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If you think going in the tub naked with a beautiful woman is too much time/trouble, then I'm available to provide some psychological help (LOL).

It may be the stickler variable that determines satisfaction with BaquaSpa. My wife and I not only shower before using the tub (kids are grown and out) but we always go in naked (tub is indoors in a sunroom in isolated country setting). So, we really keep contaminants to a minimum.

I switched from baquaspa to nature2 about a month ago. That was a fantastic decision! Any baqua spa lovers want to buy a bunch of unopened chemicals? Seriously, I have a bunch of them. GOOD GOD! Where did you dig this thread up from??? Its almost 5 years old! Just want to chime in that I've been using BaquaSpa in my Sundance Capri for nearly 4 years now and I couldn't be happier. Water is crystal clear, no odor, no problems, and maintenance is about 5 minutes once a week.

Ok, let's hear them. I was actually hoping that you had some, and were holding back. LOL. Okay, how about the lady that burned herself from chlorine. Or the guy who breathed in Bromine and his lungs got sucked up by the filter. Ah, I made those up. I've just read lots of posts about smells, irritations, ugly smelly water, etc. But in truth, I respect the knowledge of both you and Waterbear, I'm just a happy BaquaSpa user (so far...three years and counting).

Can you offer a few anecdotes about the downsides of Chlorine and Bromine? This comparison seems so much like the Republicans and Democrats. To hear one talk about the opposing party, you'd think they were referring to either devils or morons. To be even handed and present all of the facts in a balanced manner would be too confusing for the average listener, I suppose. Regarding the "goo," I had a bit three years ago when I started up my hot tub, was told by representatives that it would go away if the water was properly maintained, and IT DID GO AWAY.

As always, putting down the Biguanide choice. Apparently the original author didn't much like Bromine. Honestly, I read as many complaints about Chlorine and Bromine as I would expect proportionally about Biguanide. I know...if done correctly, they'd be perfect.

If I were to add up the total amount of time per week I maintain my tub water, it would be about 5 mins. I bring a bottle of Chlorine to the tub when I soak. Then I squirt in the right amount after I get out, and cover it up. I'm at the point where I only check the FC/pH once a week. It doesn't get much easier than that. On my next water change I'll be trying out a SWCG. That should be interesting. I'm glad BaquaSpa is working out for you (for now), but to consider it much easier to use than Chlorine is a mistake. It really isn't. Happy tubbing. I appreciate your experience and reassurance, especially since I may someday be forced to switch from BaquaSpa. I seem to recall from several years ago that Bromine systems are discouraged for indoor use (I may just be imagining that), so I could end up with Chlorine, and I hope it's as successful as yours has been. Of course, until then....

I have no reason not to believe your first point, that I might not know that you are using Chlorine if I soaked in your tub. I'll also concede that you probably spend less money than I do. But less time...I doubt it. I put in a few minutes once a week. It's so quick and easy that I sometimes feel guilty, LOL. That's why I'm willing to spend a little extra money. And I have perfect water with no odor or side effects. I am not putting down Chlorine, simply saying that done properly, BaquaSpa is laughably easy.

Try looking at Aquafinesse, they only use salts and you only have to add a trace of chlorine each week. My wife and I have been using it for 18 months. Look at their web site. BaquaSpa is always criticized by the experts here, and I may someday agree with them. However, we started 3 years ago with BaquaSpa for the exact reasons you gave at the beginning, and we've been absolutely pleased. No smell, no irritation, sparking clean water. We do shower before use and don't use bathing suits, so that probably helps a great deal. And our tub is indoors, so lots of outdoor crap doesn't get in. I will be overjoyed if I never have to switch (drat that pink slime/white mold if it ever comes).

FWIW, My Capri has been maintained since it's "inauguration" with BaquaSpa, and there is NO smell. The experts here always steer people away from BaquSpa (for good reason I guess...I certainly wouldn't want white mold), but it has served myself and my wife very well with only weekly maintenance, no smell, and crystal clear, healthy water. Sure, BaquaSpa is more expensive, but 15 minutes/week for odor-free clean water, I'd say it's worth it.

Thanks for your post. I have made note of it for future reference. I recently had this issue with my used Capri. When I noticed it, I went to the control panel and re-set the Circ pump to start at whatever was the closest time to NOW. (Even though it was set for 24/7) It did come on then. I had to do this several times (each time I noticed pump not on) ... but now it has been running fine (the last week or so). I'm guess that it is likely the sensor it is going. Thanks for this info Hot Tub Guy. I'll now be prepared when the resets cease to work. Crossing my fingers that it won't be for quite awhile! Is that an expensive fix? The visit was $75, but they didn't charge for the second one. First, they changed the circuit board and the guy said it's a $700 or so item. I believe the temperature sensor is under a hundred, but thankfully we're under warranty for both. Love the Capri.

Thanks for your post. I have made note of it for future reference. I recently had this issue with my used Capri. When I noticed it, I went to the control panel and re-set the Circ pump to start at whatever was the closest time to NOW. (Even though it was set for 24/7) It did come on then. I had to do this several times (each time I noticed pump not on) ... but now it has been running fine (the last week or so). I'm guess that it is likely the sensor it is going. Thanks for this info Hot Tub Guy. I'll now be prepared when the resets cease to work. Crossing my fingers that it won't be for quite awhile! Is that an expensive fix? Turned out that the temperature sensor had (also?) gone bad, causing havoc with circ pump. Happily, repairman came back and put in new temperature sensor (no charge for second visit ) and now everything is back to the way it use to be. When my wife sets temp to 99 (I'd prefer 103 but what can you do), the water temp stays at 99 and the circ pump is on all the time. On the occasion that my electricity goes off because of storms, I too reset the pump to start at the next closest half hour and it works. I recently emptied and refilled and initially water was a bit cloudy (I use BaquaSpa so I started to worry) but a little Water Clarifier fixed everything so I'm in business. Hope you enjoy your Capri, I really like mine.

SpaFish, For what it's worth, I've used BaquaSpa since I got my Sundance Capri 3 years ago, and other than some goo at the very beginning, I've been VERY happy with it. Of course, my tub is inside a sunroom and we do shower and go in sans bathing suits, so we're real careful. But the ease of use, clear water, and absence of smell or irritation is pretty darn appealing.

First what climate are you in. the spa maybe going into whats called summer logic. and it also sounds like you have a bad temp sensor 6600-167 I'm in Maryland, but as I said the tub in inside a fully enclosed sunroom in which there aren't wild temperature swings. It might get sunny and warm during the day, but unlike summer when temp in the room can get pretty high, during spring the temp in the room remains comfortable in the 60's to 80's during the day. It would be nice if the technician would even mention "summer logic" or temp sensor instead of grunting and exchanging the circuit board with ultimately no benefit.

I've had my hot tub about 3 years. Recently I noticed that there were periods of time that the circulation pump wouldn't be on (water just stagnant, waterfall wouldn't turn on, ozonator not on) and the temperature reading would spike up to 106 or even 107. Repairman replaced the circuit board because the capacitors had supposedly blown. Only one week after replacement, I see that the temperature reading was up at 106 again (always without heater being on). A little later the circ. pump started and temp went down to 103. This just doesn't seem normal nor the way it used to work. Shouldn't the circ pump always be on (the setting is for 24 hour duration) and thereby keep the thermostat reading moving water..more accurately? Our electricity in the house has periodically gone off because of storms and we are speculating that this might affect the hot tub but the problem persists even 24 hours after an outage. I don't really know how these things are supposed to work, but in the past the thermostat would typically stay near the upper limit that we had the heater set at. If we set it at 102, the water would rarely go to 103...the tub is inside a sunroom but not in direct sunlight and the room has more often than not been in the 60's temperature wise. I've put another call into repair given that it's under warranty, but my confidence in their knowledge is beginning to wane. Any thoughts?

As always, I'll be the lone voice that touts BaquaSpa. I started with it 3 years ago, and for the first few weeks we had the brown goop. We were told that under proper maintenance it would dissipate and it did completely. Since then, it has been the simplest (once a week quick work) and most enjoyable (no odor, no rash...perfect). I remain on the lookout for white mold but my water is as clear and refreshing as it gets. I fully expect that someday I may have to switch but I couldn't be happier so far for 3 years now.

Did you buy the spa new? yep, bought it new almost 3 years ago I believe. Capri 880 Series...has been great, I'm just wondering if this odd thermostat functioning suggests total failure on the way.

My tub is nearly 3 years old and has been working perfectly up until now. Recently, we've had a few incidents (every few weeks) where the temperature displayed starts rapidly jumping from 102 to 103 to 104 to 103...etc. and the heater will be clicking on an off. this isn't normal. Then we can either set the temp. way down for a few seconds and it'll settle down or turn power off then back on and it will be okay. does anyone know if this is the beginning stages of the heater or thermostat acting up? Probably many people wouldn't even notice such a thing until their unit fails, but our tub is in a sunroom that my wife sleeps in so the clicking on and off is immediately bothersome to her. Thanks for any feedback.

Just what I want, to use rumors to guide my use of chemicals. Not trying to pick on you. Don't even know if it is true that it hurts the hot tub, which I doubt. But judging by your posts, you are at about the same time limit I was when Baquaspa stopped working(3+ years). I liked Baquaspa too because there was no skin smell, etc. I know I did more damage shocking the tub heavily to get the mold out, because it wasnt 6 months later, and all the jets started falling out due to the acidic nature of all the bleach I had used breaking the locking tabs. Just keep an eye on your tub. The white mold wasnt evident until it was more people than my wife and I in the tub raising the water level in the air vent pipes where the white mold was growing, and then shooting it out into the tub. It was so gross, it looked like long stingy cooked egg-whites you might see in your chinese soup only on a lot larger scale. Thanks for being specific about what to look for. I don't pretend to know the future, and it is honestly unsettling to hear that other people have been as pleased with BaquaSpa as I have been up to the third year, but then developed white mold. Perhaps my only hope is that the tub is almost exclusively used only by my wife and myself, we shower before every use and go in naked, and of course it's indoors. So we have introduced the minimum of contaminants but I don't pretend that that totally protects us. My fingers are crossed because I still don't like what I read about either of my other choices.

Just what I want, to use rumors to guide my use of chemicals.

You don't even mention Baguanide. FWIW, I've been using BaquaSpa for 3 years with No problems, ease of maintenance and no smell.

I have a 2-3 person Sundance, and most of the time it's just me and the wife. We have always gone the naked route, and my water stays great. It's more fun, too.

Thanks. A dumb question - what are MPS and dichlor? I see the terms used all the time her, but don't know what they mean. Are these substances I can ask for at a spa store? Are they forms of chlorine? Gene, Just a quick vote for BaquaSpa (no, I don't sell it). It has no odor, is easy to use but is supposedly more expensive. Also, some people apparently experience "BaquaSpa cough," a respiratory reaction to it. I've used it for 2 years now. I had some of the brown goo initially a couple of years ago, but proper maintenance made it go away after a few weeks. My wife and I ARE very careful about our water...we always shower before and go in without any clothes (bathing suits still have some soap in them). Nevertheless, to be fair several people talk about BaquaSpa being good for a few years until white mold develops, and I can only maintain the water and hope. All that being said, so far it's been wonderful.

Not considering switching to BaquaSpa or similar baguanide system? I know that it is often criticized, but if one does it correctly just as you inferred for the Bromine or Chlorine, it is easy and wonderful.

I do appreciate your very good points and even better perspective. I can only hope that I fall into the category of those who never encounter problems, but what I "worry" about are exactly those issues that have been written about. For now, we are very happy with our system, if my plastic corrodes, we all know what the number one suspect will be.