Sensible7693 Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Hello, I am new to Hot Tubs and this forum. I had my new Jacuzzi J230CD hot tub delivered on 16th october. It was filled and treated with chlorine by the installing engineer. 24 hours later is had heated up and we used it. I followed the instructions and added chlorine after use. The kids used it three times and have come out in a chicken pox like rash. I also have similar spots but fewer of them. (3 out of 5 have the rash) I shocked the spa with non chlorine Oxidyser shock (4 tablespoons), changed the filter and have got chlorine levels right. We haven't used it for 4 days, and every day I check the chlorine level with a test strip and it reads none existant, so I treat it again to get it up to the 2-4ppm. Next day it is all gone again. so I do it all again. I have a chemicals man coming out from the manufacturers later in the week. The kids have been to the doctors and had a swab taken, but looking at the internet it looks like a rash fra the bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa. Whats going on here? Can it get contaminated in such a short time? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomab Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 To me it sounds as if there was bacteria was growing in your tub possibly even before you received it. The dealer/manufacture may have filled the tub and drained it, but there is always some water left in the plumbing. That is where the bacteria could have started. If the chlorine level ever drops below 0 there's always the opportunity for bacteria to grow. By the way you describe the chlorine levels always plummeting you definately have something bad growing in your tub. Your not going to kill it with regular chlorine levels. It looks as if your in need to do a decontamination found here. Then you should read up on Nitros water maintanence found here. Just incase your not sure about what's going on with your personal experience you should also read another persons experience found here. A couple of things. 1. Don't panic. There is so much help and information from members that will help walk you through any problems you may have. 2. Welcome to the forum. 3. I hope the kids are feeling better.(last on the list but certainly not least) Good luck....You'll be fine.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensible7693 Posted October 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Had a call from the chemical chap who is coming out to decontaminate the hot tub. Told him that the hot tub was not shocked at the start, and he said that was wrong and should have been done. I am starting to think the bacteria was in the tub when installed. I have the option to change to Bromine when drained.. any views? Tomab, thanks for the welcome and advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gman Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 I used the Dichlor/Bleach method for about two years. I was very happy with the results. However, I recently changed to Bromine because with my current schedule I can be away from the tub for 7 - 10 days. The 3 step Bromine system (using the Bromine Floater) allows me to be away for that long and not worry about maintaining adequate sanitation. I've only been using the 3 step Bromine system for about 2 months, but I am very pleased with my water quality. When I return from long absences, my sanitation level has been in a safe range for immediate use, i.e., not too low nor too high. If you are considering Bromine, read the "Bromine for Beginners" Hot Topic (in the Hot Tub Water Chemistry subsection of this forum) for the "how to". Good luck. gman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomab Posted October 26, 2011 Report Share Posted October 26, 2011 Had a call from the chemical chap who is coming out to decontaminate the hot tub. Told him that the hot tub was not shocked at the start, and he said that was wrong and should have been done. I am starting to think the bacteria was in the tub when installed. I have the option to change to Bromine when drained.. any views? Tomab, thanks for the welcome and advice Hopefully the chemical chap isn't going to charge you to do the decontamination. I wish I could be more help with the Bromine subject but I'm not really up to speed on that. Like gman mentioned check out the bromine for beginners subject. My pleasure to help out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sensible7693 Posted October 27, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 There has been no mention of charging me for the decontamination, but as it stands I should be charging them. The installation was supposed to cost £500, although this was all included in the price I negotiated Next to the serial number is amanufacture date of April 2011, and then it was installed in October 2011. There was residue of water in it... who knows how long that had been there. It was installed on Sunday, the kids only used it Momday Tuesday and Wednesday, whilst i used it on Friday as well. All three of us have the rash with my one daughter covered in over 80 spots. I have learnt that it should have had a shock treatement at the beginning. So I am thinking that it is the manufacturer that is to blame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gman Posted October 27, 2011 Report Share Posted October 27, 2011 <br />There has been no mention of charging me for the decontamination, but as it stands I should be charging them.<br /><br />The installation was supposed to cost £500, although this was all included in the price I negotiated<br /><br />Next to the serial number is amanufacture date of April 2011, and then it was installed in October 2011.<br /><br />There was residue of water in it... who knows how long that had been there.<br /><br />It was installed on Sunday, the kids only used it Momday Tuesday and Wednesday, whilst i used it on Friday as well. All three of us have the rash with my one daughter covered in over 80 spots.<br /><br />I have learnt that it should have had a shock treatement at the beginning. So I am thinking that it is the manufacturer that is to blame.<br /> It was suggested that you Decontaminate your tub, which apparently the chemical chap is going to do. Tomab provided you with the link to the Decontamination protocol in a previous response. You may want to discuss with your chemical chap what he means by "decontamination" and see if it is anything like the protocol proposed in the link (just to insure you and your chemical chap are on the same page). For what it's worth...even though the Decontamination protocol is recommended for "used" tubs, I think it should be used on ANY newly acquired hot tub (even newly manufactured tubs). Newly manufactured tubs will have residual production solvents and chemicals in the tub (which usually show up as a scum line on the first fill). Most new tubs will still have residual water remaining in the pipes from the manufacturer's water testing/quality control procedures. Even assuming a new tub is completely dry after water testing at the factory, weather/temperature changes that occur while the tub is in storage and/or that occur during shipping can result in condensation accumulating in the tub. All these possibilities are sources for bacterial growth and reason enough to decontaminate a new tub IMHO. Just my $0.02 gman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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