Hot Tub Forum

Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: gores95 on October 17, 2006, 09:34:00 pm

Title: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: gores95 on October 17, 2006, 09:34:00 pm
OK I decided to start a new thread.  I am SO pumped its going to be hard to fall asleep in a couple of hours!

Here are pics of the Geneva.  Its dark and rainy so the pics might not be the best.  Of course I also have a couple of newbie questions (see below).

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa001.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa002.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa003.jpg)

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa004.jpg)

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa005.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa006.jpg)
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa007.jpg)

The guys were great stayed here for almost four hours and waited until tub was filled and running.  The starter kit that came with the spa was a brand called ProTeam.  Among other chems are these three:

(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j307/gores95/Spa008.jpg)

He put about half a bottle of the Gentle Spa (Spa water enhancer which he mentioned should be used with "new" water).  He also used half a bottle of Shock which he recommended for the first time.  Remember this tub was a Wet Floor Model but I did get a new filter.  No active ingredients on the bottle and he said its not Chrlorine.  Is this MPS?  He also mentioned that I do not need to open the cover when using shock.  Not sure.

Then he told me to wait until tomorrow morning when the tub is considerably higher than 61 degrees to put the Dichlor (they call it Zip Chlor) in.  The chart says One teaspoon and that's what he recommends.  Do you agree with adding this tomorrow morning and does the amount sound good?  How long should the cover be opened after I add the Dichlor?

Last thing he never tested my water but from what I remember its pretty neutral and well balanced.  I also disconnected the water softener when I filled the tub (we have well water).  When should I start testing PH, etc?

This starter kit comes with a video which I am going to watch and also put the Caldera owners manual in the bathroom where it will get read quite a bit!!! ;)

Anyway thanks for putting up with all my posts the past couple of months and Spatopia to commence tomorrow!!!!

Thanks,

Marc  
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: xrdirthead on October 17, 2006, 09:36:20 pm
SWEET!
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: gores95 on October 17, 2006, 09:42:23 pm
Some numbers (the starter package came with a basic strip test kit):

Total Alkalinity:  180 (high)
PH:  7.2
Total Chlorine:  10
Total hardness:  250

That's it.  Anything I should do tonight or let it be?  Remember I added quite a bit of shock.  There must have been Chlorine in the shock to get it to 10 ppm correct?  Does the Shock cause the Alkalinity to skyrocket?

Thanks.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: Zep on October 17, 2006, 09:48:37 pm
Looks great.....especially love the night pic.

Enjoy!


 :)
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: kervis on October 17, 2006, 10:33:10 pm
Looks classy!  I especially like the lights on the outside of the spa. :)
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: cooltoy2000 on October 17, 2006, 10:36:54 pm
Looks great. Be carefull getting in through the lounger.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: Tman122 on October 18, 2006, 06:21:39 am
Quote
Some numbers (the starter package came with a basic strip test kit):

Total Alkalinity:  180 (high)
PH:  7.2
Total Chlorine:  10
Total hardness:  250

That's it.  Anything I should do tonight or let it be?  Remember I added quite a bit of shock.  There must have been Chlorine in the shock to get it to 10 ppm correct?  Does the Shock cause the Alkalinity to skyrocket?

Thanks.

I would actualy leave this alone and monitor it for a few weeks and see where it goes. Shock should not bring up your TA, if anything in my experience it would bring it down slowly over time. Thats why I say leave it be and enjoy your tub. Check it at least once a week for a while to see what happens to your TA, as it drops your PH may also go down. This may require then some soda ash to get your PH up just a tad. Then the 2 should be just fine. As the 2 of them get closer together then a small amount of baking soda, if they both continue to drop over time will bring them up together.

As you get better you may have to raise PH above normal with the soda ash, say 7.8-8.0 and then drop them both together with Acid. But I would not panic and start this game until you see how your water reacts over time. It's important to not overmanage your water so enjoy the tub and test once a week or so, record your results and all of us here can help ya dial it in. Then at your second or third fill you'll know exactly how your water reacts through it's life, 3-4 months.

Yes there was chlorine in the shock and 10PPM is perfect for a shock. Might be a tad harsh if your sensitive for soaking. Just like a hotel pool....LOL
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: bohms on October 18, 2006, 08:03:07 am
Great pics....love the set up.  Enjoy!
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PIC
Post by: DoubleA on October 18, 2006, 08:50:32 am
Looks awesome, enjoy.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: Skellman on October 18, 2006, 08:56:09 am
Very nice! I became more relaxed just viewing the pics.
I assume it's not a concidence that the tub matches your home siding?
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PIC
Post by: SpaMorph on October 18, 2006, 10:16:46 am
Gorgeous pavers, Gores!  Very nice.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: gores95 on October 18, 2006, 10:49:16 am
Quote
Very nice! I became more relaxed just viewing the pics.
I assume it's not a concidence that the tub matches your home siding?

Thanks for all the nice remarks!  As for the siding actually it doesn't match.  Our house is beige vinyl siding and the spa is the coastal gray.  We originally were going to go with a redwood color spa but this was a floor model so we had no choice.  I think either color would have worked.

First soak tonight!!!!!!   ;D
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: Skellman on October 18, 2006, 11:27:25 am
My bad gores.
I must need my eyes checked. That cover looks grey but, that siding on the tub sure looks like a light tan to me.

Either way, you enjoy that tub. It's a neat set-up.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PIC
Post by: The_real_Clown_Shoes on October 18, 2006, 11:46:12 am
The steps coincide pretty nicely with the rest of the surroundings.  Everything looks great.
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: Silent Water on October 18, 2006, 12:09:35 pm
Fantastic, set-up, Gores!  You must be so thrilled with how it turned out. 8-)

How soon does that deck railing come down? (See? there's always another project ;))

I appreciate your questions about water chemistry; I'll be going through the same thing in a matter of days - I hope!

Happy soaking!
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: imp etc on October 18, 2006, 12:29:12 pm
It looks beautiful :) Yeah I can tell that was a tight fit, but well worth the effort.

Looks like you're on the right track keeping the water nice, just soak and enjoy!

As a relative newbie (coming up on the two month mark) I'll let you know for the first few soaks it was hard to just enjoy what with playing with all the controls and gadgets, obsessing about the water etc . . . so that's my advice - let go the worries and go straight for the Bliss!
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: kervis on October 18, 2006, 03:21:40 pm
Quote
My bad gores.
I must need my eyes checked. That cover looks grey but, that siding on the tub sure looks like a light tan to me.

Either way, you enjoy that tub. It's a neat set-up.

Interesting that you mentioned that.  I also purchased a "grey" Coastal Grey tub.   I was VERY surprised when a beige/tan tub appeared in my yard, with a gray cover!!  :o

Now, I was also very pleased, as it pretty much exactly matches my vinyl siding--an Andersen Window's Sandtone color.  A light tan!  I just love it as it blends right in.  I do not like the grey cover on it, however, but that's minor at this point.  When it needs replacing, I'll look for a contrasting dark brown.

I almost hesitated to call the dealer about the color because I didn't want them to come and take the tub back--like if I had mistakenly received someone else's tub!  ;D  They insisted that it is Coastal Grey, so I love my Coastal Grey beige tub!
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PICS!!!
Post by: tileman on October 18, 2006, 04:09:15 pm
Awesome set-up. Love your color selections. I also ordered led exterior lights for my spa, I didn't know how it would look until I say yours. What a eyecatching feature. Enjoy!!!!  Tileman
Title: Re: Spa delivered, set up and running!!!  PIC
Post by: drewstar on October 19, 2006, 09:36:14 am
Congrats Gore, that's a nice looking set up.

Has the weather coopoerated? How was the first soak?

As far as chems are concerned, yes they gave you a non-chlorine shock that most of us refer to as MPS. Many of us use it (including myself) and have good luck with it.  Use is about once a week. About 2 tbl spoons. The zip chlor is dichlor and most folks who use dichlor as a sanitzier, use about 1 tsp per bather after using the tub - Enough so the strips indicate a level of 5 ppm, about 10 minutes after adding it and running the jets.

Enjoy.    :)