jandowood

Here is what I think: 1) Circ pump is good enough; it circulates the entire water volume once every 12 minutes or so. Sometimes I turn on the jet pumps just for about 30 seconds as I add stuff just to make sure it mixes in well at the start to dissolve. 2) I agree, the 40 minutes is quite a bit. I usually do about 20 min or so. It makes sense to leave it open to prevent the chlorine off gas damaging the cover. 3) Not too sure about needing the cover open for this one at all. MPS is a non-chlorine oxidizer, so I don't think there is any off gasses or such that could damage the cover. I'm thinking of just covering the spa up as soon as I add it, especially in our cold Canadian winters. 4) Agree, both are the same. I'm thinking of buying the Nature2 in bulk to save some $$$ instead of the Sunpurity. Anyone else do this? 5) Yes, they are awesome! 6) Think this method is good. Been having stable water chemistry and decent sanitation. No issues so far!

Currently own (for the past 2 months) a 2012 Sundance 880 Optima with 24hr circulation pump, Clearray UV light, 2 part filtration system (inside / outside microclean filtration, with floating skimmer). Sanitation system is the 4 month Sunpurity silver ion cartridge / MPS / shock / UV light. TRUE OR FALSE (provide comments too! ): 1) Dealer recommends NOT running the jet pumps after adding shock / MPS / chemical as the circ pump is fine. However, Sundance manual says to run jet pumps for 15 - 20 minutes afterwards. 2) Dealer recommends keeping the spa cover open for 40 minutes after adding chlorine shock to protect the cover. 3) Dealer reommends keeping the spa cover open for 40 minutes after adding MPS Chlorine-Free Oxidizer to protect the cover. 4) Nature2 cartridges can replace the Sunpurity cartridges. 5) Hot tubs / spas are awesome!!! 6) My current sanitation system is correct for silver ion cartridges (per deal recommendations): Add MPS after each use, add shock about once a week. Use test strips before each use, add chemical if required after each use. Thanks!

Thanks Spawn. How about a $300 difference between a Sundance Chelsee and the Jacuzzi J-365?

Any real difference between these? The Sundance Optima has titanium while the Chelsee has Stainless Steel/incalloy 825 Heater. Both come with 5 year warranty.

Thanks for the feedback TheFanger. How recent is your Optima pricing? I looked into a bit and found some info out on Jacuzzi / Sundance: http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/hot-tub-manufacturers/ http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/about/press-releases/energy-efficient/ http://www.jacuzzihottubs.com/about/press-releases/corporate-background/ http://www.sundancespas.com/about-us/press-room/ss-corporate-backgrounder/ I think they are both headquartered in Chino California. Not sure about where they are manufactured thou.

Hi All, (sorry for the long post ) My wife and I are about to get our first hot tub. We are located in Edmonton, Canada. I am quite diligent in doing my research and have been reading up a lot in this forum; you guys have been a TON of help! First off, we have wet tested an Arctic Spa Norwegian (stroke that one off the list VERY quickly, real bad experience, tub was over chlorinated and stung our eyes, too many motors, retarded volcano foot jet), a Beachcomber 580 (stroke that one off after testing the Jacuzzi and Sundance, didn't feel as good..... great sales guy, but too pricey for not as good of a tub IMO), a Jacuzzi J-365 , and a Sundance Optima (these two we will be discussing). **WET TEST IS EVERYTHING!!** Note that there is a Hot Springs seller in Edmonton, but they aren't a dedicated hot tub place... their core business is Plumbing and Lighting and they change hot tub brands like I change my socks; so we didn't even look. Polar Spas was a joke (ozone and don't need any chemicals at all... WTF? ?), and we didn't get around to KoKo Beach (Coast spas). Catalina had a great sales guy, but felt the tubs weren't as good quality as the Jacuzzi and Sundance (but they were quite a bit cheaper). I will assume if you are reading this, you know the difference between a Jacuzzi J-365 and a Sundance Optima, so I will condense what I have determined are the key differences, and key similarities that I find important. Note that what is important to me is i) good for -40C Canadian winters (-45 in Newfoundland ), ii) construction & quality, iii) insulation, iv) efficiency, v) bang for your buck (don't need no fancy stereo and lights and TVs and waterfalls), vi) hydrotherapy / relaxation / hot water / strong jets SUNDANCE OPTIMA (dealers "Floor Model Special", grey colour) has 15 more jets (different type of jets when compared to the jacuzzi... i think?) has stereo (don't even want it, it'll probably just break anyway) better filtration with the MicroClean Ultra Filter (is it better?? is it really necessary?) better waterfall (but who cares, would be ok if it didn't have one) bigger foot dome /w more jets ISO 9001 certified company (but doesn't Jacuzzi own Sundance, and aren't Jacuzzi tubs made in Sundance manufacturing facility?) Status Indicator Light (i kinda like this... don't want to have to go out and open the Jacuzzi tub to see if there is a problem at -40C. Slipstream Floating Skimmer (is this better then what the Jacuzzi J-365 has???) SilentAir Injection System (SunScents Aromatherapy Delivery system) i-touch controls (better then Jacuzzi?) 30% deposit ($3900), and only until noon Aug 7th to decide $3500 more than the Jacuzzi JACUZZI (dealers "Truckload Sale") is the shell color we prefer more (white) $500 deposit, have until Aug 17th to decide. $3500 less than Sundance BOTH same UV Clear Ray system same size and # of motors both tubs have one circ pump about the same size of tub same warranty same cover both good company's (maybe Sundance a bit better) both titanium heating element, energy efficient full foam insulation wet-tested both, liked both (maybe Sundance a bit better) Jacuzzi has the "Tri-Fusion System Shell" while Sundance has the "Rigid Bond System Shell". After reading up on both of these I have determined that these are the exact same (same manufacturing facility?) PRICE BREAKDOWN (in CDN $, Edmonton, Canada location) Jacuzzi J-365 9999, regular 13,599.00 ("truckload event") Cover Lifter 199, regular 299 Stainless Steel Jets 0, regular 519 Chlorine / Spa Foundation 0, regular 249 Two extra filters 0, regular 150 Clear Ray 0, regular 899 SUBTOTAL 10198.00 TAX (5%) 509.90 GRAND TOTAL 10707.90 $ Less then Sundance 3,504.90 Sundance Optima 12,998.00 ("floor model") Covermate III 385, regular 500 Extra MicroClean Ultra Filter set 153.00 SUBTOTAL 13,536.00 TAX (5%) 676.80 GRAND TOTAL 14,212.80 $ More then Jacuzzi 3,504.90 SO, what do you think? Any comments from any of you? How does Jacuzzi compare with Sundance for quality of tubs? Is the Sundance really worth the extra $3500? Will these survive the -40C winters? Can anyone comment on if these prices are overpriced? Any negotiating tips? The Jacuzzi dealer through in two extra filters, and gave the lifter for a discount. My initial price negotiation with the Sundance dealer failed; was quite firm not to reduce.... I may have not been very convincing thou. Spa foundation will be 6" - 8" of compacted crush rock with a pressure treated wood frame (see link, This good for the tub?) ).Would apprechiate your input. Sorry for the essay