Just started my hot tub, now what? Total newbie :)

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M

mmbiker

Member
Jun 14, 2020
10
Canada
So I have a 500 gallon hot tub that I inherited from the house I bought.

fill the hot tub and install SmarterSpa chlorine generator. So is a salt water hot tub?

I haven’t shock it yet... so if I were to shock it, what product would I use? Is a salt water setup, so I use product that is design for salt water?

i am using AquaChek TruTest Digital Tester. I assume they are not that accurate. The first time shows my CL and pH is ok but alkalinity is high at 166.... I guess I need to add something. One of the pool supplier in town mention about a product that will lower alkalinity without lowering pH, is that the way to go? Or should I get pH reducer and than raise pH later?

I need all the help I can get. Thank you on advance
 
That stuff. Follow the directions exactly. @dlleno has some videos about it I believe at boisediesel.com. @Ahhsomeguy knows a bit about it too. ;)
Before too long one of them will respond with everything you need to know. Be patient. And don't just run to the store and buy any spa purge on the shelf that happens to catch your eye. They are not all the same.
 
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Thanks RDspaguy!

Yes, I am interested in getting Ahh-some to do a good purge. How much of this stuff do I need? I see that they are pretty expensive stuff. I have a 500 gallon Hot Spring Grandee hot tub.

Below are some of my burning questions (sorry for the long list):
1. I bought the SmarterSpa SWG, it is designed to automatically generate chlorine when needed. Not sure if I totally trust it. Is there something I should do to measure the chlorine and salt level (so I don't burn my skin or eyeball)?
2. I haven't even done a shock to the hot tub yet. Is just raw tap water with the SWG making chlorine. I probably broke all the rules with maintaining a hot tub :(. So the question is, what do I do to shock the hot tub? Can I just go to my local hardware store to get chlorine (I believe a shock is just a heavier dose of chlorine?)? I am trying to avoid the expensive speciality stores... The speciality store convinced me to get the SmarterSpa setup, it was not cheap, but seems to be doing its job.
3. I have the AquaChek TruTest Digital Tester. Is that ok?
4. My hot tub came with TRI-X filters. Five in total. They are expensive~. Am I better off changing to new cheap paper filters every year instead of buying expensive chemical to try to clean the TRI-X filters and eventually needing to replace them anyways?
5. Lastly, I got the following chemicals for free! Are these useful? I have no clue what the other chemicals are used for. How do I properly use them?
-Dazzle Amaze (Non-chlorine oxidizer) Dazzle Amaze (900gm)
-Dazzle Amaze Plus (Unique blend of advanced oxidizers and clarifiers) Dazzle Amaze Plus (850gm)
-Dazzle rapid action filter cleaner to clean the TRI-X filters Dazzle Rapid Action Filter Cleanse (600ml)
-Mineraluxe Oxygen Oxygen :: Mineraluxe
-Mineraluxe Cube (once a week advance mineral treatment) The Cube :: Mineraluxe
-SpaGuard Filter Brite
6. What kind of maintenance for the hot tub cover? The inside of the hot tub cover has some molds... Not sure how to get rid of them...

Thank you in advance!
 
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1) Yes you need a good test kit including salt. I recommend Taylor.
2) Yes, chlorine is an oxidizer (shock) as well as a sanitizer.
3) I recommend Taylor.
4) Not familiar with those filters.
5) I am not familiar with mineraluxe products and info seems sparse. What are the active ingredients? I generally avoid "all-in-one" products as I have no control over what is going in and the relative amounts.
Non-chlorine oxidizer is a shock, likely potassium monopersulfate, or mps.

You should definitely do some homework on chlorine spa maintenance and swg systems. It's not difficult, but can be a nightmare if you get it wrong.
There are some folks on here that use swg in their spas but I can't recall their names. Perhaps @ajw22 , @Jimrahbe , @JoyfulNoise might know, or know how to find some helpful info for you.
 
Yes. You add the Ahhsome to your tub as per the dosing instructions. Then you drain the spa. If you have much contamination (which you probably will) refill and purge again. Keep purging/refilling until you get VERY little biofilm discharge. Once "clean", rinse well or refill and drain again. Then refill and balance your spa.
 
tillmac62 said:
Yes. You add the Ahhsome to your tub as per the dosing instructions. Then you drain the spa. If you have much contamination (which you probably will) refill and purge again. Keep purging/refilling until you get VERY little biofilm discharge. Once "clean", rinse well or refill and drain again. Then refill and balance your spa.
Click to expand...

Ok, sounds good. Either way, I have to drain at least once.

To start over again, what should I do? Since the plan is use the SWG, do I put in salt first, let the SWG do its thing and generate chlorine than do a water test?

Or do I shock it first than put salt in? How do I shock a hot tube? I have no clue... Do I just buy chlorine and put specific amount base on water volume?
 

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You do have to drain the tub after performing the Ahhsome Purge. There is no need to add salt yet or use the SWG until you have performed a purge or two and have refilled the tub. Just add a little household CHLORINE bleach (1/3 cup), Please Read! Very important to all purge users. Whenever you see the sticky gooey gunk ,usually brownish/yellowish, Be sure to WIPE it off with a wet towel or microfiber cloth BEFORE it dries on the hot tub acrylic or shell. This stuff is comprised of polysaccharides, sugar molecules, that are very difficult to wipe off if allowed to sit on the shell and dry. A lot of this gunk hides within the foam and is not usually visible until the pump is shut off and the foaming subsides. To rid the tub of the foaming just squirt with a garden hose if outside.
You will and should attain a decent amount of whitish foam while using the product. This is normal. Foam is your friend in a purge process. If you have a hard spa cover it is recommended that you also squirt some of the Ahhsomized water on both sides of the cover. Ahhsome is a great cleaner as well. Squirt it on , wipe and rinse.
Tillmac62 is right on with dosing. Do NOT use more Ahhsome than what is recommended. More does Not do a better or faster job. That little 2 ounce container has 12 level teaspoons of gel in it. This is enough to purge a 500 gallon hot tub up to 3 times. Lengthy instructions are also available on our website. Happy and healthy hot tubbing to all.
 
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Ahhsomeguy said:
You do have to drain the tub after performing the Ahhsome Purge. There is no need to add salt yet or use the SWG until you have performed a purge or two and have refilled the tub. Just add a little household CHLORINE bleach (1/3 cup), Please Read! Very important to all purge users. Whenever you see the sticky gooey gunk ,usually brownish/yellowish, Be sure to WIPE it off with a wet towel or microfiber cloth BEFORE it dries on the hot tub acrylic or shell. This stuff is comprised of polysaccharides, sugar molecules, that are very difficult to wipe off if allowed to sit on the shell and dry. A lot of this gunk hides within the foam and is not usually visible until the pump is shut off and the foaming subsides. To rid the tub of the foaming just squirt with a garden hose if outside.
You will and should attain a decent amount of whitish foam while using the product. This is normal. Foam is your friend in a purge process. If you have a hard spa cover it is recommended that you also squirt some of the Ahhsomized water on both sides of the cover. Ahhsome is a great cleaner as well. Squirt it on , wipe and rinse.
Tillmac62 is right on with dosing. Do NOT use more Ahhsome than what is recommended. More does Not do a better or faster job. That little 2 ounce container has 12 level teaspoons of gel in it. This is enough to purge a 500 gallon hot tub up to 3 times. Lengthy instructions are also available on our website. Happy and healthy hot tubbing to all.
Click to expand...

I ordered one last night, just 2oz bottle. Can't wait to give my hot tub a purge.

Is this water test kit a step up from my existing AquaChek TruTest Digital Tester? Poolmaster 22260 5-Way Test Kit with Case - Basic Collection: Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Thanks
 
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