How long between chemicals ?

[104andFeelingGood]

Hi all,

I have a Prodigy II hot tub

Leslie's tested my water
Their instructions say:
--Add only a little chemical at a time
-- Wait 30 minutes between additions

This will take hours.

--> Can I wait LESS time between additions?

--> Can I add MORE of each chemical at a time?


---
FWIW, example:
Needs 6.9 oz. of Leslie's Hardness Plus
Add max 1.3oz at a time
Wait 30 minutes after each addition before adding more

After the last one, wait 30 minutes more minutes,
then add 2 oz of Leslie's Fresh 'n' Clear

Chemicals they say to wait 30 minutes between:
-- Leslie's Dry Acid.  Sodium Bisulfate. "max dose 0.7 oz. at a time"
-- Leslie's Hardness Plus.  "max dose 1.3 oz. at a time"
-- Leslie's Alkalinity Up.  Sodium Bicarbonate.  "max dose 1.3 oz. at a time"
-- Leslie's Chlor Brite.  Sodium Dichlor-s-triazinetrione dihydrate 99.0%

Thank you for any advice!!

[104andFeelingGood]

Simplified the post.

bump.

[Spatech_tuo]

The idea of waiting is so you don't overshoot but otherwise there is no exact science on this and some of it depends on how far way you are from your target.

I think 30 minutes is more than necessary initially so after 10-15 minutes if you're not even close then go ahead and make another adjustment but the closer you get to your desired target the more you want to give it ample time to settle.

[104andFeelingGood]

The idea of waiting is so you don't overshoot but otherwise there is no exact science on this and some of it depends on how far way you are from your target.

I think 30 minutes is more than necessary initially so after 10-15 minutes if you're not even close then go ahead and make another adjustment but the closer you get to your desired target the more you want to give it ample time to settle.

I see.

I can't exactly re-test. 
My  kit tests for Chlorine and pH.  (but not alkilinity, metals, etc).

I'm not confident in my testing abilities -- I feel I won't be as accurate as Leslie's with my little kit..

Is that overly-cautious?
Are people relying on their own kits and not Leslie's for the detail work? 
(Leslie's tells me to do on my own for 3 weeks running,
then come to them every 3 weeks for a comprehensive test).

[Red MC]

I think Leslie's recommendation to add chemicals in small doses and wait 30 min in between doses is not justified.  When you're first getting to know your hot tub and water, I would say add half of what you think you need at first, then wait and check again, and adjust the quantity if needed before you add the remainder.  Once you're accustomed to how your water responds, you can add routine chemicals like bicarbonate and dichlor all at once.

I suggest you get a Taylor test kit, 9-way, model K-1005:

https://www.taylortechnologies.com/en/product/test-kits/9-way-test-kit-for-free-chlorine-total-chlorine-bromine-ph-acid-base-demand-alk--K-1005?pageid=19

Also get some Leisure Time or AquaChek test strips for routine checks.

Use the Taylor kit to balance the water after fill-up.  When you've got the pH, TA, and calcium hardness levels in a state of balance and the Cl or Br levels OK per the Taylor kit, drop a test strip in and see what it reads.  That will be the baseline test strip reading that you're trying to shoot for.

I make routine adjustments based on the test strips, usually adding chlorine after each use and every other day or so if not used, and adding alkalinity up every 1-2 weeks.  I also use the Taylor kit about once a month to check to make sure I'm on target.