sagemurphy

If we add 2 teaspoons of dichlor after each soak (2people usually 4-5 times a week, will that get the CYA levels up too quickly? Does a tablespoon of mps weekly sound right, again thanks for so much help, I didn't think the dealer sounded right

Hmmm, we'll have to disagree on that. I've seen the MPS per use method fail too many times (and have tried it myself more than once) whereas adding dichlor after each use works much much better IMHO. The MPS method is better from a TDS standpoint but that takes a back seat to sanitizing and ease of water care. As far keeping “to a minimal amount of chlorine”, why is that so desirable? Chlorine works great and when you add it after use it dissipates and is almost immeasurable the next day so it’s not an issue. I actually have always had a water care sheet printed for both methods. I tell people what I think is best but some still want to try the MPS method because they feel they want to limit chlorine use (often due to experience with chlorine in pools or dichlor is commercial spas). I give them both sheets and more than a couple have commented later that they tried the MPS method with spotty results and eventually went back to the dichlor method with much better results. In the end there is no singularly accepted method, everyone has their own way of managing their spa water.

Thank you for all your responses to my questions in my search to find a rash free solution to my hottub.This weekend switched from bromine to nature 2 and chlorine, Spa dealer said to add 1 tablespoon of chlorine at startup and add a teaspoon during the week, also to add 1 tablespoon of mps once a week, Does this sound like enough or should we add a teaspoon mps after each saok ( I don't want to try adding before at this time) Also we never run the spa at 104, usually 98-99, Can you give some suggestions for this system and which chemicals to add and when.

Do you mean regular household peroxide? Does this neutralize the chlorine so it is safer for the environment or because all that chlorine could damange the workings of the spa when it is drained?

Yes, With Nature 2 you can keep a very low residual of chlorine, so you are adding very little and should have no issue with CYA build up. The recipe they provide works very well now and we have several very happy people that use it and do not see their CYA even get close to high. If you use strictly dichlor is where the CYA issues happen because you are using much more dichlor to keep the tub sanitized. Bleach method has been very difficult for people with newer tubs with many jets and ozone, and some manufactures will void marranties if they find out you are using household or pool bleach in a tub. To decontanimate a tub you need to get your chlorine levels up to 100, get this water under the pillows, on the knobs, the cover everywhere to make sure all is killed, let this water run through the filter. This is also listed in Roberts hot tubs, he lists the amounts for the tub and how much peroixide to use to brings the chlorine levels back down to make the water safe to drain. Super clean your filter, or be safer and purchase a new one if you think it is the bug.

Would using just diclor and Nature 2 be easier and effective instead of using bleach and trying to deal with pH?

Because I continue to get rashy and itchy with bromine I am going to try again with chlorine. What is the best way to empty the tub to make sure all bromine is out of the system. Should we superchlorinate it; shrub it down, empty it, refill and empty again, or should one empty do it. I want to make sure any bacteria is out of it even though I don't know if rash is from bacteria at this point or from sensitivity to chemicals. If I choose to use liquid chlorine over bleach how much should we use on a daily basis( 360 gal. jacuzzi) Or would be be better off just using diclor and then bleach. I understand I need to usr diclor for at least a week before switching to bleach or liquid chlorine

We drained our tub on saturday, added bromine bank and planned to use floater, Spa dealer said bromine floater is very irritating to skin and we should just add bromine as needed to maintain levels, He said "less is more" in hot tubs. So does this sound reasonable. Or should I just be adding Nonchlorine shock only or both. Also we are getting a faint white ring around water line (on black tub) what is this from and how can I get rid or avoid getting this?

Have been reading about the Spa Frog floating system . If I start with a bromide bank, then would I use the spa frog with minerals and bromine instead of the bromine tab floater? Would I then need to shock with non-chlorine shock?(weekly or more often). Any pros or cons with this system? I would like to decide which way to go as I would like to order on line and want to refill this weekend.

Thanks for your reply, I will try the bromide, floater and non-chlorine shock at our next fill. Yes I shower and use lotion after every time in tub, The itching and rash start after a couple of weeks after refilling, not right away. Hope this works. Thanks again

It may not be your computer acting crazy, the forum is having issues of some sort! The brominating concentrate has bromide in it which is why they may not be having you use sodium bromide to start. It is mostly dichlor though. The brand I carry is 82.5% dichlor and 14.7% sodium bromide. The tablets you use are a mix of bromine and chlorine. You have a lot of chlorine in your tub the way they are having you do it. Di chlor contains CYA, which if you search the threads seems to cause soom people to itch, and if the CYA gets to high it reduces the effectiveness of the sanitizer. If your PH runs low it will make you itch, if it runs high it can make you itch, thats why I asked what the readings came out to be. I would, on your water change, start the tub with sodium bromide, not the brominating concentrate, that way you are not adding dichlor. Use the bromide and shock with non chlorine shock to activate the bromide, fill you feeder and shock as needed. If you see the bromine levels dropping, shock with non chlorine shock, this will help reestablish them. You may need more than once a week if spa is used a lot. This route will keep the chlorine amounts added to the tub down, and stop any CYA issue. Some people itch from non chlorine shock(MPS), but IMO thats not what is bothering you. Do you have dry skin? Have you tried a good lotion AFTER spa use? (dont do it before, it will make a mess out of the tub! ) Do you itch right after a frsh water change or is it after a few weeks?

Sorry for the repeat post, my computer acted crazy. anyway we start with spa guard brominating concentrate and use a floater with tabs. If the levels seen a little low at first we add more concentrate until the tabs alone seem to keep the bromine levels up. We also use oxone and spa perfect. Once a week have been using non-chlorine shock clean filters weekly. Water has always been crystal clear. All this has been on advice of 2 spa dealers in our area, none of which has advised to start with bromide, which they don't even carry. We use test strips and check water daily 99% of the time, Thanks for the reply

First, yes you should start with sodium bromide. This gives you a bromine bank. Second, what are you test readings? Bromine level (test before adding MPS) PH, ALK, CH, CYA? Do you have ozone? What do you mean by addtional bromine as needed? Is this the one step brominating sanitizer? Where you have itch with both bromine and chlorine, you may have sensitive skin or dry skin that the chemicals are bothering. Have you looked into the frog system that allows you to use lower levels of bromine because of the addtion of the mineral stick? We have had good luck with spa perfect which reduces the smell, clears up water ect. ect. Personally have not tried Spa magic

Hi, I have posted here before with complaints of hot tub itch with chlorine and now bromine, Currently using Spa Guard products, bromine tabs in a floater with additional bromine as needed and shocking with non-chlorine shock. I have never started the tub with a bromide bank and am wondering on refill should I do this and then use tabs and shock. Any suggestions for this , I would like to continue with bromine as we go away periodically and sometimes cannot check the tub everyday. Also any experience with natural product formerly called Spa Magic. For that matter, any other ideas to get rid of hot tub itch. I find if I stay out of tub for a few days it is better. but after a few days in I start to itch, and now husband starting to itch also. Very discouraging.

Within the next couple weeks I plan to empty my spa. Currently using Bromine tabs in a floater, shocking weekly with MPS, odding Spa Guard Brominating concentrate as needed Chemical readings have been good, still using test strips, Still have mild rash, gets much better after being out of spa for a few days. Should I superchlorinate or add a shock of brominating concentrate and run pumps for a few hours before we empty? Shoul we use a spa flush product This says to remove filters to run the flush Can you run a Jacuzzi tub safely without the filters? If this doesnt work will probably try chlorine again, but I really am hesitant to use bleach because of warrent issues. Any suggestions of trying to get rid of this itching.

One last question for now. If I switch to bromine tablets in a floater, do we shock once a week with MPS, or should we try not using the MPS at all in case I have a sensitivity to it, Thanks so much for all your answers

Thanks for responding. We used Spa guard chlorine concentrate approx 2 teaspoons after each soak, approx 5-6 times a week for 1 hr. Also used MPS (nonchlorine) once a week. When I developed rash we were told not to use MPS , se we used chlorine concentrate to shock (1tbsp and 1 teaspoon) once a week. We went away for a few days, rash went away, started back up upon returning to spa, got worse. Spa is Jacuzzi 355, 360 gallons, chemicals always tested ok. but when brought in sample tested 100 for cya. Emptied tub after superchlorinating and ran for 3 hours. cleaned with bleach and water. cleansed filters, filled and now using Spa guard bromine concentrate and shocking with mps, tonight brought in sample, cya after 1 month was 125. Thinking about using bromine tablets with floater as spa dealer called Spa Guard company and tablets have less dichor than bromine concentrate, any other suggestions should we dump and refill again, husband is sick of doing this

What was your source of chlorine during those first 2 months before you got the rash? I presume it was Dichlor. If so, how much did you add how often and what is the size of your spa?

What was your source of chlorine during those first 2 months before you got the rash? I presume it was Dichlor. If so, how much did you add how often and what is the size of your spa?

Or with bromine as my sanitizer can I shock weekly with chlorine or bleach, we are in the tub almost nightly (just me and my husband), for about an hour, should we shock more frequently? thanks, getting more confused, just want to not have this rash.

I did not get medical advice from a spa dealer, I had a scheduled appt with my MD and mentioned the rash, He felt it was a bacterial infect from the hot tub and so rx the abx. Also we used MPS in the spa when we first got it and were using chlorine. This was on the advice of the spa dealer. I know I should not have used the spa with an active rash, but I love it so much and had no willpower. It was gone when we switched to bromine and I was rash free until about 2 weeks of using it. We did scrub out the tub and completely switched to clean filters but did not remove the pillows Of course it this continues I will go the dermatologist but in the meantime any advice would be appreciated The chemicals have always tested adequate and have adjusted pH as needed. Is it necessary to use MPS or can you shock with extra bromine? Thanks

Hi, Iam also having problems with hot tub itch and rash. Had no problems with rash for first 2 months using chlorine, then developed rash and started and completed course of Cipro,but did not stop using spa. Emptied tub after superchlorinating it , scrubbed down with bleach and water, refilled and started using Bromine. Rash was gone, after using Bromine for 2 weeks have developed rash again , not as bad, using MPS as shock, shower after each use. This was on advice of spa dealer.. I love the spa and love to soak every night but after 2-3 nights itching is very bad, Any advice, please