Excessive MPS shock

[chillaxin]

New hot tub owner here. I have been using the Cleanwater Blue system from The Spa Depot. Everything seemed to be going fine for the first four weeks, but about two weeks ago I started feeling itchy and developed a mild rash on my chest. The quick start guide that came with the Cleanwater kit said to shock the water with 1 - 2 teaspoons of non-chlorine shock per 100 gal. after each use, which I followed religiously. Because I was using the hot tub twice a day, I was shocking the water twice a day, seven days a week. I have subsequently learned that I should only be shocking the water once per week, so I believe the amount and the build up of MPS was probably the cause of my rash. I stopped using the hot tub five days ago the the rash and itchiness have already disappeared.
I know there is also the possibility the cause of the rash was bacterial, not chemical. I shocked the water with dichlor five days ago and stopped the MPS shock altogether. I going to (carefully) start using the hot tub again and see if the rash reappears. If it does, I will probably do the whole flush, drain, decontaminate and refill routine.
I'm wondering if the MPS level will dissipate over time, or if draining the hot tub is the only way to get rid of it. I'm planning to shock only once a week if things stabilize and the rash does not return.
Thoughts?

 

[chillaxin]

Cleanwater Blue + Dichlor

I've read a lot of negative comments regarding the Cleanwater Blue copper ion system. Would augmenting the Cleanwater Blue system with a weekly shock of Dichlor be considered a safe and reasonable alternative? Would the use of a non-chlorine shock still be needed?

 

[jblizzle]

Re: Cleanwater Blue + Dichlor

Welcome to TFP!!!

Adding copper to your pool water is just a bad idea as it will not kill bacteria and viruses and can cause staining ... so you have to supplement with chlorine to keep the water safe. But, if you keep the chlorine levels at the approriate level for your CYA to keep the pool safe, then there is just no need for the copper. All risk and no benefit.

Unless you have an indoor pool with high CC problems, we do not typcially recommend the use of non-chlorine shock.

What we teach is to always maintain the correct chlorine (FC) level that is a function of your stabilizer (CYA) level according to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]. The water will then remain safe and clear.

What you propose by adding Dichlor weekly will put your FC level on a roller coaster over the week and it may drop too low or never actually get high enough to be safe. AND the dichlor would also be adding CYA which would then result in the need to keep the FC high to be safe.

- - - Updated - - -

Oops, just realized that this was a question for a hot tub. Everything I stated is still true. But there are other chemical maintenance regiments that can be employed for hot tubs. I will bow out for others with more experience.

I am also going to merge your 2 posts as you are really asking related questions.

 

[Arobbert]

I tried the cleanwater blue system that came with my Spa Depot spa. I gave up on it after about a year. It required constant dichlor shocking to keep the water clear. You're better off just using the dichlor then bleach method. You end up using the same amount of chlorine in the long run with cleanwater blue because of the constant need to shock. Cleanwater blue does very little in my opinion. I can't believe they're still pushing that product. It's a sure recipe for cloudy water.

 

[pooldv]

I've been maintain my tub for quite a few years using the dichlor then bleach method. It works great. Here it is,
How do I use Chlorine in my Spa (or pool)?