Hi all, I am new to the forum and a new hot tub owner. I am just looking for some help to get a pool care routine established. Like many I started out with MFG instructions and when that didn't work I went to to the local pool store...So now I am at trouble free pools searching for my own answers.
My numbers for today are
FC = 3.6
CC = 0.8?
CYA about 21-22
TA = 100
PH = 7.8
CH = 120
From what I have read this looks about right and I have no idea how I got to that as I have been literally just throwing chemicals at this thing since I didn't have a good test kit until today.
I started out trying to use the SWG but the heater has to be off and I am not sure that it is worth it to let the temp drop and have to reheat every day.
Then the store suggested MPS as a shock so I used that thinking that it would raise the FC and not understanding why my FC was so low when I would test.
Next they sold me Di-chlor and I used that a few times but still seemed to be getting random FC numbers. I have since attempted to shock the tub up to 10 with 6% clorox bleach but it took twice what pool math told me to get it to go that high. My reasoning for shocking to 10 was just to try to see what my 24 hour chlorine demand was.
I can set my SWG for 3, 5 or 8 hours so I attempted to see how much chlorine it would generate in 3 and 5 hours and the numbers I came up with were about 1.5 in 3 hours and about 4 in 5 hours. In that 8 hours it lost 5 degrees.
I usually get in the hot tub every day for 30 minutes, clean with no lotion, makeup or suit.
Now for questions
1. How much chlorine loss is normal in a 24 hour period?
2. Should I attempt to use the SWG at all (it has to be turned on manually)
3. I am also going out of town for the week of Christmas and unsure of what to do while i'm gone. I dont want to drain because my daughter will be visiting for a week when I return and I don't have time to refill, heat and balance so we can enjoy the tub while she is here. Could I use tri-chlor for that week since my CYA is only 20 or could I shock high and lower the temp?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.
My numbers for today are
FC = 3.6
CC = 0.8?
CYA about 21-22
TA = 100
PH = 7.8
CH = 120
From what I have read this looks about right and I have no idea how I got to that as I have been literally just throwing chemicals at this thing since I didn't have a good test kit until today.
I started out trying to use the SWG but the heater has to be off and I am not sure that it is worth it to let the temp drop and have to reheat every day.
Then the store suggested MPS as a shock so I used that thinking that it would raise the FC and not understanding why my FC was so low when I would test.
Next they sold me Di-chlor and I used that a few times but still seemed to be getting random FC numbers. I have since attempted to shock the tub up to 10 with 6% clorox bleach but it took twice what pool math told me to get it to go that high. My reasoning for shocking to 10 was just to try to see what my 24 hour chlorine demand was.
I can set my SWG for 3, 5 or 8 hours so I attempted to see how much chlorine it would generate in 3 and 5 hours and the numbers I came up with were about 1.5 in 3 hours and about 4 in 5 hours. In that 8 hours it lost 5 degrees.
I usually get in the hot tub every day for 30 minutes, clean with no lotion, makeup or suit.
Now for questions
1. How much chlorine loss is normal in a 24 hour period?
2. Should I attempt to use the SWG at all (it has to be turned on manually)
3. I am also going out of town for the week of Christmas and unsure of what to do while i'm gone. I dont want to drain because my daughter will be visiting for a week when I return and I don't have time to refill, heat and balance so we can enjoy the tub while she is here. Could I use tri-chlor for that week since my CYA is only 20 or could I shock high and lower the temp?
Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any help and suggestions.