Severe Biofilm removal

[Jengen72]

Hello, I am hoping someone here can let me know if I am on the right path. Up until a week ago I had no idea what biofilm was, wow I know more than I want to now!

I purchased a 2019 hot springs pulse from a friend who was relocating. I am not keen on purchasing a used tub however he takes very good care of his tub, I was there the night we drained it and the water was clear and perfect. Then things went sideways.

we disconnected the power and drained the tub for the hot tub mover who was coming the next morning. The guy flakes out on me and left me scrambling. I needed a boom truck to lift over his house so it took me two weeks to get that set up, in the meantime the tub sat, water in the mines and foot wells with temps in the 90’s for those two weeks. I have owned a hot tub and never dealt with biofilm so it never occurred to me this would be an issue.

I filled it for the first time and wow I could not believe how much crud was in it. I have now purged 6 times, once with a bleach soak, 3 times with oh yuk and now twice with ahh some. Each time I fill and hit the jets I get more flakes. When I drain I clean the tub completely with vinegar wipe it down and rinse twice sucking the water out with a shop vac. 
 
I am at my wits end with this, I have read a few horror stories about guys having to go this a dozen times and I guess I am asking if anyone else has experienced this to that level and if I am on the right path.

I follow the directions on the cleaner, I try to net and suck out as much as I can before running the cleaner. It just keeps loosing up more and feels endless.

any advice would be appreciated. I cannot wait to see my power and water bill!

thanks everyone!

 

 

[RDspaguy]

@Ahhsomeguy, wanna jump in here?

I did multiple treatments with the same water. I let it do it's thing and wiped up the mess, then when it stooped gunking out I added more and got more gunk. Repeat as needed.

[Jengen72]

On 7/16/2021 at 12:11 PM, RDspaguy said:

@Ahhsomeguy, wanna jump in here?

I did multiple treatments with the same water. I let it do it's thing and wiped up the mess, then when it stooped gunking out I added more and got more gunk. Repeat as needed.

Thanks for the advice, I will give that a shot. It is just amazing to me how much has come out so far.

[broberts]

read the posts on rvdoug.com and his experience with Ahh-Some .  He has photos etc.  I got some for

my brand new tub and was amazed how much guck came out of it before we put any other chems in it or used it

[Ahhsomeguy]

Jengen72:  Each time you purge you are getting another layer of bio-gunk from the plumbing.  You will win the war against biofilm.  Keep purging.  Start with hot water, add just what we say, no more.  More does not do a better or faster job.  Open all,jets.  Let the foam build.  Do not remove the foam while purging.  Run 20-25 minutes.  Wipe up all the brownish sticky stuff you see on the waterline, especially in the filter well area.  Be sure to remove the filters as well.  I assume you have read our directions.  Let the tub set in the off position overnight without draining.  In the morning, add one or two level teaspoons of the blue gel to the same water.  Run the jets another 10 minutes.  You should see a good delivery of more gunk.  Drain, rinse wipe and refill.  Balance the water and always add appropriate amounts of an approved sanitizer.  Use the tub for a few more months before you do an additional purge.  You may even go 6 months before you need an additional purge.  Keep us posted as to how you are doing.  The single most important thing you must do while purging is to wipe the gunk as it builds.  Biofilms are comprised of sticky substances.  Don't let the gunk that is released dry on the acrylic or you will work harder to remove it.