Update. My buddies didn't know the guy, but I went ahead and purchased the Ahh-some anyway.
The Ahh-some didn't appear to ship in time to make it for this weekend's quarterly cleaning, so I put in another order for SeaKlear Spa System Flush.
Friday night I added half a bottle of SeaKlear Spa System Flush and ran the tub full cycle (both pumps high, air blower) three times before going to bed.
The Spa System Flush turned the water a light aquamarine color but did not foam excessively. At one point I saw about a 4" patch of brown bubbles forming and that was it. No build up of slime around the water line.
I was a little surprised after seeing some of the results on-line, but feeling confident as my water has been clear since the tub was purchased and has been relatively well maintained chemically.
I couldn't get to the tub until Saturday afternoon. I had just pulled the drain plug and was about to leave the house when the DW mentioned there was a package outside.
The Ahh-some had arrived.
So I put the cap back on the drain and added the prescribed amount of Ahh-some and turned the tub back on high. After about 10 minutes the tub was foaming, mostly white foam and I could still see the chunks of "gel" bobbing around in the tub.
By the end of 20 minutes a light green slime with some yellow and beige tones was starting to build up around the perimeter.
The Ahh-Some also appeared to give the water and effervescence, fizzing unlike the SeaKlear.
I ran it one more time and left it overnight.
First thing in the morning I went to work on the tub. Overall there was not much slime, it built up in the corners and head rest areas mostly. I would say maybe 30% of the perimeter had slime build up with maybe <10% of the perimeter having heavy slime.
The slime wiped off easily with a wet cloth.
I drained the tub, rinsed and wiped the residue, and suctioned the remaining water off the bottom before wiping with towels, and then filled it back up.
Last night the tub was back up and functioning and I went in for a soak. I noticed that there was still a slick feel around some areas of the perimeter of the tub although there was no visible slime (at night).
This morning I went and checked it out and saw a couple of small patches of yellowish residue, which I wiped off.
Just now I watched the Ahh-Some video and the guy mentions filling and draining two times after the treatment. I'm not sure I want to have an extra separate rinse cycle added to my regimen, but next time I will certainly take more care after the draining to rinse out all the lines with the hose and blow them before refilling.
Conclusion:
Inconclusive as to the effectiveness of either product based on the fact I double stacked them (used SeaKlear then AhhSome in immediate succession.)
I'd like to believe the spa was in good shape and that's why I didn't get much out.
Next time I'll try the AhhSome first and see what the results are.
Extra care must be taken in rinsing after these products are used.
Originally I had it in my head that these products might be voodoo magic that just combined with your spa chemicals to foam and form a slime. After getting almost no residue build up with the SeaKlear I think that probably isn't the case.