Mike0503

Today filled 540 US gallons in about an hour, with a garden in the back yard...

I have had my Sundance Hawthorne for about close to a month, no cir. pump but do have the ozone and LED lights, Cover lift, steps and chose the Celestine color mahogany cabinet the tub has texture which makes it very nice to sit in and wipe down. The settings are very easy to understand and run, I chose the no heat call two cycles per day for 2 hours as my tub stays one to two degree close to 103 where i like it. so during the run period it heats to 103 and does not heat the tub during the day for a HEAT call, as it would on the standard setting if say the heat would drop then the pump would come on and heat for a degree then turn off. The LED lights are great on this tub 16 different settings and a strobe flash, crazy but my teen boys like that one. Water fall is very nice to hear. The tub sits just outside by beadroom and when it kicks on I hardly hear it really. I would however recommend that you run a 220 6oamp to the tub instead of a 50amp this will let you run both pumps and the heater at the same time just a convenience. DO FOLLOW WATERBEARS THREE STEP STARTUP AS IT WAS VERY SIMPLE AND MY WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR AND SOFT AND AT 545 gallons you dont want to be messing with chems all the time thats allot of water to be managing with guest over waiting to get in, LOL I just use Bromine and tabs and shock with bleach use 20 mule borax for ph use and baking soda these seem to be the cheapest and easiest way in my opinion and purist. I have ordered a k-2106 test kit and other than that I love this tub, I am in it twice a day every day so far. OH be sure to keep the bromine low if you have sensitive skin as it may give you a rash, I had that the first week, mine is at 3 now and really works well for me just saying. Hope this helps, I did a lot of reading on this forum prior and so glad I went with a top tub, and listen to this forum and all the help I got from he posters.

I have had my Sundance Hawthorne for about a month now and I am in it twice a day, love it. I wet tested several and for my size and the tub size and money, and consumer rating and general forum rating I chose this one. I did allot reading first and asked allot of questions also, just my 2 cents on your post..

It's sodium bisulfate! <----- where do you find this just wondering, found everything else but this

I will thank you for the recommendation on them.

Well Since last Friday, I have been soaking every day and night and this was the best thing I have bought. I love every seat in this tub, the lounge fits me just perfect and the jets are wonderful. I have been trying to find the right balance of water still but as I expected this will take some time and trial and error so I am not going to get frustrated and just dump chemicals in the tub, LOL I am using the three step bromine which seems to be pretty simple once in balance and on the less expensive side as well. I like the 6%bleach shock after use and how quickly dissipation is. Trying to learn how to balance ph and the rest, but reading and reading here is the best help... just thought I would share my almost first week...

oh my my, i dont even want to know, LOL.. anyways Electrician was here and the tub is hooked up and full of water just heating and running now... I hate waiting I am not not a patient kinda guy...

Wow, thats a lot of information 95% to much, LOL but ya its further than it appears to be though. and the spa cover lift will block that side also. The landscaping plans are to have tall aspen trees on that side also..

I put it there so I could walk around the control panel side and the other side to get in really, just thought it would be easy no real reason. Electrician should be here friday and will start the fill up :D

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1154.jpg[/img]"]My link http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1150.jpg[/img]"]My link Hot tub came today, and had to have a crane drop it in the back yard, but lucky for me I know the owner of the crane company, LOL ok now to work on the landscaping, dont look at the mop hanging there, or the miscolored fencing. But the tub is here, YES

Well electrician was here today and knocked out the 220 50amp line run in just a few hours and man o man did a great job came in under bid and even better news. Dealer called and said tub will be here this week on a truck and head here, will be in hot water this week, good thing all is ready.... Cant wait.

Everything that I have read on hottub foundations and what to and what not to put under a hot tub on, there is pro this and cons to that. But I thought do to shift in rocks and movement in the center of the tub and at such a depth that you can not secure gravel or pavers, or material of that nature that the outer structure of the tub continues to support the wieght and forces the corners to stress and as a result causes spider cracks which leads to bigger problems in the tub itself, as Spa_Guru posted on Oct 8th, thats why I chose a cement foundation even thought it does not look done yet it will when I am done with the landscaping around the tub. Just My .02 cents

Tell them to throw them in for the total deal, its an 09 tub come on press them for the steps.. they can throw them in for you dont give in.. LOL

4" deep, no mesh but poured with fiber in the cement to give the strength also 4000 psi concrete. drying well and keeping nice and misted to prevent cracking...

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1200.jpg Just done today, just needs electric and tub...

http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1200.jpg Cement is finished and looks good, just needs the electric and tub....

Do cement when you lay all the sand and then pavers and sand over the pavers and tie them in, taking in account labor and your time you can have a nice strong slab of cement that will not move. I was researching the same thing and in time the pavers will move, and the sand with shift with water and so forth. Setting the forms for the slab. http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1196.jpg

Ya, he is quit the rascal to catch, thanks... but it is coming along

My linkhttp://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad289/steeldavidson/IMG_1196.jpg

Guys came this Morning and preped the site for the cement, leveled, and formed. Ready for the 10'x 10' pad tomorrow...

Hey Mike, I bought a Hawthorne a little over 12 months ago - with all the 'extra' upgrades like yourself. Paid about $6,300 exc tax, so your price sounds pretty reasonable. I went for the oyster shell with coastal cabinet. Had a 8'6" x 8' 6" concrete pad poured, with a 60A electric supply (60A allows you to run both pumps, plus heater all at once). This is my first tub so I can't honestly compare it to any other brands, but so far I'm very happy with it and the dealer support. Nothing has gone wrong with it so far, and I only have a couple of (very minor) 'negatives'... 1. There aren't enough drink holders, but the flat top of the waterfall comes in handy for that! 2. One or two of the LED lights have gotten out of color sync, but I rarely use them so not a biggie for me. Anyway, congratulations, you won't go far wrong with a Sundance. Thanks for the feedback, I am really looking forward to it arriving. I have not owned one prior myself but have many friends with all kinds of tubs so this will be great to have my own. Keep me posted with how you and your tub are doing, stay in hot water....

ok, electricians came and three bids are in the works and two concrete bids are in the works. Will have my pad and electric done way before the tub is here so there will be no problems. 10x10 slab for a 8x8 tub, glad I am choosing the concrete after reading and just doing some homework on it...

Thanks for the post, I had not really considered this, I will check what mine says prior to the tub getting here.

Good for you doing the research and finding out for yourself. Having an education in buying a Hot tub is half the battle i have found out, and wet testing is the second. Just my .02 cents...

Thanks cant wait, need the weeks to go by faster and the tub to be here already, just ordered yesterday and now the site prep begins...