Bromine Spa - Switched to 3-step Method

[thecanadiran]

Hello all! Another Canadian here (Hi Luc @llamarche) and would like to thank this forum for all the help and great advice.

I'm a new owner of a hot tub which came with our house (340 Gallon Master Spa). I've switched to @waterbear's 3 step Bromine method after discovering this forum.

Before this, I drained and cleaned the tub and filters, started with sequestering product for scale, Bromine granules and Bromine tablet to build the bromide bank. Everyday after use or every 3 days, I followed what the hot tub stores told me and shocked with bromine granules. Then when I noticed the Bromine in the tub is high, I changed to shocking with MPS.

Since reading the 3-step method, I've switched to shocking with bleach - first Great Value unscented non-laundry bleach which in Canada doesn't state the %, then liquid chlorine 10%. I'm using poolcalculator to balance the water.

I struggled with high pH and here were my numbers:
CH: 187 TA: 120 pH: 8.3 BR: 5.2 Borates: 25ppm

After running calculations, added recommended volume of dry acid to bring down the pH to 7.0-7.2 and then aerate to increase pH.

Here are my numbers now. (pH with calibrated pH meter, Bromine is high because of my weekly shock with bleach):

CH: 166 TA: 70 pH: 7.6 BR: 10.95

Is this the right range and water balanced? According to pool calculator CSI is 0.64 (Scaling likely). I tried to play with TA and pH in the calculator but can't figure out how to get it to 0 (balanced)

 

P.S. Do I stop listening to the hot tub stores who say the ideal range of TA is 120-150 and pH 7.2-7.6? According to them I need to add quite a bit of Alk up (baking soda) to bring the TA up and then small amount of pH decreaser (acid) to bring down the pH.

 

 

[Element4]

Welcome to Hot Tub heaven. It's a delight when it works well. I'm in the tropics. Hot all the time, spa can crash over 2-3 days. Everything I have read calls for TA around 120. My PH is always high around 8. When my TA drops around 60-70, I get horrible foam, cloudy water and filter buildup. And no amount of expensive shock or clarifier will recover it, I have to dump out and start over. Problem using clarifier is that you increase your TDS Total dissolved solids and this will increase foam. Vicious circle. I have very little use, daily, just a couple people, but when they have sunscreen, repellents, makeup, shampoo, laundry soaps and hair products..it's a disaster for water chemistry, add in sweat, anti perspirants and skin oils, wait for impressive foam then scum. So I make everyone take hot showers first. I just read a very informative article explaining PH and TA balance by WaterBear, right here. https://www.poolspaforum.com/forum/index.php?/topic/52506-pool-calculator-muriatic-acid-woes/

So I have started using regular builders Muriatic acid, 31% diluted in a jug of spa water. Baking soda brings up your TA & PH, 2 fluid ounces muriatic reduces your PH, aeration brings up your PH. Borax in the final PH adjustment to stabilize. Voila, enjoy, but I rinse my filters every 2 days.

 

[Akk]

Hello, i have question about bromine bank. I use 3 step method. 

I add sodium bromide and shock with mps, then water turns yellow. Why?

With chlorine shock everything ok.

Thank you for help.

[thecanadiran]

Following up on my post, I haven't had the past issue of pH creeping up to 8+ so that's good news. TA is around 60 and pH is around 7.4-7.6.

The only issue I have is huge amount of bubbles whenever I turn on the jets. Is this foam? They go away after we turn off the jets and the water is clear. 1) We shower before and after use 2) Just rinse the bathing suits with water.

I've used small amount of defoamer and instantly bubbles go away. Is it okay to keep using the defoamer product? What is in it and are there any alternatives I can use? Is this bubbling because of soft water or low TA?