Tub procedure given to me - Bromine - opinions?

[D.sebens]

roger that and the floater should be set to level 3 and filled with tabs correct (it goes to 10, 11 for Spinal Tap fans)? And does that stay floating when people are in the tub or can it be removed during that time but back in once we get out.

Additional being added now, cover is open temp is 92

Slowly but surely getting there I think

Yes 3 is just a reference number. Get the bromine to around 10 for now since the water hasn’t been disinfected. If you way over shoot hold off a day on the floater. No sense adding even more.

When you put the floater in just check your bromine level and check it again the next day. Ideally you adjust the floater till it maintains your sanitizer level. It’s just trial and error. I target 8 ppm, that is the commercial max. Residential is 6ppm max I think, but I just want to make sure I always have enough sanitizer to keep everyone safe when in the tub.

I leave my floater in when we use it. It usually just gets pulled next to the skimmer. It’s not really fast acting and probably doesn’t make a difference but I just don’t have a good place to set it outside of the tub otherwise I’d probably take it out.

 

[GCS]

Yes 3 is just a reference number. Get the bromine to around 10 for now since the water hasn’t been disinfected. If you way over shoot hold off a day on the floater. No sense adding even more.

When you put the floater in just check your bromine level and check it again the next day. Ideally you adjust the floater till it maintains your sanitizer level. It’s just trial and error. I target 8 ppm, that is the commercial max. Residential is 6ppm max I think, but I just want to make sure I always have enough sanitizer to keep everyone safe when in the tub.

I leave my floater in when we use it. It usually just gets pulled next to the skimmer. It’s not really fast acting and probably doesn’t make a difference but I just don’t have a good place to set it outside of the tub otherwise I’d probably take it out.

Makes sense and yeah I will keep a check on that bromine level. I did add some CH up to it as well and will check that again shortly.

Thx you have been a tremendous help in getting me to understand what all this does and means.

Ok 10:40pm

ph holding at 7.4
TA holding at 60 that should come down a tad right
CH is 120 so still a touch low but better
Bromine 6.5

floater filled with tabs and set to 3 and dropped in the tub

I think that is everything. Will probably check at least one more time before hitting the bed and will check again in the AM to see if levels have held and again tomorrow after work (although it will be late as I have a business dinner to attend).

At what point are we good to go on usage - when the above levels basically hold between tests or only have minor changes?

 

[D.sebens]

Technically everything is good for use now. Ph is good ta is close. Ch is just a quality thing. Sanitizer is good! Keeping ta down helps keep ph from raising too much. Any ph from 7-7.8 is fine. Once you get ph to stabilize its alright if it’s up in the high 7’s.

 

[D.sebens]

See if ph wants to rise with some use. If it does work on lowering ta down to 50. It might be happy where you have it now though.

 

[GCS]

See if ph wants to rise with some use. If it does work on lowering ta down to 50. It might be happy where you have it now though.

sweet.

Although I decided to add just a teaspoon and half of shock to try and bump the bromine level and I am at basically 8.75 (7th drop was 99% color change but the 8th drop was instant color change). Wanted to be at 8 as mentioned but clearly I overshot. Probably should have left it alone and hopped in for a few mins this evening.

 

[GCS]

See if ph wants to rise with some use. If it does work on lowering ta down to 50. It might be happy where you have it now though.

and btw this tub has ozone which I believe will affect the need/use of the tabs

well all levels were good on retest bromine at 8 so we said screw it and got in for about 20. It was great. Will check levels in the AM and adjust if needed and again when we get home and do the same.

 

[A.O.]

sweet.

Although I decided to add just a teaspoon and half of shock to try and bump the bromine level and I am at basically 8.75 (7th drop was 99% color change but the 8th drop was instant color change). Wanted to be at 8 as mentioned but clearly I overshot. Probably should have left it alone and hopped in for a few mins this evening.

Personally I would have gotten in as soon as temp was ok (103 for me) Nice clean new water is always good.. pre sanitizer even, heck you dont sanitize the water for a hot bath do you?

Enjoy, you are almost there!

 

[D.sebens]

and btw this tub has ozone which I believe will affect the need/use of the tabs

well all levels were good on retest bromine at 8 so we said screw it and got in for about 20. It was great. Will check levels in the AM and adjust if needed and again when we get home and do the same.

Ozone is still basically a sales thing. Mine has it too. You would need to take the side panel off and see if the light is even working. It draws air past the ozone light and sucks it into the tub. Just because you have bubbles doesn’t mean that the ozone works. Plus it’s not considered a fast acting sanitizer at the levels that could be in the tub so just figure it doesn’t exist as a sanitizer.

 

[D.sebens]

Also, congratulations! Good job on the whole thing, I’m sure the family will love it.

 

[GCS]

Ozone is still basically a sales thing. Mine has it too. You would need to take the side panel off and see if the light is even working. It draws air past the ozone light and sucks it into the tub. Just because you have bubbles doesn’t mean that the ozone works. Plus it’s not considered a fast acting sanitizer at the levels that could be in the tub so just figure it doesn’t exist as a sanitizer.

Got it.

Tested this AM and pH was up some (almost 8) so I aerated and put a little reducer in and by the time I left to go to work it was back to 7.4

Bromine was quite low - 1.5ish so I shocked it and opened the tab floater from 3 to 5. By the time I left it was 4. Will check levels again this evening and see where we stand. I expect some additional adjust tonight. I know why the bromine was low as I chose not to shock after using last night since I was at 9 and wanted it to come down some. Didn't think it would drop that much but at least now I know I need to shock after use no matter what.

I am getting a better understanding of things each time I test/treat/retest etc and am realizing that it seemed a lot more complicated when reading vs actual doing the process. Granted I might eat those words when (not if) I have some crazy event that throws everything out of whack and get in a fight with it to bring it back in line but for now things are making sense.

If only I could make sense of why my contractor is dragging out this project for so long. I might be in a retirement home by the time he finishes

And here she is in case someone didn't see the other thread about my move

 

[Newdude]

I am getting a better understanding of things each time I test/treat/retest etc and am realizing that it seemed a lot more complicated when reading vs actual doing the process. Granted I might eat those words when (not if) I have some crazy event that throws everything out of whack and get in a fight with it to bring it back in line but for now things are making sense

It always is GCS. We have a member on another thread that’s been soaking everything up like a sponge while the build went on. One day of reading *and* doing and it all started to click.

Plus, the worse that happens with the tub is you drain 450 gallons to not have to fight it. A MUCH easier decision than 25k gallons.

If only I could make sense of why my contractor is dragging out this project for so long. I might be in a retirement home by the time he finishes

Maybe it’s part of HIS retirement plan.

 

[A.O.]

You can always fire the GC and hire a new one! Last time I did an addition I did just that!

 

[GCS]

Plus, the worse that happens with the tub is you drain 450 gallons to not have to fight it. A MUCH easier decision than 25k gallons.

Very well put. Always worried about that with the pool (and had to do it twice) so yeah ditching and redoing 385 gallons is far less scary!

 

[A.O.]

Very well put. Always worried about that with the pool (and had to do it twice) so yeah ditching and redoing 385 gallons is far less scary!

I've been told I cannot empty my pool (no bottom drain anyway) due to the fact I have a fiberglass pool and it might pop out of the ground if its drained completely. Not sure if that's the truth or not, but I'm not going to try!!

 

[Newdude]

I've been told I cannot empty my pool (no bottom drain anyway) due to the fact I have a fiberglass pool and it might pop out of the ground if its drained completely. Not sure if that's the truth or not, but I'm not going to try!!

It all depends on your water table. The pool when empty becomes a boat and will float out of the ground water is high. It can vary greatly based on elevation, even in the same neighborhood. A mere 10 ft of property elevation ( just a few houses away) could make the difference between an utter loss or a non event.

If you can’t verify you have the leeway at the time of the need, we suggest a water exchange to be on the safe side.

 

[A.O.]

It all depends on your water table. The pool when empty becomes a boat and will float out of the ground water is high. It can vary greatly based on elevation, even in the same neighborhood. A mere 10 ft of property elevation ( just a few houses away) could make the difference between an utter loss or a non event.

If you can’t verify you have the leeway at the time of the need, we suggest a water exchange to be on the safe side.

I'm probably fine seeing as I'm sitting on a huge sand hill, but no reason to empty it any way..

Been 5 years now haven't seen a need for a water exchange.

 

[Newdude]

Been 5 years now haven't seen a need for a water exchange.

Then the best that happens is you lalalalalala your life away never needing to know.

 

[A.O.]

Then the best that happens is you lalalalalala your life away never needing to know.

Sounds like a great plan!! I can lalalalalala away in perfect crystal clean water!

 

[GCS]

Well the first water chem issue has reared its head as of last night.

Son had a bunch of friends over tub chem was great to start
pH 7.4
TA 50
CH 130
Bromine 6.5

After they were done water was cloudy and foamy (guessing detergent from bathing suits) and levels were
pH 7.6
TA 50
CH 130
Bromine 0

Shocked it of course and an hour later all levels above were the same but Bromine was now 2.0 water slightly cloudy not terrible

Shocked again and retested about 30 mins later before heading to bed levels were the same but Bromine up to 4.5 still slightly cloudy and foams when jets are on high.

This AM water cloudy again not terrible but definitely not crystal clear like it had been. Did not have time to test as I was late for work.

Will test and adjust once I get home this evening. Hoping I can snap it back into place.

I should note he had 6 friends in the tub (max capacity) so I did have to take out some water as it was overflowing. I had to add it back last night otherwise it was below typical jet level for several seats.

 

[D.sebens]

Yeah you will have that. The cloudyness is organics that haven’t died. Keep your bromine up and it will go away. Just like a pool you just need to keep it up for a while. Its not so much about shocking ad providing constant sanitizer. The bromine will burn out most detergents but not all the way. The tub will get more and more foamy with use (unless you are one that either soaks naked or pre shower and use the same swim suit). I don’t worry much.

It’s nice when there’s no foam but it is what it is. You can get defoamer to knock it down but it won’t be permanent. Once your water clears up it should of burned off most of what could be causing the foam. Next time just add a tbsp of shock or bleach while they are using it. Don’t need a case of jock itch spreading around the neighborhood lol