I am sorry it has taken me so long to thank you for your time and information. I checked this site the following a.m. (with dichlor in hand—on the way to the tub) and for some reason I got an error message when trying to log back on the site for several days afterwards.
Thanks again for your help. I started tub ownership angry and confused because my local dealer is a jerk. The tub was delivered 2 weeks before it was installed and the dealer was not here for my first filling. Long story short—I started with my starter kit and a call to customer service at Hot Springs corp. office who told me to read my owner’s manual.
To answer your questions…I am using dichlor… when I “shock” I put the chlorine in the filter compartment with the jet pump on high for 20-30 mins until the free chlorine reads between 3-5 (combined chlorine?)…YES I do check MPS before soaking and add more if needed…I test free chlorine, ph and alkalinity using a aquachek meter (hubby is color blind—this seemed like a good solution) and use aquachek strip to test MPS…I have no clue what my CYA level is (all my strips only have three pads). As for chlorine—I discovered after reading your post—I am clueless here too. My HS owner’s manual/maintenance guide says to use 1 ½ TEASPOON of concentrated granules per 250 gallons. However, N2/FreshWater silver ion’s manual says to use 1.5 TABLESPOONS of dichlor per 250 gallons.
I had been following my HS Guide/manual (2 ¼ Teaspoons for 400 gal) of dichlor once a week--until I read your post and re-read the N2 instructions. For the past 3 weeks I have been using been using N2 instructions re: shock 1.5 Tablespoons per 250 gal and have not had any problems.
UNTIL TODAY…once again…I balanced and “shocked” the tub on Thurs…used the tub Fri and Sat…left the tub closed (unused) on Sunday and Monday…and today the water looks just like it did when I first wrote this post…as I type the tub is getting “shocked” again.
I am following the Low-Chlorine Recipe from N2 and HS manual to the letter (with the exception of knowing how much dichlor to use—N2 1.5 Tablespoons or HS 1.5 Teaspoons) and it is not working with any consistency. MUCH like my golf swing …but that’s another story. The bottom line is—I have the brains, desire, time and money to maintain this hot tub--but I am clearly missing a major piece of the puzzle.
As always—thank you so much for your time—knowledge—and attention.