kube001

I just purchased a Nature2 cartridge to try with the next refill but am wondering how one keeps the CYA levels in the 30ppm region when adding so much Dichlor? Thought I'd read someone post here that once you've added about 6 TBS of Dichlor you're reaching the 30ppm CYA level. So after superoxidation of the N2 cartridge and a couple weeks of use with 2TBS shocking and daily Dichlor additions, it appears the CYA levels would require refilling, what am I missing??? (I'd even thought about superoxidizing the cartridge to the levels required in another container before putting in the spa). I use N2 with lithium based chlorine... no CYA as it is un-stablized form. I also have an ozonator and use Micro Pure filters and water is perfect!

As do I! (disposable filters) I have been a spa owner for just over two years and developed a nasty rash which after several Drs visits etc etc etc came down to chemical dermatitis and was confirmed bromine allergy. After trying almost every viable combination it came down to this for me... a filtered water fill every 3 months with Micro Pure filters & a Nature 2 cartridge and just a weekly shock of Lithium Chlorine with the help of ozone and that's it folks! CRYSTAL CLEAR CLEAN WATER Water has been tested regularly for bacteria through a lab and I was even able to get bacteria test strips with 20 min test results and ZERO beasties... and we use our tub nightly! We also had the standard reagent testing as well as laser scan analysis on we are bang on the mark chemically. Personally...I would NEVER switch back to paper cartridge filters ever again... my time is worth it esp in the winter months where cleaning is a pain! Cheers!

Not sure.... I tried logging on several times yesterday and received a page load error... was like the forum was pulled

If using liquid sodium bromide (part 1 of the 2 part system) in spa water will a UV ozonator be enough to oxidize? I ask because I came upon this link http://www.ozomax.com/applications/ozone-pool-spa.php and also due to an allergy to MPS and wish to steer clear of that product

LOL... yes I will hold off on the amputation... for now! UPDATE: with regard to the CSI... as soon as you stated those #'s above I knew what you where talking about... duh! I have this CSI wheel calculator with my Taylor Test Kit (K-2005) and I do maintain the same #'s as yourself... usually around 0.0 but never more than -0.1 or +0.1 I have been pretty successful with this. I must have not plunked in some data on that website. The water has been tested by two independent facilities and both indicated text book samples of clean healthy water. One test was with reagents and the other was laser scanned. Water went under a mic and zip... no beasties. The Dr (3rd one) has concurred it is an allergic reaction and is now sending me to an Allergist. There were actually 2 Drs is this appointment and both indicated it was not folliculitis (sp?) These welts are not sore when depressed... just damn itchy... and flaky. I have been prescribed a heavy duty antihistamine and was instructed to use that until I see the allergist... kinda afraid to go in the tub right now though. On another note... I was speaking to a gentlemen at Artic Spas here in Hamilton ON and he has a salt water system on display and said for me to get my swimsuit and come try that system so I may try that. Also, he had a couple of other suggestions which made some sense... 1) drain system, clean & refill and put NOTHING in then get it to the max temp... get in for as long as I can stand it. Two reasons for this... one... to draw any toxins out similar to a sauna (rather try the sauna!) and two... to see if I react to a heat rash. After I get out... balance the water and get my sanitizer levels up etc. He suggested moving from the feeder method (tabs and granular) to Brom-Aid which has NO chlorine in it then to use Energize (MPS) on a weekly basis or perhaps even try letting my ozonator oxidize the water instead of the MPS. 2) With my current water... let my sanitizer levels come down to 1 or even .5ppm and then start using the Brom-Aid and getting rid of the feeder (tabs). Try using the on board ozonator to oxidize and if that fails... a weekly shock of MPS may be required. Thoughts on this theory welcomed... except amputation... at this point... not looking to be a beacon in the water for any SAR-TECS just yet... although the glowing rash may be visible from the air... not sure! LOL

I rinse off before going in... shower after getting out and use Aveno moisterizer... doesn't help at all

I plugged in applicable stats to the pool calculator and the CSI came back as 0.64 not sure what this all means? At any rate I bumped the filter cycle down to 18hrs / day (from 20) and will see if this helps the PH levels I have not used MPS for a couple weeks now and we used the tub last night and have a killer rash today... 4 of us in the tub and I am the only one with the rash from hell. All levels seemed good Bromine 5ppm, TA 100, PH 7.8, CH 150, CYA 30 and the water is crystal clear with zero odor... I can't win here! And being in Canada of course I cannot obtain Cleanwater Blue or Rainforest Blue to try those products

I will monitor the bromine levels and try using the bromine concentrate once a week as a shock opposed to the MPS. We do keep the pump air jets off when the tub is not in use however we have air bubbler that comes on once every filter cycle (5xs for 4hrs in a 24hr period) for 45 seconds and it's not an option to defeat this function on our tub (Canspa Malibu model)... plus the EcoOne thrives on air induction so I'm kinda stuck there I suppose. Since using EcoOne... virtually no foam, tub ring and the filter cleaning is amazingly easy! I was told to raise my Alk as well to possibly help the skin condition (less acidic?) so I guess this and the bubbler can drive up my PH... that part is not so bad I guess as I adjust this only once a week... I can live with that if it alleviates the rash! Many thanks for the advice! Cheers!

The vendor I had purchased the tub from instructed me to add the MPS after each soak (they actually provided me with bromine tabs, some bromine concentrate and the MPS (Quick Clear from Omni) when the tub was delivered) and further advised to use the bromine concentrate only if I get into trouble... is that true? Should I just use the tabs with ozone generator? When do you use the bromine concentrate and or the MPS? (or can I get away without the MPS because I have ozone?) Last question... how do I get the MPS levels down... my understanding is bromine will dissipate slowly on its own but what about the MPS? Thanks!

Hello, I have been a hot tub owner for two years now and love it for back & joint pain as well as a great form of relaxation! From time to time I develop a rash which has been determined by two doctors as a chemical rash... almost hive like and has been described as dermatitis flaking in appearance (not the dreaded bacterial infection... whew). This rash is most common in cooler / colder weather (Ontario Canada) but occasionally I do get it in the warmer months. I "think" I have a reaction to "Quick Clear" MPS oxy-shock and need some help on this topic please.... here are the details of our system and regime... Hot Tub: -Canspa Malibu, 345 gallons with ozonator Filters: -two Unicel 6CH-940 (rinsed weekly and alternated every 2-4 weeks with clean ones depending on tub use Chemical specs: (Omni brand) -Bromine: sanitizer tabs (floater) system 1-3 ppm -TA: 110ppm (always fighting raise the alk) -PH: 7.6 – 7.8 (always fighting to lower ph) -Calcium: 100- 200 (but pretty steady at 130ppm) -CYA: 20-30ppm Additional info: EcoOne products used: (chemicals added and adjusted as per EcoOne’s outline) -“Monthly” every 30 days -“Filter Boost” ½ cap into filter compartment when filters rinsed or changed -“Filter One” to cleaned filters (filters are rinsed then soaked between 4 hrs – overnight then rinsed and left to dry until required) Water: -100-103*F -filter cycles 20 hrs / day -crystal clear and no odors -changed every 2-4 months depending on usage Regime: -approx 1-2 tbs of “Quick Clear” (oxy-shock) is added after every soak -water is tested using dip strips every 1-2 days and adjusted as required -water tested using Taylor Test Kit (K-2005) weekly for greater accuracy and adjusted as required (usually 36-72g of Alk-up and 12-15g of PH-reducer are required) Final notes: -if water starts to get cloudy (this is rare) I test water and adjust as required (Alk-Up & PH Down) and use either 1 cap of Quick Clear and if that doesn’t work… 2 tbs of bromine concentrate and leave cover open with all 60 jets and bubblers at full tilt for an hr! -I initially thought that it may have been bacteria and raised the water level then super shocked (1-2 full caps of bromine… readings off the scale) and let pumps run for 1 hr then used Swirl-Away for 1 hr… drained, scrubbed, rinsed (and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed) blew out all the lines and refilled. -after a fresh fill I don’t get a rash but I find after Oxy-Shock has been introduced into the water (about 1-2 weeks… BAM… RASH CITY!) And it is only I who gets it… wife and the occasionally guests are fine. The rash is killer… wakes me up in the middle of the night and I’m scratchin’ like a flea infested dog! Any thoughts here folks?? Any assistance welcomed… thx!! Oh ya… I do rinse off before I go in the tub and shower & use Aveno moisturizer when I get out too!