Chemical help, please!

[mommy2aj]

Hello everyone! We got our first hot tub in May. We just emptied and refilled for the first time yesterday. Now that we have a fresh start, I want to make sure I'm putting chemicals in correctly because I don't think I was!

We have a Caldera Vanto hot tub with FROG cartridges (Bromine).

So - we were given MPS Oxidizer as part of our starter kit. I never used it, and didn't know when or how to use it. I found out yesterday I should use it at least once a day! Is this true?!

Also, I was given Concentrated Chlorinating Granules. I would typically throw a little in after we used it for a while in a particular day or all of us were in it. Is this also supposed to be used daily?! I noticed on the test strips the Free Chlorine was always 0. Is it supposed to be?! Bromine too.

I'm very confused. Thanks so much!!

(Sorry I just realized there's a section for these types of questions)

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Did you do a plumbing clean-out with an effective hot tub cleaner before you drained the tub? Sounds like you didn't.

 

[mommy2aj]

No! Honestly after we refilled I remembered someone recommend Ahhsome but we never bought it. We're still Rookies :/

 

[mpkelley20]

With bromine, you usually need to make sure that you have a bromide "bank" or reserve in the water and then activate it with shock (chlorine or MPS) or your cartridge system. My dealer sells these small packets that you dump in to create the reserve. Very inexpensive.

I switched from bromine to chlorine after my first drain and refill. I find dichlor/bleach method much easier to maintain.

As far as testing, you need to be checking the bromine levels to make sure they are in acceptable ranges. I can't remember what the levels are but with the frog system, it probably is a very low level.

As for cleaning, honestly, you don't need to use ahhsome all the time. Good product but there are some people in the forum that push it a bit more aggressively than it is really needed.

 

[mpkelley20]

As for your other questions, MPS is a non chlorine based shock. You can use this instead of the chlorine granuals (which I assume it dichlor). The shock (either MPS or dichlor) will reactivate the bromide in your water to form sanitizer. Usually once a week is OK to use the shock or if you are heavy users than maybe a bit more often. Adding a little after use is probably OK but you want to make sure you are testing your bromine levels so they don't become too high.

 

[Lazerguppie]

The chemicals you add depend on your test results. You want your Br- to be in the 5-10ppm range. Shock (both MPS and dichlor) will get you there. I am highly allergic to MPS so I use bleach and diclor in my therapy pool. Never add anything without testing first.