I took the information I found and created a step by step document that fit on a single page. I am pasting it below. There are two areas I have questions on:
For TA increasing, what is the formula to know how much baking soda to add? example: X tablespoons for Y gallons = +30 ppm increase.
For Shocking, I prefer to use powder versus bleach. What product should I use? Also, how much to use for the initial shock? I am also unsure how often and how much I shock after that? weekly no matter what? Or, a tablespoon after each use, but I have to leave the cover off for 30 minutes if I do that.
Here is my step by step. I can attached the document after one last edit to correct any errors.
1. Fill the spa with water using a pre-filter. Then run pumps to circulate water for 10 minutes.
2. Adjust Total Alkalinity (TA) to between 50-70ppm, but no higher than 100. You can raise TA with baking soda. Wait 30 minutes between adding baking soda and re-testing.
Wait 30 minutes with pumps running.
3. Adjust pH to between 7.4 and 7.8. If pH is above 8.0, use dry acid to lower pH. If pH is below 7.2, use borax from the laundry aisle to raise pH.. Note: “pH up” will make your TA go up as well.
Wait 30 minutes with pumps running.
4. If calcium hardness is below 130 ppm, raise it to 130-150ppm. If it is above 400 then add an anti stain and scale or calcium reducer to the spa. Any number between 130-400 is ok.
Wait 30 minutes with pumps running.
5. Add 1/2 oz of sodium bromide per 100 gallons of water (1.25oz for 250G) to create the bromide reserve in the water. Do not use a one step bromine product that is a mixture of dichlor and only a little bit of sodium bromide. It should only contain sodium bromide (and water if in liquid form).
Wait 30 minutes with pumps running.
6. Shock by adding either:
Unscented liquid chlorine bleach: Per each 100 gallons of spa water add either 2.5 oz (5 tablespoons) if bleach is 5.25% or 2 oz (4 tablespoons) if bleach is 6%.
Shock Powder: What product to use and how much? 58.2% Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione
7. After shocking, allow spa to run with cover off for 2 hours. Then close the cover and allow the spa to come up to temperature.
8. Measure bromine to ensure it is below 10ppm. If over, remove cover and run pumps.
9. Place bromine tablets into the floater and adjust dispenser daily until bromine = 4-6ppm.
10. DAILY until stable: Check your pH and bromine levels once a day until bromine is stable.
If pH is not between 7.2 and 8.0 then adjust. WAIT 30 MINUTES
If bromine is low add a few tablespoons of bleach and retest until it is above 4 ppm. This should only take a few seconds to happen. Then adjust the floater to disperse more bromine.
If bromine is high, remove cover, remove floater, run pumps. Close down the floater to disperse less bromine.
11. WEEKLY - Keep pH between 7.2 -8.0 and if adjustments are made, then shock the spa with bleach. If hardness is above 400ppm, then add anti scale or calcium reducer.
12. MONTHLY - check and adjust TA, then calcium then pH, then shock spa.
13. After 3 months, use spa purge to clean prior to draining. Clean filters. Go back to step 1.