Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: OHIO on October 02, 2007, 05:42:40 pm

Title: Soft Water
Post by: OHIO on October 02, 2007, 05:42:40 pm

Is it ok to use "soft water" in a spa? My manual says if you have a water filter you should use 50% soft water and 50% regular water.  It doesn't say why.

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: 96SC on October 02, 2007, 05:45:42 pm

Soft water will usually cause foam.    :o

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: hottubdan on October 02, 2007, 05:46:57 pm

Soft water, especially softened water, is corrosive to equipment and causes foamy water.

In lay terms (mine) A spa is a closed system.  Water wants some hardness.  If it is not hard enough (at least 100 ppm hardness) it will seak it where it can, heater elements, etc.

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: Vinny on October 02, 2007, 07:21:54 pm

This is one of those things that I "learned" at the bleach pool website - low Calcium will not errode most modern day heating elements. Apparently low calcium doesn't really attack metals the way it was once thought of at least with today's metals. Low hardness will foam and if you have a concrete spa will attack the concrete. Even the Taylor book doesn't mention corrosion to metal ... maybe it did in the past.


Do I add calcium - yes I do, to about 150 to 200 PPM.

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: tony on October 02, 2007, 07:57:07 pm

Calcium will give water that "polished" look.

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: OHIO on October 03, 2007, 07:18:53 am

Thanks for responding......so 50/50 water is ok?

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: tony on October 03, 2007, 07:46:46 am

Quote

Thanks for responding......so 50/50 water is ok?

If your source water is very hard, 50/50 would be appropriate.  See Squales issues with hard well water in another thread here.

Title: Re: Soft Water
Post by: tublessnomore on October 04, 2007, 11:33:32 am

Does "soft water" give a slippery feel to the water?