My Hot Tub Chokes Me - Help!

[Ski Bum]

Last fall, I bought a house with a 330 gal. Tiger River Spa. I'm a newbee to all of this. I enjoyed using it 2-3 times a week. Before the winter came, I drained and refilled the spa. I started using a new product - Silk Balance - with a Silver Ion cartridge and an Ozonator. During the snowy winter, I rarely used the spa. But I continued with weekly maintenance. Somewhere along the way, the spa started to produce some type of gas that choked me when I was anywhere near it. No strong odor like chlorine - pretty much odorless.

In March, I drained and refilled again. I also:

>> Replaced the Silver Ion cartridge.

>> Thoroughly cleaned and swapped filters every week.

(I rinse off the filter, soak in cleaner, rinse off, soak in just water, and rinse a third time.)

>> Add a couple ozs. of Replenish Shock to my 330 gal spa every Sunday.

>> Run the jets for 20-30 mins. with the cover open.

>> Add 3.5 ozs of Silk Balance with jets off and closed cover.

>> Per the online supplier's recommendation, add Sodium dichloro shock and run jets. Leave cover open for sun and air for a couple hours.

>> Shower off before I try to use the spa. I wear trunks that have not been in laundry detergent.

Within a week or two, I was choking again. The water was always like seltzer water - very crispy on the surface. It is when I turn the jets on that I start to choke. The bubbles are releasing something toxic. I can sit in the spa with the jets off, but that's no good.

A week later, I started getting huge foam whenever I turned the jets on. I disconnected the Ozonator to reduce the variables.

------

Frustrated, I decided to give up on the Silk Balance and start all over again using a local spa company.

Their theory was that I over sanitizing the spa since I rarely used it.

10 days ago, I drained and refilled my spa with a clean filter. The new water appeared clear.

Three days later, I took a water sample to the local store. I could still sense a bit of that

choking sensation even though I had not added any chemicals or used the tub yet!

My initial water test results:

>> TA = 99 (OK)

>> pH = 7.9 (High)

>> Calcium Hardness = 73 (Low)

>> TDS = 50 (OK)

>> Total Bromine = 0.0

Last Tuesday, I added in order:

>> Start Up packet

>> pH Decreaser = .063 oz.

>> Calcium Hardness Increaser = 14.25 oz.

>> Bromine sanitizer

>> Metal and Scale Control - two capfulls.

Last Thursday, I took another sample in:

>> TA = 71 (Low)

>> pH = 7.8 (OK)

>> Calcium Hardness = 356 (OK)

>> TDS = 800 (OK)

>> Total Bromine = 0.0 (Low)

I was advised to add 4.25oz of Total Alkalinity Increaser.

As I was doing this with the jets on, I started to choke again and the water started foaming!

I have yet to even use the spa since I refilled!!

Tonight, I performed weekly maintenance. I added 2oz. of Shock with jets on.

Again, more choking gas and huge foam. It left a yellow residue at the water line.

I opened the Bromine floater gap to let more in. Added 1 capfull of Metal and Scale Control.

I swapped out the filter with my second clean one.

I'm going to rinse and soak the filter in plain water, in case the Filter Cleaner is the culprit.

I removed the Silver Ion cartridge to eliminate another variable.

Sorry for all of the details, but I AM COMPLETELY AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO.

I can't even use my hot tub. HELP!

Thanks,

Bill

[gman]

I am not familiar with the products you have been using, i.e., Silk Balance and Replenish. I did a online search to find out what those products contained specifically, but was unsuccessful. I was just able to learn some very basic information, but most was marketing. The "science" link on the Silk Balance website provided no science at all. Also, since you don't explain how you arrived at your water test results, it's difficult to be confident in the accuracy of your test results. The one test result that I though significant though was the "zero" bromine level. Contrary to what the spa dealer theory which was that you were over-sanitizing, I would suggest just the opposite...that you were under-sanitizing. I know you've drained and refilled your tub a couple of times already, but I would suggest you follow Nitro's decontamination procedure. It would require another drain and fill, but I think if you follow his decontamination procedure you can be fairly confident that you will have removed any of the usual contaminants that result from improper water chemistry. Insert "decontamination" in the "search" engine on this forum to find Nitro's decontamination procedure and "Nitro's Approach to Water Balance". If you follow that procedure, you can at least be reasonably sure that your spa is not contaminated.

Good luck.

gman

2009 Sundance Optima

[Peteyboy]

You mention a bromine floater - bromine is incompatible with AG+.

I would go with the AG+ & non-chlorine shock (MPS).

For that spa you would add 1 tablespoon MPS before each spa session. Then test pH & Alk weekly and add 1 tablespoon granular chlorine.

One aspect of foam is that if your Calcium Hardness is low you are more prone to foam. Some manufacturers have eased the level of hardness to 50 - 100 ppm, but again it can make the spa foamy.

I agree with Gman that you should decontaminate - you could try about 4 tablespoons chlorine and let it run a few hours with the cover open, then drain & refill, or use Nitro's method.