How Often Do You Check Your Levels?

[minorad]

I purchased a Dimension One Californian 2007 from a friend. On Monday, I filled it, purged and then drained on Tuesday. I filled it up again, ran it for a little bit, drained and scrubbed out the tub, etc. I then filled it, added a bottle of stain & scale remover and 2 tsp. of chlorine. I then took a water sample of to my local dealer who tested the water and helped me balance out the pH, calcium and total alkalinity.

I have sat in it Tuesday evening and last night and per the dealer, have been adding 2 tsp. of chlorine after each use. However, when I test it in the morning, the chlorine level is too low. So, I add chlorine to bring it up to normal.

My questions are, why is my chlorine low in the morning?

How often do I need to check the levels?

Andrea

[gman]

minorad,

To be better able to answer your questions "why is my chlorine low in the morning?" and "how often do I need to check levels?", it would be useful to know the answers to the following questions:

1. After your dealer balanced your water, what were the readings for the following?

a. Calcium Hardness (CH)

b. Total Alkalinity (TA)

c. Hydrogen ions (pH) (acidity/alkalinity)

d. Free Chlorine (FC)

e. Combined Chlorine (CC)

f. Cyanuric Acid (CYA)

2. How are you testing your water now?

a. With test strips? (not reliable...too much variation in test results)

b. With a drop test kit? (more accurate than a test strip....but since you said you brought a water sample to your dealer for testing, I am assuming you do not have a drop-test kit.)

3. What exactly are you using when adding 2 tsp. of chlorine to your tub?

4. What's the temperature of your water?

5. How long are you sitting in your tub each time you use it (on average)?

6. How many people are using your tub when you are using it?

7. You are adding "chlorine to bring it up to normal." What level of chlorine do you consider "normal" and how are you determining that level of chlorine (question 2)?

How often you need to test your water chemistry will depend on how well balanced your water is in the first place. You will need to test your water more frequently during the first month to: a) determine your current water chemistry, adjust your water chemistry to get your water balanced properly, c) determine your chlorine demand given your average/typical use of the tub, and d) make sure your pH remains relatively stable.

To get reasonably accurate readings for the chemicals in question 1 (which will allow you to know your current water chemistry and balance and maintain your water properly) you will need a good drop-test kit. Taylor Technologies Test Kit K-2006, is often recommended. Amato Industries has also been recommended as selling these kits at a very good price.

If you provide this forum with the answers to the above questions, I'm sure many subscribers will chime in with assistance.

gman