N2 and use ONLY dichlor and MPS? won't the spa smell like chlorine then? I thought the whole purpose of the N2 was to use LESS amounts of chlorine thus no real smell, etc.?