Would Like Opinions On My Dealer's Chemicals Directions

[M&M]

I am new to the spa world, had a Jacuzzi 345 installed about 2 weeks ago: Absolutely love it!

My dealer (who has a good 20+ year reputation) provided about 12 months worth of chemicals and the followiing instructions:

- When initially setting up, after heavy use, and weekly, add 1/4 cap (about 4 teaspoons) of SpaGuard Oxidizer Non-Chlorine Spa Shock. Active ingredient is Potassium peroxymonosulfate 31% (Active oxygen 3.2%).

- Initially and at water change add 2 caps (about 8 tablespoons) of BioGuard lo' n slo. Active ingredient Sodium Bisulfate 93.2%. Test water daily with Pentair test kit and add more lo' n slo daily till pH balanced at 7.4. After balanced for 3 days check weekly. If pH drops below 7.2 change out the water.

- Add 2 teaspoons SpaGuard Sanitizer Brominating Concentrate after each use. Active Ingredient Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione 82.5%.

Following these directions a lot of scum showed up after the first 24 hours. I cleaned it out with a 1/2 alcohol 1/2 water mix and terry cloth towel. Scum is very minimal now and I will be adding a ZorBo scum absorber going forward. Got the pH balanced on about day 4 (actually went a little too far so added a bit of water and hit it right on).

We have been using the Spa twice a day (early morning - late night) and expect this to drop off after the novelty is gone (though I am 60 and sore, and this spa is great).

So, I like the idea of following my dealer's directions as they will be helping with the 5 year warranty, and I have a lot of chemicals that came with the deal....but after reading this forum my dealer's directions seem overly simple and the only check for sanitization is "if the water is clear and no bad smells you are good". Also, the dealer discouraged my reading directions on the containers as "they are too generic, our directions are customized for the local hard water".

So far the water is crystal and no bad smells. The bromine smell seemed a little heavy after a few days so I have reduced the sanitizer to 2 tea spoons per day instead of after each use. Now there is little if any smell.

What do you think?

[arches2]

get a taylor kit for bromine so you know what is actually going on. doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you keep bromine between 3-8 (my personal range) with a target of 4-5 and the ph at 7.6 (7.4-7.8 range). Use borax / borates it really does make things easier.

Since you have the chemicals you can use them but i'd look to add a bromide bank and use a floater (if your usage goes down). With your current usage you could just use the dichlor / bleach method as described in the sticky thread which is basically what you are doing with the bromating granuales (which are mostly chlorine).

Thier mehtod is not bad but you need to do a better job in knowing what's going on in the water.

[M&M]

get a taylor kit for bromine so you know what is actually going on. doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you keep bromine between 3-8 (my personal range) with a target of 4-5 and the ph at 7.6 (7.4-7.8 range). Use borax / borates it really does make things easier.

Since you have the chemicals you can use them but i'd look to add a bromide bank and use a floater (if your usage goes down). With your current usage you could just use the dichlor / bleach method as described in the sticky thread which is basically what you are doing with the bromating granuales (which are mostly chlorine).

Thier mehtod is not bad but you need to do a better job in knowing what's going on in the water.

Thanks for your reply.

I have ordered the Taylor kit for bromine and will read more about incorporating borax/borates a bromide bank and floater. The bromine is comfortable so I think we will stick with it. I do like the idea of being able to leave for a week and nor worrying about it.

Thanks again.....