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The flickering lights/surging water could be a symptom of a poor or broken neutral connection. That is a very dangerous condition. I suggest you call your power company. They will treat it as an emergency. They will determine whether that condition exists and fix it if it is on their side...

There is a long history of magnetic, electrostatic, and catalytic water treatment devices for boiler and cooling tower water. The only proven effect these devices have (that I am aware of) is to separate funds from and eventually embarrass the purchaser. They all seem to share a pseudo...

I filled the voids of my tub with slabs and pieces of styrofoam packing material over a year ago. There was already spray on foam on the tub underside and aluminized bubble wrap inside the side panels. I kept the motor areas fairly clear and now wonder if I should add some ventilation holes to...

The first time I used my hot tub a few years ago I had an interesting experience. I had the temp set at 104* and I stayed in for over 30 minutes. When I got out I felt very weak. I have very mild Type II diabetes and tested my blood glucose level, which was 80. I was suffering from...

The town I live in requires the disconnect to be no less than 5 ft and no more than 50 ft and within sight of the tub. Also requires a 110V GFI receptacle at least 6 ft away (to discourage extension cords that might permit an appliance falling in the tub or pool). I was told the 50 ft...

My pump started making bearing noises. I found the wet end was leaking water along the motor shaft and had ruined the bearing at that end. The only suggestion I got was to replace the entire pump. I found longitudinal cracks along the impeller shaft into which the motor shaft screws. Water...

My two speed pump on my three year old tub began making bearing noises. Removed it and found the pump had been leaking at shaft seal and the motor bearing was rusty and some balls had fallen out. Otherwise motor seems OK. Pump has no identifying marks. Pump outlet ID = 2-5/16". Motor is a...

The inside of my hot tub has developed a sticky feel after about three months. Not as much as it did with the first filling (this is the third). I'm planning on refilling soon and am looking for suggestions for how to clean the inside of the fiberglass tub. Any homebrew cleaners proved...

Effect of Entrained Air (again) I have some thoughts about a possible answer to my earlier question. Unfortunately I misspelled entrained in the subject of my original question which may explain the lack of responses. ............................. "I am curious about the effect of...

Bingo. Thanks spishex, that was the problem. A few days ago I had been showing a friend how to turn the pumps on and off so he could use the tub if we weren't home. He was pushing buttons and had changed the filter cycle to 8 hours (2, 4, 6, 8, & continuous are the options on my controller)...

My hot tub controller (Balboa VL-7000 Series according to the tub's instruction manual) has a two hour filter cycle every 12 hours. I recently cut the power to the tub to reset the time of the 12 hour cycle. It starts the cycle 6 minutes after power on. Since then the high/low pump that is in...

I am a relative newcomer to hot tubs and this forum and I am curious about the effect of introducing air into the water jets. I expected to avoid the air option since I am familiar with the danger of aerosols introducing pathogens into one's body (e.g., Legionnaires Disease, etc.). However, I...

The CYA was added before I was aware I had an ozonator. Just curious where the CYA went. My question is, should I consider going to bromine, knowing that there is an ozonator, or should I cut the ozonator power cord and continue with chlorine? And an implied question is, am I making a mistake...

I just discovered my hot tub has an ozonator. The owner's manual mentioned it but the sales description did not. It explains the mystery trail of bubbles coming out of one of the floor jets. Can ozone destroy CYA? I added enough for 20 ppm over a week ago (slow to dissolve of course) but...

No dichlor used so no CYA. Which Cl conc. is too high? Daily 0.5-3 ppm or superchlorination at 12-15 ppm? What is the recommended conc.? I missed the part about refilling after only one month. Looks like it is refill time now. Looking at the MSDS of the three cleaning products you...

The submerged surface of the tub has just recently (last few days) developed a sticky feel. The surface is textured but only recently have I noticed that I can no longer slide across a seat smoothly or rub my finger tip across the surface without feeling it "vibrate" as it alternately slides...

Thanks for your suggestions Richard. The frothing I refer to is like the head on beer, but much less persistent. I didn't get frothing until I added borax several months ago and I think it is the frothing that contributes to the impression that the water feels "softer". Frothing is good I...

How will I know when I need to change the water? My water has been in the tub for a little more than 3 months. The only difference I have noticed is that very small islands of larger bubbles collect in the corners when the air and water pumps are on. The borax induced froth is unchanged. The...

We have been enjoying our tub since February. As the weather gets warmer do folks keep the tub temperature above 100 *F , set it lower, or just not use it. I searched here but was unable to find any info. Thanks, Curmudgeon 350 gal Infinity using BBB

I recommend keeping some form of written record. I have been keeping a spread sheet record (a log) of time, pH, chlorine, temp, and any additions and expected results (amount of acid added and anticipated pH after addition). In three months I have over 300 entries. I still check the pool...

I am considering adding styrofoam insulation board to my hot tub. I am wondering if there might be a reason not to do this. I drop around 9 *F from 102 in 24 hours. Maintaining 102 requires 2 hrs of heating per day (70 day, 45 night). My new tub is an Infinity bought from Costco. I have...

When adding some cold water to make up for evaporation I realized I don't need dye to get an estimate of mixing time. After sitting unpumped overnight after two days of no heating I measured temperatures at several locations with a Rat Shack thermometer (0.1 *F readout) with a probe on a...

I think you will find all the information you need in the 'Pool School" section. Curmudgeon 350 gal Infinity using BBB

It is explained in the "Pool School". pool-school/ Bleach, Baking soda, and Borax. Curmudgeon 350 gal Infinity using BBB

I have been using the BBB system (highly recommended on this forum) in my new hot tub for over a month. I have found it easy and inexpensive and the water is clear and odor free (as far as I can tell, my city water has 3 ppm chlorine). I got the Trouble Free Test Kit that is recommended here...

I had not thought of taking pictures during the mixing experiment. Good suggestion. I'll try. Tub has a two speed pump with a cartridge filtered return and a single speed pump with three unfiltered footwell returns. With 50+ jets there are probably few dead spots. Thanks for your reply...

I agree than continuous mixing is required to bring fresh oxidant (chlorine) to the surface of particulate impurities, and time may be required for the oxidation. But 10 minutes seems much longer than I would expect for complete mixing of dissolved components (e.g., HCl added for pH adjustment)...

I have been using my hot tub for a month now. Thanks to information learned here I am finding the BBB system producing excellent results. When adding chemicals I dilute them in a qt container and pour about half the solution across the surface of the tub with both pumps running. I then dip...

The following link indicates borax acts as a calcium sequesterant. http://www.borax.com/detergentbook/builders.html “Fig B4: the structure of a spiroboron complex (borate-saccharate) showing the sequestration of two Ca2+ ions.” The structure shows the boron coordinated to cis- hydroxyl...

Thanks for the most useful link. (guess I should have searched for it first) Appreciate the help. Curmudgeon 350 gal Infinity, BBB