SmilinBare

i goofed

Steve. I took delivery on an Arctic Frontier Ultra, here in Massachusetts, about one month ago. That was after about six months of researching and wet testing a a myriad of various manufacturers tubs. So far so good. BTW, I've got a 36 inch inseam, myself. We are finding that our tub is perfect for our needs: usually I soak solo, my partner joins me on weekends and every so often we're joined by another couple of people. Elsewhere on this board under the (misspelled) topic heading "Artic Spa Impressions" is more user info on Arctic spas.

Over the past week, I've noticed that the #1 pump has gotten louder when it's running on temperature boost and/or filter cycle. It's so loud that, if the tub was inside instead of outdoors, I'd find it intolerable. I'm so tempted to pull off an access panel and investigate it, myself, but since I've only had it for just over one month, I'm resisting and planning to put in a call for service, tomorrow. Also, one of the "pillows" won't stay put. It pops out of it's slot and I can't figure out why.

oops.

Okay. Inadvertantly I discovered what I suspect is the service technicians guarded gateway into the on-board computer diagnostics. By depressing the #3 pump switch for ten seconds, an extensive (coded) menu appeared on the screen. At some point, I'll be pestering Arctic to reveal those codes.

This is my first and only spa so I don't know exactly what the cost differential is between Baquaspa and other chlorine or bromine tratments. Frankly, though, I really don't care because I am quite pleased with Baquaspa to date. Since my work travels occasionally put me in close proximity with the Arctic dealer (an hour's drive from our house), I stopped in yesterday to replenish some Baquaspa components. A bottle of test strips was $13.00, a bottle of Shock was $9.00. Calcium Increaser was $5.00 and Sanitizer was $18.00. I quickly searched online for better prices and, with the exception of Sanitizer, it didn't look like I'd save all that much after adding in S&H. So, call me old fashioned, but I'll continue to try and buy the stuff from the dealer who sold me the tub. After all, he's got to cover his overhead to stay in business and I'm a firm believer/practicioner of supporting small business. On a related note, I was surprised to discover that (even though they never told us in the course of three visits/wet tests at the store) the Arctic dealer, here, uses Baquaspa in their demo tubs! I wonder why? BTW, it's yet ANOTHER warmish weekend day in a New England winter! Amazing! Thermometer reads 59F. I just came in from stacking firewood in my shirtsleeves! San Diego (almost) has NOTHING on us! ;-)

Oh. Thank you for that clarification, Tony.

Jiminy creepers! Today the mercury is inching towards 60F, again! I can't believe it! If this isn't a nod towards the reality of global warming, I don't know what is! We did have one day last week where the nighttime temps dipped down into the 20s (and I had to move quickly after I left the tub and was covering 'er up before I fled inside) but I'm beginning to wonder if our winter, here, will be mild straight on through. Not good for the snowplow guys (nor the heating oil dealers) to be sure. Latest BaquaSpa realization: When I add water to replenish what's evaporated, the chlorinated city water reacts with the BaquaSpa chems to result in a ring around the tub (and gook in the filter basket) for a few days afterwards. Not to worry, though. It is easily cleaned and the water balances out on the third day. P.S. Since others elsewheres on this site insist that the only "true" sanitizers are bromine and chlorine, I religiously take a shower and thoroughly scrub "critical orifices" before I get into my outdoor tub. It's a touchy subject, but I insist my guests take a shower, here beforehand, too, and I (humorously) insist they scrub their "crevices", too. If they resist, no tubbin' for them! Better safer than sorry. BTW, as a result of owning a hot tub, I have a whole new appreciation for the "dangers" of public hot tubs and swimming pools, ie. I'll never get in one, again. Yeccccch!

Hmmmm...I think I'll adapt the WD-40 idea, too. The little locks ARE a great idea as are the clips. The delivery guy who installed them on site, however, positioned all of 'em a tad to close to the vertical trim molding at the corners. On a freakin' frigid winter night when my fingers ain't so pliable it can be a momentary pain in the ass getting both of the springloaded stops to release simultaneously. I reason that if little Houdini manages to pick the locks, he won't get buy the catch mechanisms because like all little kids he'll have left his mittens at home. I'll remount them, all, come warm weather. I'll take from your "frozen" lesson to be sure to overhang the tarp on those lock mechanisms so I can avoid having to thaw them with my lighter. Ugh!

Today's hot tub lesson: Pay attention to the weather. If precipitation is anticipated, take a few moments to cover the tub's insulated top with a tarpaulin. I just went out to unlock the tub cover and open it so I could have a soak and found that what I thought was a light dusting of snow is actually an inch of frozen rain and snow. Damn near busted a gut gettin' the thing up and off the tub!

Thanks for the water level info, Kahuna! It won't make any difference then, because, since they cool down the water temperature, I'm not running the air therapy jets during the winter anyway. Only times I've turned 'em on is to "wow" guests. Fortunately, there is minimal nighttime "light polllution" in our neighborhood and the night sky is quite visible. There's a great newsstand in a nearby city that I'll look for Skynews at. Appreciate the tip.

Speaking of stars...do any of y'all know of a website that has info relative to upcoming meteor showers? Gettin' up at some crazy hour to look skyward will be sooooo much better in the hot tub than bundled up in layers of clothes, wrapped in my down sleeping bag and reclining on the cold metal chaise lounge! When we first got our Arctic Frontier tub, the dealer told us that "they usually fill it up to just below the head pillows" and he didn't say you shouldn't fill it any higher. So, of course, after the first coupla days I filled it up to just even with the "lip" atop which sit all the balancing valve handle doohickies. I noticed that when one person got in, then, the water would go up and immerse the bottom half inch of the control panel and I reasoned that that wasn't such a big deal since the the thing IS intended to be immersed a lot, isn't it? Well, yesterday, I added some more water and brought the unoccupied level up to about a half inch below that same lip and I noticed that, perhaps, the filter skimmer thing isn't able to pull in water as effectively when the water level is up too high. On a entirely different note, my partner figured out a neat way to have both a dry AND a warm towel waiting for her when she exits the tub. She brings out a bath towel sealed in a Ziplock bag and lets it float around while she soaks. A lot of the fun with having one of these things is the "customizing".

Wow! Our outdoors temps are approaching 60F, this morning. And it's raining. But this January thaw is about to end according to the weather gals (Have you noticed the current trend of good-looking female meteorologists?). By tomorrow, the mercury is forecasted to fall back down into the teens and twenties (brrrr) but it's MUCH easier to accept now that I've got my tub. YIPPEEEEEE! I got an over-the-phone-primer on BaquaSpa from a friend who used it for years (before he moved to sunny southern California and inherited an inground saltwater swimming pool...for the record, he DOESN'T miss New England weather one iota). Anyway he explained to me about the purpose of Shock and about what, exactly, one is trying to do with ANY sort of "bathing water" chemical treatment. It's slowly coming together for me. So far, BaquaSpa is easy to use and is keeping the water crystal clear.

You seem to be enjoying your honeymoon with your tub bare. I certainly am! I've been in it every night since I got it (sometimes more than once) and a few times during daytime on weekends. Last night it was ridiculously (read: unseasonably) warm outdoors: 48F on the wall thermometer at 10:30 p.m. We've been enjoying springlike weather the past few days (I passed a guy on the highway, today, with his convertible top down ) but those of us who are seasoned New Englanders KNOW that it's only a mere matter of days before the "snow" hits the fan! Just the other night, whilst soaking, I realized that I was HOPING for it to snow soon so that I can enjoy the flakes coming down while I'm in the tub. Trust me when I tell ya that it's been a good manmy years since I've hoped for more snow.

Nope. No chlorine or bromine shock required. The BaquaSpa program DOES include a weekly shock but, again, it contains no chlorine or bromine. In our case, we're NOT using the BaquaSpa Waterline Control because our spa has an ozonator which, according to the BaquaSpa directions, eliminates the need for the Waterline Control. I just came in from the tub and am happy to report that the scum ring hasn't reappeared, the water is crystal clear and I've enjoyed another spectacular soak "under the stars". Ahhhhhhh.

By golly, this is one of the best things I've treated myself to for one helluva long time! The seating set up is perfectly versatile. Every seat provides a different tubbing experience. I'm finding that, after dark, I prefer to sit in still water or with just the first pump on low speed. When I'm tubbing during the daytime, that's when I like to fool around with the multiple pumps and jets combinations. I'm amazing at how slow the evaporation rate is! I guess that attests to the tightness and insulation factor provided by the cover. I'm curious, although not anxious, to see the next electric bill.

FWIW, we had some "icky sticky stuff" show up in the form of a ring around the tub and occasional little particles floating in the water for the first week or so after initially filling and starting up our tub. We're using BaquaSpa and in the directions for the product it is explained that "impurities in the (new) water may [crystallize] out" and can be wiped up". In actuality it was a little more involved than that. I had to pick a bunch of crud out of the filter basket assembly a couple of times but no biggie. We're getting into the habit of showering and rinsing our bodies well before we enter the tub. We had a New Years Eve party and asked all our tubbing guests to shower, too, but a couple of folks sneaked in without bathing. Daylight on New Years Day revealed another tub ring comprised, no doubt, of body oils, hair and....ewwwwwwwwww. The things they "forget" to tell you when you're in the shopping-for-a-tub process. It makes sense, though. After all, the dern thing IS a big bathtub.

Wow! No one else is using this stuff? I'm surprised. So far it's working great for us. No muss no fuss. No after-tubbing showering required.

Experiencing our friends' BaquaSpa outdoor tub a few years ago enhanced the desire to get our own setup. I'm just not a chlorine or bromine kinda guy. It's only been a coupla weeks but so far so good. At least among the folks who post their tub experiences, here, are concerned BaquaSpa does seem to get a lot of "negative press" though I'm not clear on the reasons. We got the Forever Floor, too, because it was "part of the package". I would've requested it, anyway. Just makes sense to me.

Anyone else, here, using it in an outdoor portable spa in New England?

Decided to take a break from soaking...;-)....and check back on this thread. Last evening we had a bunch of friends over for food, spirits and soaks. The tub is a BIG hit! Everyone is really impressed with the tubbing experience. I took my last soak of the night at 11:30, closed 'er up and got back in this morning at 6:30 and then again around 1:30 in the early afternoon. Will be going out, again, at 7:30 soze I can close the tub down and be in the sack by 9:30 (work day tomorrow). I'm lovin' it. One thing they "fail to elaborate on" during the sales process is the maintenance part. But, I'm figuring that once I get it all down, it'll be a relative breeze. Anyone else, here, doin' it with BaquaSpa?

Yahoo! Just in time for a snowy New Years Eve soak, our Arctic Frontier was delivered and wired up on Wednesday and we enjoyed our inaugural dip on Thursday night. I'm in heaven!!!

Yeah. That raised lip DID figure into our decision, too. We debated about the Tundra, too, but ultimately we decided that it was too big for our needs. Most of my soaking will be solo with my partner joining me on weekends. Occasionally, a friend or two will join us. You can bet that once we get the tub installed and up and running, I'll be back here to bug y'all with questions.

" what we are saying is you are less likely to get a leak in a full foam spa, I have many customers that have had their spas for 20 years and never had a leak. " I don't doubt that at all. But I wonder what the reaction would be from the poor sap whose full foam tub DID spring a leak and the service tech labored for (expensive) hours to find it. That being said, I don't think any spa is worth beans if there isn't a solid service department to back it up. Instead of just soaking in my tub, I intend to periodically get in underneath it to inspect the plumbing and underbelly integrity of the spa. (The full foam dealers in my neck o' the woods totally turned me off with their high pressure sales tactics. Two of them (including the owner of one shop) insulted my wife by telling her she asked too many questions. I hope that at one of their future sales seminars some marketing and sales expert tells them that's a surefire way of losing a sale.)

I was told that Baquacil is for (cold water) pools and BaquaSpa is for heated water.