What chemical plan is best???

[nocluehere]

New and green to the world of spas...What is the best plan or group of chemicals to use? What works best and what is the most economical? Can the two be put together for the perfect plan. Thanks....

[luvmytub]

Another question from another clueless person....I've been reading through old posts trying to learn about water maintenance and I'm so confused .  Are you not supposed to use Bromine and chlorine together?  The chemicals my dealer gave me to use are Leisure Time brand.  They left me Brom Tabs and Spa 56 chlorinating granules, Metal Gon, Foam Down and Defender.  The service guys that delivered it told me they were out of test stips, but to ask for some next time we go in, so as of now, I'm not even testing for anything, which has me quite worried.  The delivery guy said to keep three Brom tabs in the filter compartment at all times, and when there is heavy use, throw 1/2 capful of the Spa 56 in for every two people after use.  We've only been using the tub since yesterday morning, but I've just been throwing in a teaspoon for each of us of the Spa 56 every time we get out and running the clean cycle for 10 minutes.  If I use it by myself, I've been putting in one teaspoon, or up to three if DH, DS & I were all three in. I figure til I get a test kit, this might be ok .  And from reading, I'm thinking Taylor test kit looks like maybe the way to go .  Should we have waited to use it at all til we have a test kit?  I'm not that patient...I figured we could always drain and start over :-/ ...I hope....

Randi

[hottubdan]

You should be OK.  However, you should test.  Insist that your dealer get you test strips now.  If they cannot, you should buy some; they are cheap.

Chlorine can be and is a part of most bromine systems.

There is no "best" system; that is why there are so many alternatives.

Go to http://www.leisuretimespa.com/data/Brands/3/Collateral/LT%20Spa%20Care%20Guide%20final.pdf for Leisure time guide.

[Vinny]

There are basically 3 systems.Chlorine, Bromine and Baqua.

Baqua is supposed to be easiest but costs the most and I think is finiky if something were to go out of wack.

A lot of people use bromine and by what they say it seems easy. But chlorine (dichlor) is probably the cheapest, but it does take more work of adding dichlor after using the tub and every so often if you don't.

People use and like all 3 ways ... it's really up to you to find what works best for you.

[luvmytub]

Dan, thank you for the link.  I have so much to learn !  But boy am I loving my new tub !

[Tman122]

It's important IMO to seperate water balance from water sanitation.

Water balance is important because your equipment will last longer and stay cleaner, plus your water will act like it's supposed to as far as foam and air bubbles, and your sanitizer will work better in properly balanced water.........Properly balanced water has a PH of 7.2-7.8 I like to use the higher end of the scale as I use chlorine as a sanitizer and can go longer with out readjusting my balance because chlorine has a tendency to slowly drive down PH. Total Alkalitity in the proper range will help to keep your water's PH stable it should be between 80 and 120 again I like to stay on the high end. A low PH is acidic and will require an Alkaly increase, using sodium bicarbonate (spa up) or if just your PH needs increasing and not your Total Alkalitity PH increaser (soda ash) If your PH is high you will need to make your water more acidic by adding, believe it or not, acid but in minute quantitys spa down is powdered acid and is easy to use. But muratic acid is available at a hardware store and is use to clean concrete it will do the same thing but has no direction on how to use it, please mix it with water before adding and store it in a safe place. It takes aprox. 1 oz mixed with 1 gallon of water to lower PH .2-.3 Every water is different so play with this quantity and be careful.

Sanitation should be left seperate from balance because sometimes it may take a week or two or even three to get your water slowly into balance and you have to sanitize during this time. Relax and go slow on your water balance it will help you to not micromanage your water, besides you bought a tub to relax not become a chemist . Sanitation has to be done to fresh water to make sure the bugs are killed, it has to be done if any piggy bodys get in, and it has to be done between piggy bodys. It will ensure no rashes from bugs and it will help to keep your water crystal clear.

Some one up above said something about what is the cheapest and most expensive as far as a sanitation system but I chose chlorine not because it is the cheapest but because I can not stand the strong smell of adding bromine through a feeder all day including when I want to soak. With a proper chlrorine routine I add after I exit and it has dissipated to almost nothing the next time I enter which leaves no smell except clean clear water. Baqua or any of the other alternatives seem to have you adding chlorine any way to maintain clean water so I just leave them out and add just the chlorine.

[Brewman]

Chlorine is a no no with Baqua.  
Their bragging point is chlorine/bromine free easy water care.  
I suppose if you can get it to work it's ok, if you don't mind spending the bucks on their products.  
We never could get the stuff to work, and the Baqua people and three local dealers for the stuff couldn't help us either.

[dpgtech]

a note to luvmytub: try a chlorine free shock, such as Sea Klear instead of spa 56 with your bromine tabs, much better than Chlorine as your oxidizer. your leisure time Brom tabs already have Chlorine in them.  

[dpgtech]

one more thing, if you are using Bromine it is best to have a feeder rather than leaving tablets loose in your filter, I never advise customers to throw tablets in the water or filter area.  

[windsurfdog]

There are basically 3 systems.Chlorine, Bromine and Baqua.

Baqua is supposed to be easiest but costs the most and I think is finiky if something were to go out of wack.

A lot of people use bromine and by what they say it seems easy. But chlorine (dichlor) is probably the cheapest, but it does take more work of adding dichlor after using the tub and every so often if you don't.

People use and like all 3 ways ... it's really up to you to find what works best for you.

Vinny makes excellent points but he may have overemphasized the amount of work that using a dichlor routine takes.  Adding dichlor after a soak is actually work-free and, IMO, easier than making sure bromine reserves are properly adjusted.  Then again, I've never used bromine so my comments are based upon my own experience with dichlor and the reading I've done here and on Doc's board re:  bromine.  I guess my point is that I consider a dichlor routine not to take more work than a bromine routine.  I guess the best thing I like about a dichlor routine is not having to soak in a sanitizer reserve that is necessary for bromine to be effective.....but this is just my opinion.  Both bromine and dichlor are effective and preferred probably 50/50 (would others agree on this preference split?) with baqua being the third most popular.  I have a friend who uses baqua and another who uses bromine.  I will say that my tub has the clearest water but there are so many other factors that come into play that promoting dichlor in this case would be a mistake.  But, none-the-less, comparing these three tubs, the dichlor tub consistently has the clearest water.  Is it the "most" properly sanitized?  Not necessarily, but it is the clearest in this case.

[Vinny]

WSD,

I think this is the second time you've responded to a post rhat I made about chlorine in tne same manner ... you are correct, it's not that much work. Actually it's quite easy! ... AND I need to figure out a better way to say what I say!!

[windsurfdog]

Vinnmeister,

We're both hooked on dichlor for the same reasons!  I had a good shot of it this a.m. after my morning soak so I shouldn't have the jitters today.

One thing that does come to mind with the chlorine/bromine debate:  If I had a rental property with a tub, I'd definitely use bromine since it is easier for the non-initiated (read:  renters) to ignore.

[tony]

I also like and use dichlor.  IMO, it gives you the most control over the sanitation of your spa.

[luvmytub]

Dpgtech, thank you for the tips!