Poll: Starting water

[wmccall]

Ok, in order to get a handle on people's water difficulties, I thought it would be nice to see what you are starting with.  I was in my tub this morning, and I am a week away from my water being 3 months old and it still looks great.  

My tub when first filled looks like this:

PH 7.0
Alk 70
Hardness - non-existant - no need to buy a water softener for the house here.
MY CYA is currently over 100, but I'm not worrying about that till the water change the 2nd week in May. I've never checked it right out out the tap.

[Vinny]

My water is:

PH - 6.8
Alk - very low (maybe 30)
Calcium - very low (maybe 10)

[TrikkeAddict]

Just had my tap water tested a couple of weeks ago before my drain and refill:

pH  7.0
TA   40
Calcium Hardness  53

Was instructed to add 4.5 oz Total Alkalinity Increaser and 22.5 oz. of Calcium Hardness Increaser to my 450 gallon spa.  The best part is that after that, and putting in the Nature 2 thing, all I ever have to do is add dichlor after use.  I love the fact that I never have to clean a filter or add lots of other stuff to the water.  Very infrequently I have to adjust pH.

[Vinny]

"I love the fact that I never have to clean a filter or add lots of other stuff to the water. "

Why don't you need to clean a filter ... Do you use disposables? How much do they cost per year if you do?

[TrikkeAddict]

Hi Vinny - I do have a disposable filter - it is 9 months old and still working really well.  I don't know how long they last - or how you know when it should be disposed of.  I'm assuming when my water isn't crystal clear would be an indication that the filter isn't doing its job anymore.  I'm not sure how much they cost because I haven't had to buy one yet - I have an extra one that I got with the spa so I guess I'm good for another year.  Don't know how much people pay for stain and scale preventer, metal out, enzymes, clarifier, etc. - I don't use any of that - so I'm thinking that the disposable filter is a good value!!

Susan

[anne]

Tub when first filled:

pH 8.0
TA 70
Calcium 400-500

Having trouble convincing the pH to get down, but certainly dont have to add any calcium!  

[Gomboman]

Out of the tap:

pH 8.0+
TA 70
Calcium 150

It's a bit*h to balance.  :-/

[anne]

Out of the tap:
 
pH 8.0+
TA 70
Calcium 150
 
It's a bit*h to balance.  :-/

Gomboman- how do you get your pH to stay down?

[tonyp]

Ph 8+
Alk 210
CH 210
and that's after 3 weeks of trying to lower it.

[tony]

From the tap:

PH   7.6
Alk   80
Calcium Hardness  70

[wmccall]

I'm betting for those of you with a high PH, but low alk that using the non-buffered MPS (2-4 ounces) will drive the Ph down, then just a little Baking Soda will bring it up and Alk too.

[Gomboman]

Some baking soda to get the alk up a little and then some dry acid to get the ph down. It takes a few weeks for the water to settle for some reason. I try not to micro manage the water any more.

Gomboman- how do you get your pH to stay down?

[Gomboman]

Yes, I want to try some non-buffered MPS. I'm assuming the MPS I got with my HS kit was buffered? Does that mean the PH is more neutral?

I'm betting for those of you with a high PH, but low alk that using the non-buffered MPS (2-4 ounces) will drive the Ph down, then just a little Baking Soda will bring it up and Alk too.

[wmccall]

Yes, I want to try some non-buffered MPS. I'm assuming the MPS I got with my HS kit was buffered? Does that mean the PH is more neutral?

Yes, it is probably buffered to keep it from affecting the PH. If you look at the ingredients it probably says something like INERT INGREDIENTS 55%.

The stuff that is 100% MPS will drive the PH down considerably.   I use about 2 ounces of it once or twice a month in my 425 gallon tub.

[Vinny]

From the tap:

PH   7.6
Alk   80
Calcium Hardness  70

Why do you adjust anything except Cal since you're close to perfect?