M&M

Thanks for your reply. I have ordered the Taylor kit for bromine and will read more about incorporating borax/borates a bromide bank and floater. The bromine is comfortable so I think we will stick with it. I do like the idea of being able to leave for a week and nor worrying about it. Thanks again.....

I am new to the spa world, had a Jacuzzi 345 installed about 2 weeks ago: Absolutely love it! My dealer (who has a good 20+ year reputation) provided about 12 months worth of chemicals and the followiing instructions: - When initially setting up, after heavy use, and weekly, add 1/4 cap (about 4 teaspoons) of SpaGuard Oxidizer Non-Chlorine Spa Shock. Active ingredient is Potassium peroxymonosulfate 31% (Active oxygen 3.2%). - Initially and at water change add 2 caps (about 8 tablespoons) of BioGuard lo' n slo. Active ingredient Sodium Bisulfate 93.2%. Test water daily with Pentair test kit and add more lo' n slo daily till pH balanced at 7.4. After balanced for 3 days check weekly. If pH drops below 7.2 change out the water. - Add 2 teaspoons SpaGuard Sanitizer Brominating Concentrate after each use. Active Ingredient Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione 82.5%. Following these directions a lot of scum showed up after the first 24 hours. I cleaned it out with a 1/2 alcohol 1/2 water mix and terry cloth towel. Scum is very minimal now and I will be adding a ZorBo scum absorber going forward. Got the pH balanced on about day 4 (actually went a little too far so added a bit of water and hit it right on). We have been using the Spa twice a day (early morning - late night) and expect this to drop off after the novelty is gone (though I am 60 and sore, and this spa is great). So, I like the idea of following my dealer's directions as they will be helping with the 5 year warranty, and I have a lot of chemicals that came with the deal....but after reading this forum my dealer's directions seem overly simple and the only check for sanitization is "if the water is clear and no bad smells you are good". Also, the dealer discouraged my reading directions on the containers as "they are too generic, our directions are customized for the local hard water". So far the water is crystal and no bad smells. The bromine smell seemed a little heavy after a few days so I have reduced the sanitizer to 2 tea spoons per day instead of after each use. Now there is little if any smell. What do you think?

I am new to the spa world. Have been enjoying a Jacuzzi j345 for 2weeks. Started shopping at lower price point but very happy with end product ($7,300 for spa and accessories, good warranty, good dealer reputation -- 220 and base costs not included). All about the wet test for us. We where about to buy Caldera but found open seating and jet action of Jacuzzi more to our liking (with diverters the power is as much as I would ever want without losing the massage feel of the jets). Also liked HotSprings but seating not as open, motojet seemed more gimmick than plus. Local Bull Frog dealer was not helpful so we really did not give that tub a fair shot.

I am new to the spa world and get the Home Depot approach. Low entry price, 110 plug, name I trust, etc... After a bit of research I purchased a Jacuzzi 345, paid the electrician for 220, built my own pad, and am thoroughly enjoying the end product. Biggest lesson learned so far, wet test before you buy. Without this we would have bought another spa. The open Jacuzzi seating and jet action just felt better to us, but we could only experience this with a wet test. Also, getting what we wanted was a bigger concern than price. This made the decision much easier.