Hi all. I have been glued to the pool section since we decided to get a pool and I have never maintained a pool before. There I discovered the BBB method and will be using it once the pool gets set-up. It seems very simple and cheap and I was contemplating using it on my hot tub. I have read through all of the threads pertaining to using the BBB method to spas in the spa section and I am alittle confused and need some help please.
First off, I have about a 350g acrylic hot tub with an ozonator. We bought it last Sept and I have been using Dichlor as a sanitizer and for shocking. I have been lax on testing and dosing, mainly due to simple ignorance and laziness. Since I will be dosing daily on my pool, I want to get into the habit of dosing daily on the hot tub also. I have the Taylor K2006 test kit.
It is only my wife and I that use the hot tub and we MIGHT use it once a week on average, for 15 mins. Since my wife and I use the hot tub so infrequently, it would make sense that we could go longer in between our water changes, as opposed to the recommended 3-4 month interval? Based on the formula I have seen given here, we would change our water about every 390 days. Sounds good to me, but for some reason, I don't think that will hold up. I have read and understand it is about what goes into the hot tub that determines that, so if I am using bleach, it only adds sodium, so that shouldn't be a concern.
As far as I understand it, once I do a refill, I should use the dichlor to raise CYA to 20ppm and then from there on, use bleach for daily doses and for shocking, correct? I understand that my ozonator is better suited for a bromine system, but it still helps eliminate pathogens in a chlorine system, correct?
Couple basic questions:
How much bleach do I dose after each use and when do I shock?
What are the ideal param's for using the BBB on a hot tub?
When do I add enzyme remover and how much? (never used it before)
As far as for adding bleach, I read that I should add it when the jets are off to reduce outgassing and splash. I do have a 24hr circ pump running, so I can just pour it anywhere in the hot tub? What about adding it to where the ozone comes in, b/c there is a current there shooting into the hot tub?
Also, relating to outgassing, should I close all of the venturi's on the jets when we exit the hot tub, b/c the hot tub will cycle to maintain temperature and if the venturi's are open, the pH will rise and I assume more outgassing will occur?
I tried to understand some of the more technical threads as best I could, but alot of it was over my head, so I thought I would post my questions, regarding my situation and equipment, so I could get the best answers possible.
Thanks for everyone's help, advice and more importantly, their patience here. It's great to be able to rely on one place for friendly, but yet knowledgable advice regarding pool and spa care.
Mitch
First off, I have about a 350g acrylic hot tub with an ozonator. We bought it last Sept and I have been using Dichlor as a sanitizer and for shocking. I have been lax on testing and dosing, mainly due to simple ignorance and laziness. Since I will be dosing daily on my pool, I want to get into the habit of dosing daily on the hot tub also. I have the Taylor K2006 test kit.
It is only my wife and I that use the hot tub and we MIGHT use it once a week on average, for 15 mins. Since my wife and I use the hot tub so infrequently, it would make sense that we could go longer in between our water changes, as opposed to the recommended 3-4 month interval? Based on the formula I have seen given here, we would change our water about every 390 days. Sounds good to me, but for some reason, I don't think that will hold up. I have read and understand it is about what goes into the hot tub that determines that, so if I am using bleach, it only adds sodium, so that shouldn't be a concern.
As far as I understand it, once I do a refill, I should use the dichlor to raise CYA to 20ppm and then from there on, use bleach for daily doses and for shocking, correct? I understand that my ozonator is better suited for a bromine system, but it still helps eliminate pathogens in a chlorine system, correct?
Couple basic questions:
How much bleach do I dose after each use and when do I shock?
What are the ideal param's for using the BBB on a hot tub?
When do I add enzyme remover and how much? (never used it before)
As far as for adding bleach, I read that I should add it when the jets are off to reduce outgassing and splash. I do have a 24hr circ pump running, so I can just pour it anywhere in the hot tub? What about adding it to where the ozone comes in, b/c there is a current there shooting into the hot tub?
Also, relating to outgassing, should I close all of the venturi's on the jets when we exit the hot tub, b/c the hot tub will cycle to maintain temperature and if the venturi's are open, the pH will rise and I assume more outgassing will occur?
I tried to understand some of the more technical threads as best I could, but alot of it was over my head, so I thought I would post my questions, regarding my situation and equipment, so I could get the best answers possible.
Thanks for everyone's help, advice and more importantly, their patience here. It's great to be able to rely on one place for friendly, but yet knowledgable advice regarding pool and spa care.
Mitch