Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: anne on March 23, 2006, 10:15:54 pm
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I have come to understand that there are lots of people not too fond of Baqua, and some who rave over it, but does anyone have the definitave answer as to whether baqua and ozone mix?
*I have heard that they are ok together
*I have heard that ozone "eats up" the biguanide, so is not any added help, and wastes money
*I have heard that there is no interaction between them to be detrimental, but that the ozone "adds nothing" and so is a waste of money.
Any help?
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Anne,
I think you are like me, looking for a way to get rid of the Frog Spa that Marquis spas have.
If you find a good combo, please let me know because I am sick of the Frog!
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what I can tell you is that baqua is supposed to be compatible with ozone because many manufacturer's put ozone on tubs as standard equipment. and baqua is supposed to be okay for any tub. Baqua does say to check sanitizer levels more often with ozone than without every two to three days versus once a week. Ozone is supposed to help reduce some of the chemicals being used such as bromine or chlorine. by having to check your sanitizer level every 2-3 days because it is potentially being used up faster would be opposite of one of the main benefits of ozone. most customers I have that use baqua do not use ozone. I also have many customers who have used baqua and had the all too familiar complaints of gooey waterline, iration of the throat, etc... we have them cut their doses in half from what the book says, and most of them have reported this to have remedied their problems. one of the main problems I see is too much sanitizer being added. very easy to fall into the 1-2-3 trap weekly, but really it's 1-2 weekly and 3 as needed which could possibly be weekly, but more than likely every other week.
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Snyper- no not looking to get rid of the frog, but I do hear a lot of complaints about them. I have never used one.
dpg- thanks for the insight.
I'm getting my tub hooked up tomorrow, and I guess I'll start with chlorine. I meant to pick up Nature 2 as well, but I got distracted by the baqua presentation. How different is the frog and N2?
I'm confused, because 2 tub dealers (one for HS and one for D1) and a spa/pool supply/repair guy have ALL claimed that "nearly every" person they have started on Baqua has loved it and never looked back. But I think about 50%-70% of the entries I have read here on baqua are negative. Grrrrrr. :-/
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Here's a FAQ on Baqua. Doesn't sound very appealing to me.
http://www.baquaspa.com/faq/faq.asp#q4
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This, from Baqua's own web site:
4. Is the BaquaSpa Water Care System compatible with my spa�s ozonator?
BaquaSpa is compatible with an ozonator. You should follow label directions for all BaquaSpa products. If you are using an ozonator, we recommend that you test your BaquaSpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control level every four days instead of once a week (as recommended for spas without an ozonator)."
No, I'm not saying they fight with each other, but I do know that my customers with ozone have to check the sanitizer every four days, and generally have to add it more often than non-ozone tubs.
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I started with baqua and no ozone. I found that the Baqua did a very good job keeping the water clear with only a weekly test/maintenance schedule. However, my wife complained of tightness in her chest whenever she soaked. I have switched to dichlor and she has no complaints since.
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I'd also not recommend the stuff. It's too expensive, and made the water "fizzy" enough that we got the infamous "Baqua Cough".
Nobody could help us resolve the problem- not the 3 dealers in our area who carry the stuff, not the baqua people themselves. We gave up on it over a year ago.
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I have found help with the cough by raising the calcium hardness levels.
Also, reducing the amount of sanitizer seems to help. This has worked for some of my customers with indoor tubs, and tubs which are tucked into tight patios or atriums w/ no wind.
I learned it the hard way:
We had four or five spas in our showroom on Baqua back when it first came into California. We were not happy people by the end of the day.
We did everything our rep told us to, including opening the front and back doors and letting the wind clear out the fumes while running the tubs with the lids open for an hour before opening.
Let me rephrase that: I would go to work an hour early to open all the wet spas, run the jets, while the doors hung wide open and the cool breeze blew threw. Then I would close the lids and doors and listen to my electric meter whirr as four or five spas came back up to temperature and my AC system re-established a comfortable temperature in my showroom. Just didn't seem like a good way to go, so we had a massive "Water Change Marathon" one Monday morning....
But we kept one tub on Baqua for awhile and we found that increasing the hardness level and cutting the sanitizer took away the cough/throat irritation.
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Baqua not recommended indoors.
Anne, as you know, I am the HS dealer you spoke with. Frankly, we do not have true stats on how many people stick with Baqua, or nature2 (AG+) for that matter.
My impression from customer feedback, as well as this site, is there is no "best" sanitation system. Most spa users stick with the system they start with. A small percentage (10 to 20%?) switch. All have pluses and minuses.
People here like to talk about drinking the Hot Spring kool aid. (I have :D) There are also people who have imbibed the Baqua kool aid. Anyone who claims it is the only way to go and all of their customers are satisfied with it have drunk the kool aid...for whatever product they are talking about.
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Talking to the techs at the dealer conference in regards to the Bubba Keg/Autofresh System, they informed us that ALL BaquaSpa problems are related to overdosing.
We'll see.
Terminator
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All the readings on my Baqua test strips were within spec. We tried reducing shock and that didn't help.
Someone else tried to tell us to stop using baqa shock and try some other enzyme based stuff, that didn't help.
We for one, are way happier without the stuff.
One idiot even told me that the cough was just part of the spa experience. Right...................
Even when I accidentally inhale a cheap cigar, I didn't cough as much as baqua made us.
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Even when I accidentally inhale a cheap cigar, I didn't cough as much as baqua made us.
You talking about the one I sent you? :-[
Terminator
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Thank you all for opinions. Dan, yes you and I spoke briefly, and them Mona (is that right?) gave me her opinion. (So I guess that is 2, not 1 HS dealers) Ironically, a customer walked in and bought Baqua as she and I were talking.
I think I'm going to be an old traditionalist and stick with Chlorine. Until that doesnt work for me.....
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Dan, yes you and I spoke briefly, and them Mona (is that right?) gave me her opinion. (So I guess that is 2, not 1 HS dealers)
2 salespeople, 1 dealer. ;-)
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Option for non-chlorine tubs:
(http://www.leisuretimespa.com/data/Products/269/FreeSystem.jpg)
The following is right off the LT web site. I have sold a little bit of this, but folks who are on Baqua don't want to switch for whatever reason. I like the idea of having just three bottles and some test strips to worry about - all the rest of the products can be normal LT stuff. That saves money.
Advantage:
This 100% chlorine-free, bromine-free, odor-free sanitizing system is easy on sensitive skin while keeping water crystal clear and clean. And you won't have to worry about it fading your bathing suit or daFree Sanitizing System
The Free sanitizing system is the newest addition to the Leisure Time line and is 100% chlorine and bromine-free. It is comprised of three main products that work together to keep your water sparkling clean and clear. Free is great for sensitive skin and is virtually odor-free.
Features:
* chlorine-free and bromine-free sanitizing system for spas
* Gentle on eyes, hair, and skin.
Applications:
Start-up and Maintenance:
See individual product labels for Free, Boost and Control for specific instructions on dosages and applications.
Compatible With:
Free products are compatible with the Leisure Time Simple Spa Care specialty line of products.
maging your hair. Free is a softer, gentler way to sanitize.
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I use Leisure Time. I started my tub with it about 2 months ago. I love it. No cough, no smell, doesn't dry my skin out and I already have pretty dry skin.
It is easy to use. Once a week add in boost and control. Check the free level. I love it.
It's about time I quit lurking! ;)
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What's in the LT stuff? Is it similar to Baqua or something totally different.
Option for non-chlorine tubs:
(http://www.leisuretimespa.com/data/Products/269/FreeSystem.jpg)
The following is right off the LT web site. I have sold a little bit of this, but folks who are on Baqua don't want to switch for whatever reason. I like the idea of having just three bottles and some test strips to worry about - all the rest of the products can be normal LT stuff. That saves money.
Advantage:
This 100% chlorine-free, bromine-free, odor-free sanitizing system is easy on sensitive skin while keeping water crystal clear and clean. And you won't have to worry about it fading your bathing suit or daFree Sanitizing System
The Free sanitizing system is the newest addition to the Leisure Time line and is 100% chlorine and bromine-free. It is comprised of three main products that work together to keep your water sparkling clean and clear. Free is great for sensitive skin and is virtually odor-free.
Features:
  * chlorine-free and bromine-free sanitizing system for spas
  * Gentle on eyes, hair, and skin.
Applications:
Start-up and Maintenance:
See individual product labels for Free, Boost and Control for specific instructions on dosages and applications.
Compatible With:
Free products are compatible with the Leisure Time Simple Spa Care specialty line of products.
maging your hair. Free is a softer, gentler way to sanitize.
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What's in the LT stuff? Is it similar to Baqua or something totally different.
Oh no, it's completely similar.
They are both based on Biquanides - very much the same.
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I'm with the rest. Once I'm out of my existing supply of Baqua. I'm moving on to something else. My water has always been clear. The problems are I usually have a gooey sticky scum line, the water has sort of a stale smell. I followed the weekly regimen to a"T". Having these problems, I went to my dealer who stated I had 10 times the amount of #2 needed. Another dealer said I had to take the metal out, leave the cover open longer.....add more number one.
My test strips NEVER indicate that I need to add sanitizer. With Baqua the scale and sanitizer are all in one. So I rarely add the sanitizer and of course that means rare scale control. So now I'm just guessing. I guess mine are as good as the "experts".
My buddy uses Soft Soak and loves it. I understand theirs is 4 part system.
I emailed the Baqua folks with my concerns about their product and suggested they might have a PR problem on their hands and could they help me out. Their reply.......yadda yadda yadda and what ever you do, don't sniff the chemicals straight from the bottle.
Current situation: Water has stale oder, burns kids eyes, tastes bitter...............clear as a bell.
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Option for non-chlorine tubs:
(http://www.leisuretimespa.com/data/Products/269/FreeSystem.jpg)
The following is right off the LT web site. I have sold a little bit of this, but folks who are on Baqua don't want to switch for whatever reason. I like the idea of having just three bottles and some test strips to worry about - all the rest of the products can be normal LT stuff. That saves money.
Advantage:
This 100% chlorine-free, bromine-free, odor-free sanitizing system is easy on sensitive skin while keeping water crystal clear and clean. And you won't have to worry about it fading your bathing suit or daFree Sanitizing System
The Free sanitizing system is the newest addition to the Leisure Time line and is 100% chlorine and bromine-free. It is comprised of three main products that work together to keep your water sparkling clean and clear. Free is great for sensitive skin and is virtually odor-free.
Features:
* chlorine-free and bromine-free sanitizing system for spas
* Gentle on eyes, hair, and skin.
Applications:
Start-up and Maintenance:
See individual product labels for Free, Boost and Control for specific instructions on dosages and applications.
Compatible With:
Free products are compatible with the Leisure Time Simple Spa Care specialty line of products.
maging your hair. Free is a softer, gentler way to sanitize.
Hmmmmmmmmmm........ If I dump the bromine Spa Frog and switched over to LT, could I/should i still use the Spa Frog mineral cartridge?
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No.
Metals of any kind mess up Biquanides.
But using 'Free' allows you to use "Metal Gon" which is about half the price of the Baaqua metal stuff.
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Chas,
Of course you use the whole bottle of the Metal Gon and a couple of ounces of the Bqual Metal Contorl. By the ounce, the Baqua product is much less expensive.
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Chas,
Of course you use the whole bottle of the Metal Gon and a couple of ounces of the Bqual Metal Control. By the ounce, the Baqua product is much less expensive.
I hadn't thought of that -
Don't have time to think it through right now, but off the top of my head, I know you only put Metal Gon in (whole bottle) once at the water change, which is 3 or 4 months.
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Don't have time to think it through right now, but off the top of my head, I know you only put Metal Gon in (whole bottle) once at the water change, which is 3 or 4 months.
Does Leisure Time want you to use Defender once a week with the Free system?
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Oh, I'm sure they do - but it doesn't seem to be a must.