I've been reading here quite a bit, learning lots.
Last fall we put a tub on the deck at a cabin we have on a lake. It is a lovely place for a soak. The kids love it. After the install, I followed the dealers recommendations for the couple months it was open and it worked fine, though I think it was more expensive than required. I used some bromine starter, then "Brominating Concentrate" to maintain and a double dose of the same to shock once in a while. Also balanced TA and CH with the recommended and pricey products from my dealer. There was never any perceptible bromine on a test strip after a week away, ( though still clear water) so I started using a bromine tabs floater, and this worked better.
This spring, after doing about the same to get it going, my DW left the floater out for a week, and no shock that week and it was a murky green when I got to it. I tried two shocks with no luck and drained to start again. Now I have gotten back to a good starting point. Bromine starter is in, some bromine concentrate was used to get the level up to about 6. TA and CH are O.K.
I need some tips for managing a tub that I only get to for a day or two once a week. I can't check it more frequently, and when I get up to it, I hope to use it more or less immediately and treat it on my departure. Of the various shock methods what is better for this type of use. We have little kids and there is lots of back and forth from tub to lake, so it gets lots of "stuff" in the water.
I do plan on Buying a good test kit. Partly because once I'm at the cabin the dealer is much too far away. But also because I don't entirely trust them. I don't mind spending a bit more on something that really works better, but I don't want to throw money away at designer baking soda etc.
any suggestions welcome.
Tub is Freeflow Solstice, 1300 l.
Last fall we put a tub on the deck at a cabin we have on a lake. It is a lovely place for a soak. The kids love it. After the install, I followed the dealers recommendations for the couple months it was open and it worked fine, though I think it was more expensive than required. I used some bromine starter, then "Brominating Concentrate" to maintain and a double dose of the same to shock once in a while. Also balanced TA and CH with the recommended and pricey products from my dealer. There was never any perceptible bromine on a test strip after a week away, ( though still clear water) so I started using a bromine tabs floater, and this worked better.
This spring, after doing about the same to get it going, my DW left the floater out for a week, and no shock that week and it was a murky green when I got to it. I tried two shocks with no luck and drained to start again. Now I have gotten back to a good starting point. Bromine starter is in, some bromine concentrate was used to get the level up to about 6. TA and CH are O.K.
I need some tips for managing a tub that I only get to for a day or two once a week. I can't check it more frequently, and when I get up to it, I hope to use it more or less immediately and treat it on my departure. Of the various shock methods what is better for this type of use. We have little kids and there is lots of back and forth from tub to lake, so it gets lots of "stuff" in the water.
I do plan on Buying a good test kit. Partly because once I'm at the cabin the dealer is much too far away. But also because I don't entirely trust them. I don't mind spending a bit more on something that really works better, but I don't want to throw money away at designer baking soda etc.
any suggestions welcome.
Tub is Freeflow Solstice, 1300 l.
