Please Help A Newbie!

[dean.whu]

Hello, I have read extensively on this site and elsewhere as to how to look after a hot tub, however, I have some remaining questions. I will be using the hot tub on a daily basis and it is a used beachcomber 2 years old that came with my house purchase. Because I will be using it mostly daily I can't work out which is the best method for me. I was leaning toward a bromine system initially, but have now read cholrine might be better for somebody who will use it as often as me, is that true?

Questions below, and thank you in advance for any input. Kind regards, Dean

• If using at minimum every 2 days but most likely every day would you suggest a 2-step bromine only and not 3? But maybe I have read that for more frequent use chlorine is easier, is that correct?
• If you think 2 is the way ahead in my case, how often would I be oxidising after use? presumably this will be dependant on my bromine level etc?
• For that high a use would you recommend an ozonator and if so what are the disadvantages or possible concerns of using one
• Am keen to use the Borax, is this sensible in a 2 step system, is it sensible in a 2 step system with an ozonator?
• Whats the best product for cleaning the filter with this sort of system and how often should i do it?
• I plan on using ahh-some prior to draining the used hot tub. What should I use to clean it, just bleach and water?

[dg98adams]

If you are clean before you get in the tub, the tub will stay clean. If you have a lot of skin lotions, you sometimes have to add "
Foam Out" to get rid of the bubbles or break them up.

I never had any issues with simple Bromine and we used it daily.

Maintain the PH of the tub, and you will void many issues.

Bromine was simple, and as long as you keep it simple it works.

We did have 2 filters, 1 in the tub and the other soaking in cleaner.

Our Ozonator lasted 4-5 years. Did not replace it after it went out, and did not see any differences.

We usually did a water change in the Spring and in the Fall.

[dean.whu]

Hi,

I appreciate your swift response. Do you use a 2-step or 3-step approach? I wondered if you could let me know some of the names of the products you use?

There are so many out there and you seem happy with yours. I just want to buy some stuff and get in the thing. Also was wondering which test kit you used?

Thanks again,

Dean

[Jakeman]

Just to add my two cents. I have always used Leisure Time Products because their line seems to contain all of the products I need to keep it simple.

I do not like to buy products with extraneous ingredients and try to be as straightforward as possible. No fads, no flash, just facts.

Unfortunately, I cannot procure them locally as inexpensively as I can online. I use the three step bromine system, using 6% bleach as the oxidizer.

The Pentair 335 tablet disseminator is thought of as the best, but I am annoyed that the bottom does not come off and you have to unscrew the entire column to refill it.

Use the Ahh-Some to clean the spa and be sure to put some bleach in the water as well, to kill the crud that Ahh-Some dislodges. Follow the directions of the Ahh-Some. I would do it twice just to be sure, and then a half strength A/S treatment at each refill.

The Taylor K-2106 kit has been regarded as the best testing kit for bromine and I ordered it from Amazon. Hope this helps.

[dean.whu]

Thanks for your added info.

I have a question about the testing kit. They are expensive and difficult to acquire here in Canada. The only distributor say they only sell them to businesses not residential and are pushing the K-1004 kit on me saying that is all I need. Obviously it is a quarter of the price, would that kit suffice?

Kind regards,

Dean

[Jakeman]

Dean, I bought my Taylor K-2106 from Amazon. Do you not have that option in Canada? Forgive my ignorance, but I do not know the intricacies of Canada's trade.

[dean.whu]

Hi Jakeman,

thanks for your reply. Amazon.ca is awful and if it does carry something it is 3 times the cost of .com. Added to that you get taxed here by customs on top of the cost of shipping etc so it becomes quite a job sourcing everything. I am from the UK and am really surprised by the lack of online purchasing here.

I think I am over researching and just need to make a choice, problem is you read that chlorine can irritate more than bromine then you read vice-versa and you go into a tailspin trying to choose! I suppose I will just toss a coin then switch later if I have any trouble...

Any further input from anybody re the K-1004 would be appreciated

Thanks

[dean.whu]

Hi Jakeman,

thanks for your reply. Amazon.ca is awful and if it does carry something it is 3 times the cost of .com. Added to that you get taxed here by customs on top of the cost of shipping etc so it becomes quite a job sourcing everything. I am from the UK and am really surprised by the lack of online purchasing here.

I think I am over researching and just need to make a choice, problem is you read that chlorine can irritate more than bromine then you read vice-versa and you go into a tailspin trying to choose! I suppose I will just toss a coin then switch later if I have any trouble...

Any further input from anybody re the K-1004 would be appreciated

Thanks

[SpaSage]

The main active ingredient in brominating concentrate is chlorine... so if a person has a reaction to chlorine, they will have a reaction to bromine. There is a chance that a person could have a reaction to sodium bromide, which is obviously not contained in chlorinating concentrate. So the odds or irritation are slightly greater when using bromine.

One thing to keep in mind is that you can switch a chlorine spa to bromine simply by adding bromine. To switch from bromine to chlorine, you must drain the water.