Stabilized Dichlor/non Stabilized With Floater?

[mmelo]

Hi Folks,

We've now had our tub for a few years and its running just fine. We've moved from the store method to the Bromine method on here and back to the Dichlor/MPS Shock method (couldn't adjust to the Bromine smell). Given our historically low usage the Dichlor /MPS shock method seems to be ok (though the MPS shock never seems to create much of a reaction). We have also since dumped the ozone generator as it was producing an awful smell, we're much happier without it.

Recently though we have a had a rebirth of sorts with our usage climbing again. So with the Dicklor/MPS method we may run into high CYA levels and the need to fresh fill more frequently, which I'd like to avoid. I'm familiar with the Dichlor/Bleach method but not keen on using a product I cannot confirm the ingredients of (liquid bleach) and I don't like the idea of having to handle liquid bleach.

So I'm wondering would it be possible to substitute the liquid bleach for non stabilized chlorine tabs in a floater? This would solve the aforementioned concerns I have as well as provide for less day to day sanitizer maintenance and possibly better vacation maintenance.

The other alternative I was considering is those saltwater chlorine generators should the above pose improbable.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Michael

[chem geek]

Trichlor tabs add CYA to the water so I'm not sure what you mean by "non stabilized chlorine tabs". Now Trichlor does add less CYA than Dichlor, but it's not usually used in spas because it dissolves too quickly in hot water so you'd need a floater that could be turned way down and Trichlor is acidic so you have to watch both your pH and your TA that will drop over time.

However, if you use Clorox Regular Concentrated 8.25% bleach, it's ingredients are readily confirmed so I don't understand your hesitancy except it is true that you would have to add it regularly. It helps not to have an ozonator unless you are using the spa every day or two. You can see this post for details about bleach which is mostly water, sodium chloride salt, sodium hypochlorite, and a small amount of sodium hydroxide and for Clorox a very small amount of sodium polyacrylate. If you don't like handling a liquid form of chlorine and you want a product without CYA or CH, then there is the expensive option lithium hypochlorite.

Yes the ControlOMatic TechniChlor saltwater chlorine generator would be an option, but your spa would need to have corrosion resistant materials to handle the 2000 ppm salt level that is required. If you go this route, be sure to add some CYA first, either from pure CYA or by using Dichlor for a while initially to get to 30-40 ppm. With no CYA in the water, the active chlorine level would be too high.

[mmelo]

Chem geek. You are truly a hero in the Spa community! I greatly appreciate your sharing of knowledge. I was about to ask if I could add the CYA via the Dichlor but you anticipated my question already. Thanks so much!