Hello,
Newbie here and I have been reading this forum this last 2 weeks in preparation for filling an inflatable/portable spa that my fella just bought. The TA and pH are both really high and we cannot seem to get it down. Before I say anymore, I have first say that I am in NC and the spa is in Louisiana so I can request chemical readings but I cannot just go test it myself.
This is the first time it has really been filled (we filled it to make sure it all worked but did not treat the water and only kept it for 3 days before draining it and moving it).
We took a sample in to the local Pool and Spa place and they gave us the following analysis:
Total Bromine/Chlorine: .1
pH: 8.4
Total Alkalinity: 212
Total Hardness: 52
CYA: 0
Saturation Index: .7
TDS: 300
We are using SpaTime chemicals from AquChem as they are the most easily accessible in the area. We filled the spa today and the water is still "faucet temperature." Since we are mot planning on using this until next weekend, we just filled the floating brominator will brominating tablets, opened it to the maximum amount, and pout it in the water to start dissolving. Then we started on the water chemistry. Our PLAN was to get pH and TA down and then mess with the hardness. Here is what we actually did
We added 1T of pH Down and turned on the bubblers for half and hour. ZERO change in the pH or TA.
We added 2 additional T of pH Down and turned on the bubblers for half and hour. ZERO change in pH or TA.
Now, at this point, I am a bit confused. I was expecting at least the pH would drop SOME but a water test still shows a pH of 8.4. Since the water is SO soft, I thought MAYBE that could be some of our problem so we went ahead and added 1/2 cup of AquaChem calcium hardness increaser. That got our hardness up to 200 where it needs to be but the pH and TA have still not changed.
I do not want to just keep adding chemicals in amounts 3-4 times what is recommended for these readings with no change before I ask to see if there could be something else going on.... something else that all of the instructions are just assuming but do not explicitly state. This is only a 250 gallon spa so I am hesitant to do too much too fast without more experienced guidance. Do any of you have any ideas?
We have just now turned on the heater and it takes 24 hours for it to get warm. Is warm water a prerequisite for getting the water chemistry right?
We are letting it go for 24 hours and are looking at it tomorrow evening and if things have not changed, we will go ahead and add another 1T of pH Down but I would love to have some of your insight....
Terri
Newbie here and I have been reading this forum this last 2 weeks in preparation for filling an inflatable/portable spa that my fella just bought. The TA and pH are both really high and we cannot seem to get it down. Before I say anymore, I have first say that I am in NC and the spa is in Louisiana so I can request chemical readings but I cannot just go test it myself.
This is the first time it has really been filled (we filled it to make sure it all worked but did not treat the water and only kept it for 3 days before draining it and moving it).
We took a sample in to the local Pool and Spa place and they gave us the following analysis:
Total Bromine/Chlorine: .1
pH: 8.4
Total Alkalinity: 212
Total Hardness: 52
CYA: 0
Saturation Index: .7
TDS: 300
We are using SpaTime chemicals from AquChem as they are the most easily accessible in the area. We filled the spa today and the water is still "faucet temperature." Since we are mot planning on using this until next weekend, we just filled the floating brominator will brominating tablets, opened it to the maximum amount, and pout it in the water to start dissolving. Then we started on the water chemistry. Our PLAN was to get pH and TA down and then mess with the hardness. Here is what we actually did
We added 1T of pH Down and turned on the bubblers for half and hour. ZERO change in the pH or TA.
We added 2 additional T of pH Down and turned on the bubblers for half and hour. ZERO change in pH or TA.
Now, at this point, I am a bit confused. I was expecting at least the pH would drop SOME but a water test still shows a pH of 8.4. Since the water is SO soft, I thought MAYBE that could be some of our problem so we went ahead and added 1/2 cup of AquaChem calcium hardness increaser. That got our hardness up to 200 where it needs to be but the pH and TA have still not changed.
I do not want to just keep adding chemicals in amounts 3-4 times what is recommended for these readings with no change before I ask to see if there could be something else going on.... something else that all of the instructions are just assuming but do not explicitly state. This is only a 250 gallon spa so I am hesitant to do too much too fast without more experienced guidance. Do any of you have any ideas?
We have just now turned on the heater and it takes 24 hours for it to get warm. Is warm water a prerequisite for getting the water chemistry right?
We are letting it go for 24 hours and are looking at it tomorrow evening and if things have not changed, we will go ahead and add another 1T of pH Down but I would love to have some of your insight....
Terri