Clearing up cloudy water ??

[LINDALU]

We're new. For the first 2 months our tub water was staying crystal clear using Dichlor, some MPS, etc.
We recently invited some freinds over for a soak. Unknown beforehand, Mrs. Freind decided to "slather" herself with some type sunblock / unknown lotion.
After that, we ended up with a cloudy tub and excessive foam.
Used some de-foamer, Sea Kleer, an MPS shock, and a 'super' Dichlor shock, at different time intervals, also cleaned filters. This has helped to clear the water, but it's still not back to the crystal clarity we had before.
Planning to do another 'super shock' with MPS, then Dichlor @10+ppm.
Are we on the right tract with the Dichlor shocking?
We want to use the tub, but don't want to sit in a chemical soup either, we waited till the chlorine came back down to a usable 3ppm level.
Or, should we just bite the bullet, drain and start over?
The water isn't a total cloudy mess, just not the cyrstal clarity we had before.
Also, will a very high level of Dichlor / chlorine (10+ ppm) cause any tub/equipment problems?
We do have an Ozonator and 24-7 circ. pump, maybe that, in time, will help to clear up the water.
Since we are new, your experiecned comments are welcomed
Lindalu

[svspa]

Lindalu,

10+ ppm dichlor shouldn't be an equipment issue.

The couple times I have had cloudy tub I used a similar process as yours to clear it up (MPS and dichlor shocks plus a little clarifier). You can certainly repeat the process as many times as you need to.

But personally I think whenever I have recovered from cloudy water my water has never returned to it's previous freshness, if that's the right word. A build up of TDS I assume.

If that's what you are hoping for you might have to drain and refill.

Steve

[TN__HOT_TUB]

Welcome aboard LINDALU

Do I understand you in saying that you're new to hot tubin and you're still on your first tub of water (2 months old)? If so, you're 1 month past due on your water change.  I support the theory/fact that newbies ought to change their first tub of water after 1 month of usage (and then every 3 or 4 months or so).

You seem to be doing what I'd recommend (shock & shock again). Only other suggestion is to clean the filters.  If it's still not to your liking, then change the water and get back to enjoying your hot tub.

[GoBlue]

Drain and refill.  It's usually the cheapest, fastest and easiest solution.

[Tatooed_Lady]

We just drained/refilled, also. The water's a few months old, was getting harder to balance, and then one day *POOF!* It looked like someone had dumped Mr. Bubble in the tub....There's a point when you get sick of trying to add more chemicals to provide a temporary 'fix', and are just better off draining the tub, cleaning the shell and filters, and starting fresh....sounds to me that your friend with the heavy hand of lotion has sped that option up....
You may also want to let her know that if she plans to use your tub in the future, shower pre-tub, grease up POST-tub.  

[LINDALU]

FYI Update:
We did a second shock routine, same as listed in my first post.
Our clear water is back!!

[Spiderman]

FYI Update:
We did a second shock routine, same as listed in my first post.
Our clear water is back!!

That's good to hear.  Our water went south on us last week after 6 weeks and being new to tubbin'.  I didn't have the patience to shock again and maybe again, so I took others advice here and dumped and refilled.  Even if my water had come back to clear as you've described, the stench would still be in the back of my mind     Man that was some nasty water!!

[tony]

FYI Update:
We did a second shock routine, same as listed in my first post.
Our clear water is back!!

Generally, shock then filter...filter...filter...will bring water back.

[TN__HOT_TUB]

FYI Update:
We did a second shock routine, same as listed in my first post.
Our clear water is back!!

Generally, shock then filter...filter...filter...will bring water back.

Dr. Spa says:    clean filter, shock, filter, filter, filter