Guidance on Spas or Hottubs

[TacticalSpalsh]

Hi!
We have both a hottub and a brand-new pool. I am looking for some good information on the spa first. The pool is still in the construction phase and should be completed in a few weeks. It's in the ground and we are waiting on concrete. My biggest issue is maintaining the water in both. Are there any really good test kits or strips that we should be looking for?
Thanks!
T

 

[Newdude]

Hey TS and Welcome !!!

See
Test Kits Compared

The TF-100 is the budget model
The K2006C has a nice case
The TF-pro has a nice case and a $44 stirrer for about the same price as the K2006C

My biggest issue is maintaining the water in both.

We got you on the cheap and easy.
Pool Care Basics

How do I use Chlorine in my Spa or Hot Tub?

If you have a question about any information within this Sticky, please start a new thread for yourself where you will receive very quick responses to your specific questions. Thank you! Introduction There are two main things to consider when maintaining your hot tub water, Water Balance and...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

The spa uses bromine, and the pool is salt or SWG. is there one kit to rule them all?

 

[Mdragger88]

Welcome to TFP
@Newdude has got you covered!
One more thing to add-
If this is a standalone tub you should do an Ahhsome purge to remove any biofilms as even brand new tubs can have biofilms since they are wet tested at the factory & it’s almost impossible to evacuate all the water in the lines so things can brew in there while it’s in transit to you leading to a higher chlorine demand right out of the gate

Regular purges, drain, & refills are an important part of hot tub maintenance & you get multiple uses out of each jar.
It’s available on tftestkits.net, amazon, & many other retailers so grab some when getting your kit. *If you have a salt water pool or spa be sure to get the tf100/Tfpro salt or Taylor k2006c salt as it usually saves you a little vs buying the salt test separately.

what is ahh-some?

What is Ahh-some?

www.google.com

Don’t forget to fill out your signature as best you can - it really helps you get quick tailored answers whenever questions arise

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

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If you have any questions along the way just ask!

 

[JoeSelf]

Going from Bromine SPA to the pool with out rinsing off will introduce Bromine into your pool. Not something you'd want.

 

[phonedave]

Hi!
We have both a hottub and a brand-new pool. I am looking for some good information on the spa first. The pool is still in the construction phase and should be completed in a few weeks. It's in the ground and we are waiting on concrete. My biggest issue is maintaining the water in both. Are there any really good test kits or strips that we should be looking for?
Thanks!
T

Be sure to plan in advance for your pool. There are some very important things you want to measure and make sure are correct when you first fill a plaster pool. You need to ensure you have the correct tests and additives on hand before that pool gets plastered and filled.

I am not one of the people to advise you in that area, but there are plenty on here who can.

As was said, test strips are for the most part useless (for Borates and Salt they are OK. A drop based test is even better for Salt, but strips are OK). You really want a drop based kit

 

[Newdude]

and the pool is salt or SWG. is there one kit to rule them all?

Get the TF-pro-salt. It's just a TF-pro with the K-1766 salt test thrown in with a $10 bundle savings. Win-win.

The 'XL' option is GREAT for newbs and those dealing with swamps because they'll both be testing FC more often until they get a grip on it.

 

[Mdragger88]

The spa uses bromine, and the pool is salt or SWG. is there one kit to rule them all?

Here’s the guide for that

How do I use Bromine in my Spa or Hot Tub?

Originally Posted by waterbear There is a lot of misinformation on the proper way to use Bromine so I hope this primer is helpful. First, you need to establish a bromide reserve in the water. Bromine tablets can do it by themselves but it can take literally weeks until enough dissolves. Some...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

Thanks!
That's quite a bit to take in, but it's a good start. I bought the test kit they suggested. When it gets here, I am going to use it and that poolmath app to get it right.

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

Get the TF-pro-salt. It's just a TF-pro with the K-1766 salt test thrown in with a $10 bundle savings. Win-win.

The 'XL' option is GREAT for newbs and those dealing with swamps because they'll both be testing FC more often until they get a grip on it.

I got the 2005 SALT kit on the way. I wish they would just do like an excel spreadsheet. basic kit is this... add this for this kit... or here is the a way to build the kit and get what you need. maybe they do i am just not looking hard enough..

 

[Newdude]

That's quite a bit to take in, but it's a good start

Read up and ask away at any time, big or small. If you do something you are unsure of, you may create new problems. Don't worry, we'll help fix those too, but it's better for all parties to only have one thing to solve. So. Do not hesitate.

We got you.

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

Be sure to plan in advance for your pool. There are some very important things you want to measure and make sure are correct when you first fill a plaster pool. You need to ensure you have the correct tests and additives on hand before that pool gets plastered and filled.

I am not one of the people to advise you in that area, but there are plenty on here who can.

As was said, test strips are for the most part useless (for Borates and Salt they are OK. A drop based test is even better for Salt, but strips are OK). You really want a drop based kit

thanks! i have the 2005 salt coming. test strips seem like a good idea, but I can tell they arent really that good. the colours that it produces just vary too much for me.

 

[Newdude]

I got the 2005 SALT kit on the way

A k2005 ? Or the k2006C listed above with an added K-1766 salt test ?

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

Read up and ask away at any time, big or small. If you do something you are unsure of, you may create new problems. Don't worry, we'll help fix those too, but it's better for all parties to only have one thing to solve. So. Do not hesitate.

We got you.

once i get the drop kit, i am sure its going to be "easier". which is relative to the tasks. I see lots of chemicals that are chemicals and not like store branded stuff. is the name brands that bad or are people that much smarter with the chemicals vs the store brands?

 

[TacticalSpalsh]

A k2005 ? Or the k2006C listed above with an added K-1766 salt test ?

k2005-salt.

 

[Newdude]

k2005-salt.

OK. That's a great start. But it's missing the oh-so-important fas/dpd chlorine test. Buy a k-1515 to upgrade the k2005 into a k2006. Or cancel it if possible and buy a k2006C. If possible, get the k1515-c which will have more supplies for you to learn with. The C on both kits is important because the other model looks more attractive price wise, but isn't in the long run when ypur replacing it much sooner.

If you're buying the K2006C, or piecing it together, the TFPro-salt from tftestkits.net has all that and a stirrer for the same money. It's a slam dunk.

 

[Newdude]

. is the name brands that bad

Depends. Pretty much anything Chrorox has additives that you don't want in your pool. Their CYA was the only Chlorox item that didn't have additives the last I knew.

Arm and Hammer baking soda, on the other hand, is great.

The pool stores sell the same stuff at several times the price, because of a designer label.

PoolMath lists the ingredients and you'll learn quickly which is which and know what to buy.