Spa Water Analysis

[Haynes]

I have 2 weeks of experience of maintaining a hot tub.
Took a water sample to a dealer near by.  The place where I bought the Down East Cape Code is 45 minutes away.  The store was having a sale and was extremely busy and didn't have much time for me.  Did buy some chemicals from them last week.  
My water analysis was:
free chlorine 4.3 ppm (2.0-5)
total chlorine 5.4 (2-5)
combine chlorine 1.0 (0-0.1)
ph 7.6 (7.2-7.6)
hardness 40ppm (175-350)
Alkalinity 69ppm (100-150)
cyanuric acid 105 (30-100)
copper .98 ppm (0.0-0.2)
iron .26 ppm (0.0-0.2 )
total dissolved solids 900ppm (0-2000)

My test strips were looking good.  The spa has a ozonator.
Since the analysis I added about 4 tbs of alkalinity up.

What else should I do?
What should I worry about and what not?

Thanks,
Haynes

[Vinny]

You need to get rid of your combined chlorine and there are 2 ways to do that - either bring your free chlorine to 7 to 10 times your combined chlorine level or throw in the correct amount of non-chlorine shock - your combined chlorine should be 0.

Your CYA (cyanuric acid) is awfully high for only 2 weeks worth of use - I don't know if I would believe that but if it's true some manufacturers say to dump the water when the CYA is about 100.

Some people believe in hardness some don't - if you do, get your hardness up to the recommended amount. Alkalinity is another matter, if your having problems with PH fluctuating a lot then you need to get your alkalinity in line - it helps "lock in" the PH (it still fluctuates but not as much).

I don't know too much about Copper and Iron but from what I've read they could cause problems if their too high (what that is I couldn't tell you). They do sell "metal out" in stores.

Get away from the test strips and buy a Taylor K2005 kit. Not only is the kit accurate, it also comes with a water care booklet. The kit will test for everything you need except metals.

Good Luck!