Damian

Great advise! Thanks fellas.

Looking to clean my filter using Leisure Time solution. In the directions it doesn't specify using hard/soft, hot, warm, or cold water. Or does it even matter? Thanks.

All replies are giving you good sound advise. Don't put that tub on your deck until you know its structurally sound.

I have a Tiger River Bengal (which Hot Springs manufactures)for about a month now and love it. From my limited research Hot Springs are good tubs with good warranties. Do your research and test them. Once you narrowed a few down come back here and ask these experts...I've always received good advise here. Good luck!

Update: Have had the tub now for about 2 weeks and just about used it every night. So far so good and learning the chemicals was pretty easy. I would post pictures of the tub however, I'm not smart enough to figure out how to use attach picture.

I figured it out...used some "renew" and it raised the MPS immediately. Also, pH is slowly lowering

I'm a hot tub newbie who wants to get the chemistry right. According to my test strips my issue is the MPS (mono-persulfate)is low, and pH high (8.0 - 8.4) and my Alk (alkalinity)normal. I've used around 4 cap fulls total of "spa down" in the attempt to lower pH which has not lowered yet. However, my MPS has dropped (not sure if the spa down lowered the level). I guess my question is how do I raise the MPS and at the same time lower pH? Do I continue using spa down to lower pH? What do I use to bring the MPS higher? Thanks.

Update: Called the local dealer and made the deal. He'll hold the tub for me until I'm ready for it and threw in a set of stairs for $6500 OTD. I hope this tub will last a long time with minimum problems. Once I get it here and set it up I will post my thoughts on it. Damian

gman, Thanks for the information. I have not pulled the trigger yet only because I have a hard time investing $6500 without all available information. Also, my deck extension work has not started yet. I think I have searched all that I can on the internet and relying on "all of you" for anything else I've missed. I did call another dealer who's 2 hours away from my home that quoted me a the exact tub for the same OTD price with a cover lifter and steps thrown in with free delivery. I asked about maintenance with them being 2 hours away and they claim a repairman would be here within a week. I don't think I really need the lifter or the steps (due to the deck design) so maybe I can go back to my local dealer and maybe get a few more hundred off. Ideally, I would like the purchase the tub through my local dealer. I should just buy it and get it over with! Damian

Great! Thanks for the fast replies. Here's the additional information I've found out. It is a 2009 Bengal with the 5 year warranty. For some reason the 2010 models are down to 3 years as Peteyboy stated. The dealer says there's only a 1 year warranty on the cover. Apparently, it comes with an GFCI panel, not sure if that saves money with the electrical? I asked if $6500 is the lowest he'll go and he said yes, but I wasn't in position to push for lower yet. When I'm in that position I will as about the cover lifter and ozone. What's the ozone if you don't mind me asking? Is that something I should have anyway? Gman...Hot Springs is the maker of Tiger River if that helps. From my limited research Hot Springs seems to be a well known hot tub company. I asked the dealer about "wet testing" the tub and he stated that Hot Springs wet tests all their tubs. He says this particular tub has been in the showroom since January 2010. I know someone who bought a used Bengal and I might go over to his house soon to see if I like the layout. I'll be checking back ofter for any updates. Thanks, Damian

Hello, I am a newbie and in the market for a new hot tub. I will be the primary user, live in a cold winter environment and wanted a little extra room in case I had a few extra people. I've come across the Tiger River Bengal with is of sale at my local dealer. I have the brochure,done some online research and read good things about this tub. The one thing which is hard for me to research is price. The dealer quoted me $6500 OTD, which includes chemicals, cover, delivery, set-up and 5 year warranty. I will need to get an electrician out here for an additional cost (dealer said around $300). The particular model is the dedicated 230v model and has a waterfall, that's about all I know. I'm going back there this afternoon to ask if its a 2009 or 2010 model, not sure if there's a difference? What other information should I ask? Is the price good or could it be lower? I am open to other tubs and will not spend more than what this dealer wants for this Tiger River (actually I wanted to keep in under 6K). He's a Hot Springs dealer if that helps. Any information would be great!!! Damian