Newbie!! I have EXACTLY the same problem with my new Caldera!!!! I purchased my Caldera with SpaFrog tech in August 2013, and it sounds like from the same couple of stooges. I have tried everything you did as well. I have also gotten crazy and drained my tub several times now as we do have a very heavy bather load. Myself, wife, and two small kids are in the thing daily. I've checked all the water chemistry daily for months and months. It seems when I add the "startup" Sodium Bromide, 2 oz measured, and a new bromine cartridge on the spa frog, with it dialed to 6, I get "ideal" levels of bromine for a couple days, The instructions say to then ratchet the spa-frog cartridge back a notch each day to keep it in the ideal range, but when I do that- it goes to zero....Si I ratchet it back to 6 and leave it there and still its only good for a day or two then it falls to zero. Most days I cannot see any color change on the dipstick whatsoever.
Now I've gotten "full body rash" and taken prednisone which helped, and itch like crazy. Other bathers have complained of feeling extra dry and itchy when they get out, but I'm the one that is either allergic to the bromine, or getting the worst of it...whatever it is... With the bromine levels showing close to nothing, I worry I've got a "gross" hot tub on my hands, but the water is crystal clear, 100 degrees all the time, smells fine not strong chemicals. I used to just hit a little non chlorine shock after each use, maybe 1/2-1 tblsp. But now I'm not sure if that's over doing it. Seems I couldn't get more than 3-4 weeks without needing a water change and that seems excessive... I'm less worried about the water cost, but the electricity to heat from 60-100 degrees, is starting to get expensive monthly!!! I too feel like this was supposed to be a relaxing thing, and now its a pain... Not sure what I'm doing wrong, if anything, or if I'm just allergic to Bromine.
So Today I bought the biguanide-based Leisure Time Free chemicals and I plan to drain (yet again tomorrow)...and see how that treats us. Nobody else in the family seems to have rash except me, although we do get the itchy dryness complaints. A trip to the Dermatologist is now on the list. The Hot tub is awesome aside from the fact that I can't enjoy it. :-)
So I will keep you posted on the biguanide-based system and how it works, as well as the derm results. But it negates the use of the spa-frog which is rather disappointing either way...
Did you find a solution to your problems yet? Any itching and/or rash? Let me know, thanks!
