Hi there,
About a month ago purchased a Caldera Vanto Spa and have some issues/questions.
The "startup" kit was pretty lame. Didn't come with any type of instructions. It was just two frog cartridges and a bottle of test strips. Thats it. I went to my local pool supply and had them test the water. They got be dialed in with Spa Up, Down, alkalinity stuff and non-chlorine shock. Followed all the directions that they told me to do after the water test. About a week later water had a nice greenish tint. Went back had water tested again.. they said all looked great and must be copper in the water. So I went with my instincts after owning pools at all my previous homes and went and bought dichlor and shocked the spa. Guess what? The green went away and the water was crystal clear again. Lesson learned for me right now is dont trust what they say at the pool store.
So after that introduction here we go...
1. Test strips for me seem to be worthless. What is the best test kit for a bromine spa? As much as I shock and mess with chemicals I still have alot of foam when i run the jets. Also like a scum ring around the water line. Not just dirt but like oily sticky gunk. So I am at a loss. I feel a tester will help me figure this out quicker.
2. Pool Store told me the Frog system is a joke and is a ripoff. They told me to ditch the cartridges and get a bromine floater. Does that sound right?
3. Whats the best sanitizing routing? I read on the forums that 7oz of non-chlorine shock per person per 1 hour. I use the hot tub daily, wife every other day with me. Kids usually once or twice a week.
4. Bromine. Again this is what the spa came with and the pool store said its the best. Keep bromine or go to chlorine.. or see question 5
5. (Most Important) ITCH. Since using the tub it has made me very itchy and it doesnt go away after getting out of the water. My past two homes that had pools I had sensitive skin to normal chlorine used in pools. I'd get a burning sensation after a little bit. Converted both to salt and never had an issue again. I am thinking this is the same thing going on but instead of burning its an itch because of water temp. Do I sound crazy or does this sound accurate? I have very sensitive skin and the itch almost makes me not want to go in. Any drawback (besides cost) of putting in a salt generator on my spa?
I know its a lot to ask and I am sorry to do so but I'm so lost. I seem to obsess over the test strips and find myself tweaking things every day.
About a month ago purchased a Caldera Vanto Spa and have some issues/questions.
The "startup" kit was pretty lame. Didn't come with any type of instructions. It was just two frog cartridges and a bottle of test strips. Thats it. I went to my local pool supply and had them test the water. They got be dialed in with Spa Up, Down, alkalinity stuff and non-chlorine shock. Followed all the directions that they told me to do after the water test. About a week later water had a nice greenish tint. Went back had water tested again.. they said all looked great and must be copper in the water. So I went with my instincts after owning pools at all my previous homes and went and bought dichlor and shocked the spa. Guess what? The green went away and the water was crystal clear again. Lesson learned for me right now is dont trust what they say at the pool store.
So after that introduction here we go...
1. Test strips for me seem to be worthless. What is the best test kit for a bromine spa? As much as I shock and mess with chemicals I still have alot of foam when i run the jets. Also like a scum ring around the water line. Not just dirt but like oily sticky gunk. So I am at a loss. I feel a tester will help me figure this out quicker.
2. Pool Store told me the Frog system is a joke and is a ripoff. They told me to ditch the cartridges and get a bromine floater. Does that sound right?
3. Whats the best sanitizing routing? I read on the forums that 7oz of non-chlorine shock per person per 1 hour. I use the hot tub daily, wife every other day with me. Kids usually once or twice a week.
4. Bromine. Again this is what the spa came with and the pool store said its the best. Keep bromine or go to chlorine.. or see question 5
5. (Most Important) ITCH. Since using the tub it has made me very itchy and it doesnt go away after getting out of the water. My past two homes that had pools I had sensitive skin to normal chlorine used in pools. I'd get a burning sensation after a little bit. Converted both to salt and never had an issue again. I am thinking this is the same thing going on but instead of burning its an itch because of water temp. Do I sound crazy or does this sound accurate? I have very sensitive skin and the itch almost makes me not want to go in. Any drawback (besides cost) of putting in a salt generator on my spa?
I know its a lot to ask and I am sorry to do so but I'm so lost. I seem to obsess over the test strips and find myself tweaking things every day.