New Hot Tub Owner. Lot to Learn

[Mdragger88]

Over the weekend, I went ahead and cleaned out the tub, tried to remove any calcium waterlines and now the tub looks pristine. The filter is the only thing that needs attention, I went ahead and brought this however the warning labels scare me.
HTH Spa Care Filter Cleaner for Spas & Hot Tubs, 16oz (Pool Chemicals)
Robot or human?

It states it is very corrosive and must not be contact with skin, etc. I’m not sure if I should use this just because of the corrosive nature and the strong acids inside.

Should I return this and buy something that is less harsh or would it be okay to use?

Did you use ahhsome to clean your tub?
If so, you are supposed to throw your filters in during the process then rinse them afterwards.
That is all I have ever done to mine. Alternatively you can soak them in a tub/container with a little dishwasher detergent (not dish soap) or tsp then rinse well. I believe that product is just expensive diluted TSP.
This should remove any grime/oils - if there are calcium deposits/scale that remains afterwards you can soak in diluted vinegar or very diluted Muriatic acid but you must go in that order, remove grime 1st then remove calcium otherwise the acid wash will solidify the grime & you’ll never get it off.
Also, don’t expect the filters to look new again, they will be stained even if they are clean, that’s fine.

Re: How to clean a cartridge filter

Re: How to clean a cartridge filter After 7 years, I've replaced my 4 cartridges in my filter (I could have gone longer, but the straps were starting to break and I figured I had a good run with these cartridges). The replacement cartridges for my Jandy CL340 were from Unicel® and they had...

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[Taylor1584]

The Saltron Mini has a built in timer. You set it for the # of hours to run over a 24 hr period, and it turns on off for intervals of time over each 24 hours. I have a 250 gallon hot tub, and run it 2 hours/24.

Thanks for the information.

 

[Taylor1584]

The saltron mini has a built in timer - example : if you set it to 2, it runs for 2 hours then turns off & 24 hours later it runs for 2 hours again & so on
If the unit loses power, when power is restored it will immediately come on for the previously designated time & continue on as mentioned above.
My tub is small (200 gal) so 2 or 3 hours is alot of fc all at once but possibly not enough to last me for 24hrs. To circumvent this I have it plugged into an external timer & it is set to remove the power for 30 minutes & then restore it multiple times per day (currently twice but during high use times I change it to 3 times) so I just keep my saltron setting at 1 hour & when power is restored it comes on, runs for it’s 1 hour cycle then turns itself off.
View attachment 458305
This also allows me to press the button on the unit & run on demand as needed for an hour without messing up my settings.
For larger tubs this may not be necessary- alot of people can just set it for 3 or 4 hours & be good.

That is a smart way to outfox the cell and get what your tub needs. Thanks for the visual.

 

[mayberry32]

So, after purging and refilling, just over a week ago, my cya has crept up to 40ppm. I’ve read a lot where Cya is horrible at higher levels in a hot tub. Other than partially draining and refilling , is there anything I can do to get the cya back down to under 30ppm?

 

[phonedave]

So, after purging and refilling, just over a week ago, my cya has crept up to 40ppm. I’ve read a lot where Cya is horrible at higher levels in a hot tub. Other than partially draining and refilling , is there anything I can do to get the cya back down to under 30ppm?

How did it creep up? The only way for CYA to rise is to add it to the tub.

While 30 ppm is idea, if it were me, I would be fine with 40 ppm, just adjust your target FC accordingly.

If you do want to lower it, then a partial drain and refill is really the only way.

 

[mayberry32]

How did it creep up? The only way for CYA to rise is to add it to the tub.

While 30 ppm is idea, if it were me, I would be fine with 40 ppm, just adjust your target FC accordingly.

If you do want to lower it, then a partial drain and refill is really the only way.

There is CYA in the granulated chlorine. So I guess it’s just accumulated really fast and crept up by me adding it every time I use the tub.

 

[mayberry32]

So, is this why some people here tend to use both granulated chlorine and liquid bleach to sanitize and add chlorine? If so, how much liquid chlorine is equivalent to 1 teaspoon of granulated chlorine for adding after using the tub?

 

[Mdragger88]

This is the exact reason behind the dichlor then bleach method as mentioned in this article

How do I use Chlorine in my Spa (or pool)?

If you have a question about any information within this Sticky, please start a new thread for yourself where you will receive very quick responses to your specific questions. Thank you! Introduction There are two main things to consider when maintaining your hot tub water, Water Balance and...

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Time to switch to liquid chlorine- always follow the FC/CYA Levels
Cya of 40 isn’t a crime lol but above 50 makes it hard to keep things sanitary while also maintaining ph properly (since the ph test is invalid at fc levels above 10ppm)
The cya in a hot tub gets depleted slightly over time because of the hot water so I try to replenish it with a dichlor dose every couple weeks or so. Don’t sweat that it’s 40ppm - just chlorinate accordingly

 

[mayberry32]

This is the exact reason behind the dichlor then bleach method as mentioned in this article

How do I use Chlorine in my Spa (or pool)?

If you have a question about any information within this Sticky, please start a new thread for yourself where you will receive very quick responses to your specific questions. Thank you! Introduction There are two main things to consider when maintaining your hot tub water, Water Balance and...

www.troublefreepool.com

Time to switch to liquid chlorine- always follow the FC/CYA Levels
Cya of 40 isn’t a crime lol but above 50 makes it hard to keep things sanitary while also maintaining ph properly (since the ph test is invalid at fc levels above 10ppm)
The cya in a hot tub gets depleted slightly over time because of the hot water so I try to replenish it with a dichlor dose every couple weeks or so. Don’t sweat that it’s 40ppm - just chlorinate accordingly

I'm ready to go that route, or switch to saltwater. I feel like I'm shooting at a moving target daily. And as soon as I figure one thing out, something else starts moving. This is way more detailed than keeping a pool balanced.

So, if I go liquid chlorine, how much bleach is used to replace 1 teaspoon of granulated chlorine?

 

[JoeSelf]

Use EFFECT OF ADDING in pool math. three lines in the upper left. It is dependent on the strength of the chlorine you purchase.

 

[mayberry32]

Use EFFECT OF ADDING in pool math. three lines in the upper left. It is dependent on the strength of the chlorine you purchase.

Thank you! Someone mentioned that a few weeks ago, and I completely forgot that existed.

As for CYA dropping off, how fast does that happen in a hot tub? If it's at 40-50 now, how long before it gets back down below 30, if the tub is used daily?

 

[Mdragger88]

Its not as much about use- as it is about heat. Unless you have alot of splashout that you replace.
You can expect to lose 5-10ppm cya a month depending upon how hot you keep your tub.

 

[mayberry32]

so, is using liquid chlorine the same as granulated chlorine as far as adding and then getting in the hot tub? Just wait around 30 minutes and I am good to go?

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

You don't have to wait 30 minutes to enter the hot tub after adding liquid chlorine. A few minutes is all you need.

 

[mayberry32]

Stupid question, but since you have to deal with liquid bleach every single time you get out of the hot tub, has anyone found a really good container with a spigot, sort of like a laundry detergent jug, to dispense the bleach? Something with a small pushbutton bulb poured into a pre-marked jar would be really simple for adding bleach every time you get out.

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

That would be fine to use. Be sure to clean one out and rinse completely. Just know that sodium hypochlorite, regular household bleach, MUST be kep't in n opaque container out of the sunlight. Store it in a dark area. Also, the chlorine dissipates over time. Try this as you have mentioned and only use a half gallon to start with. Periodically add the bleach and test periodically to make sure that the concentration is still available in it. You never know the age of the bleach you buy. Some may be super fresh and will last longer. Great idea. I strongly recommend the liquid chlorine or bleach products. Just be absolutely sure that when you purchase bleach at a retailer that it says "sodium hypochlorite" on the label and that it has an EPA Registration number on it. Do NOT buy the splashless or scented bleach for use in a hot tub, swim spa or swimming pool.

 

[PoolBrews]

I have my Saltron Mini set to run it's 2 hours/day at 10:30pm. 99% of the time, we use the hot tub later in the evening, and are always out by 10:00pm. The hot tub gets hit by the chlorine shortly after we use it, and I haven't had to add any additional chlorine like I used to when using liquid chlorine. No issues in the past year - since I started using the Saltron Mini. Water stays crystal clear, and we empty and refill about once every 4-6 months.

 

[mayberry32]

I have my Saltron Mini set to run it's 2 hours/day at 10:30pm. 99% of the time, we use the hot tub later in the evening, and are always out by 10:00pm. The hot tub gets hit by the chlorine shortly after we use it, and I haven't had to add any additional chlorine like I used to when using liquid chlorine. No issues in the past year - since I started using the Saltron Mini. Water stays crystal clear, and we empty and refill about once every 4-6 months.

I'm working through the different methods, but I'm starting to lean converting to salt. I have a built in system in my tub and it would be super easy to maintain, I think. I just want to give the chlorine system a chance before spending the money to convert the tub.

 

[mayberry32]

That would be fine to use. Be sure to clean one out and rinse completely. Just know that sodium hypochlorite, regular household bleach, MUST be kep't in n opaque container out of the sunlight. Store it in a dark area. Also, the chlorine dissipates over time. Try this as you have mentioned and only use a half gallon to start with. Periodically add the bleach and test periodically to make sure that the concentration is still available in it. You never know the age of the bleach you buy. Some may be super fresh and will last longer. Great idea. I strongly recommend the liquid chlorine or bleach products. Just be absolutely sure that when you purchase bleach at a retailer that it says "sodium hypochlorite" on the label and that it has an EPA Registration number on it. Do NOT buy the splashless or scented bleach for use in a hot tub, swim spa or swimming pool.

so, would you definitely recommend a liquid chlorine product over regular bleach? I'm not concerned if it's a little more expensive. I'm looking for consistency and ease of maintenance. I run my own business and have 3 kids, all in different sports. I bought the hot tub for stress relief and relaxation.....not to have one more job to do. I'm maintaining the water pretty well, and learning quite a bit about how the chemistry works together. I've ready the dichlor/bleach thread on here for maintenance and I'm following it now. If this proves to be too much work, I'll be looking into a salt system fast....they seem much more set and forget, and add a little chlorine manually, when needed. If that's true, I'd rather go that route.

We routinely take our boat saltwater fishing and are gone for a week to 10 days. This happens several times a year. So, I'd like something I can leave for a week and it still be okay and ready to use when I get back home.

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Liquid chlorine is simply bleach with a higher residual of sodium hypochlorite. Chemically the same wxcept for the strength. That's the difference. The salt system manufactures the sodium hypochlorite "on site". They are the same chemical. Salt is a wonderful way to go for your tub. Based on all your postings you need that system. You will love it, especially when used with the Aqua Clarity Weekly Maintenance. They are synergistic with one another. Great combo. You can go away for weeks with zero issues for a covered hot tub.