Susanj Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 I decided to switch from using SpaUp to baking soda. Same stuff, right? But could they be different somehow? Spa Up says to add 3 Tb for my size hot tub to raise pH. I started with 5 Tb based on my past experience with this tub and it ended up needing 13 Tb! I did two at a time, waiting 30 minutes in-between each before retesting. Took forever. This is at our vacation rental and there have been 2 groups since I was last here and our service guy comes out after each one, but he's obviously not adding enough. That's the problem in a rental. NONE of them keep adding and retesting. They check it and then throw some chemicals in and leave. But who'd have guessed it would take this much? That's why I'm wondering if it was because it's baking soda now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 In general, there are two chemicals used to raise pH of spas and pools. Sodium carbonate powder is stronger, will raise pH more per pound. So one needs to be careful when handling it, as it by itself has pH about 10. Sodium bicarbonate powder (such as Arm & Hammer baking soda) will raise the pH if low or close to proper level. The container labels should detail exactly what the chemical is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanj Posted August 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 My Spa Up says soium bicarbonate, but I wondered if there are stabilizers or some inactive ingredients that don't have to be labeled. I've never before seen it needing this much to raise the pH. Though maybe it wasn't because I switched to baking soda-couldve been a coincidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted August 31, 2018 Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 7 hours ago, Susanj said: My Spa Up says sodium bicarbonate, but I wondered if there are stabilizers or some inactive ingredients that don't have to be labeled. I've never before seen it needing this much to raise the pH. Though maybe it wasn't because I switched to baking soda-couldve been a coincidence. If you need more than sodium bicarbonate to raise the pH, then look for something that states "sodium carbonate" instead. You can use something for pools, doesn't have to be a "spa" product. See Pooltime pH Up from Home Depot https://www.homedepot.com/p/Pool-Time-6-lb-pH-Up-23556PTM/302895491, stocked in most stores, it's sodium carbonate, I can see that on the SDS sheet. https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/b1/b101bd67-79ed-4964-a10f-11dcc0b40815.pdf Or sodium carbonate from pool store or Walmart or Lowes.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanj Posted August 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2018 Are you saying it’s bad to have to add 3/4 cup of baking soda? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cusser Posted September 1, 2018 Report Share Posted September 1, 2018 15 hours ago, Susanj said: Are you saying it’s bad to have to add 3/4 cup of baking soda? No, not saying that at all. But if one has to add massive amounts of baking soda to get the pH to move up just a little, then add small increments of sodium carbonate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanj Posted September 1, 2018 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2018 Yes, that makes sense, although I wasn’t raising it just a little. It was well below 6.8 to start . And the alkalinity reading was nonexistent too, although that came up more easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xenon2000 Posted September 18, 2018 Report Share Posted September 18, 2018 Sodium Carbonate (Soda Ash) will raise pH much more than Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda). Both raise Alkalinity about the same amout. So if you use Baking soda, you may raise the alkalinity too much by the time the pH is correct. Since a spa doesn't need much, I would just buy the right pH up that uses Sodium Carbonate , no bicarbonate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hampton Posted October 4, 2021 Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 The best ro system is a free chlorine system. If you have a salt water swimming pool this would be best because the salt in the water naturally add to your alkalinity levels, which can help with maintaining itself on its own. This type of system works by adding only non-chlorine shock weekly to maintain it enough so you don't have to buy huge amounts of chemicals, wasting money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susanj Posted October 4, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 4, 2021 I have considered this but how would it do for a vacation rental with variable use? Sometimes 6 people who may have lots of sunscreen, lotion etc , and sometimes 2 or none. The Frog system with the slow release chlorine cartridge seems to work pretty well , releasing what is needed , since I can’t be there daily. We have someone to service it after each rental of usually 3-4 nights, but sometimes a week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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