New tub

[theRover]

Hello all! I'm not new to the forum, as I used it in the past with a previous home that had a problem pool.
We just purchased a Sundance Cameo 880 series tub with a 370 gal capacity. It's got one of those clear ray uv bulbs also. I do not plan to use the pool store to rely on advice or chemical products, but they included a variety of items to begin with...
Sodium Dichlor-s-Triazinetrione dihydrate with 55.5% available chlorine.
Leisuretime Renew, potassium peroxymonosulfate 32%, 3.26% active oxygen.
Alkalinity plus, sodium hydrogen carbonate.
A floater called nature's pure, which I guess is some mineral system/ clarifier.
pH down, sodium bisulfate.
And some test strips which only check pH and Alkalinity.

So, it turns out I have a leak on one of the lower jets in which I will have to drain the tub so they can turn it on its side to fix this week. So, since i already get to start over, in reading about hottub advice here, looks like I should buy some of that Ahhsome and flush the tub, correct? After using it, do I drain it again? I want to buy a good water tester. Which one?
They tested my current water before I added anything...
FC .2 ppm, TC .35 ppm, combined. 14 ppm, pH 7.9, alkalinity 44 ppm, adjusted alkalinity? 42ppm, calcium hardness 8 ppm, cyanuric acid 5ppm, 0 iron and 0 copper.
We do have a house water softener. I'd imagine the water would be nearly the same after refill.
Probably more info than anyone might be asking, but any advice on how to get a good start? Thanks!

 

[RDspaguy]

, it turns out I have a leak on one of the lower jets

How did you determine that?

using it, do I drain it again?

Yes.

to buy a good water tester. Which one?

Taylor k-2005 is what I use

got one of those clear ray uv bulbs

Average lifespan 3 years. It probably doesn't work anymore.

I don't recommend using softened water.
I do recommend the dichlor/bleach method.
Mineral purifiers are a backup, not a primary sanitizer and still require chemical sanitizers/oxidizers.

 

[theRover]

The leak was noticed soon after install, we had the dealer send a guy and he found the leak, but could not reach it as it's on a foot jet below the lounge seat. The tub is new, I would hope the uv bulb still works...for whatever its good for.
I bought that test kit earlier today. Hopefully I'll get the cleaner before they come to work on the tub. Thanks for the info. I assume I shouldn't use softened water because I need the hardness? I can bypass the softener, good to know.

 

[RDspaguy]

The tub is new,

the uv bulb still works...for whatever its good for.

I am a big fan of ozone/uv, and Sundance is one of the best. Think of it as a shock machine, used to eliminate CC without the need for high FC or MPS. It also depletes FC, which can be good or bad depending on your views, but I love as I can add "too much" after use and not have a high FC the next day, and no CC. It also provides some secondary sanitation, but as it only treats the water in the pipe and returns that treated water to the possibly dirty tub without establishing a residual it still requires chemical sanitizers to keep up and protect from person-to-person contamination.
The thing to remember is that it depletes fc, so any chlorine demand tests are moot, as you'll almost always have 0.5ppm by the next day regardless of how much you add. If the circulation pump is programmeable you can dial it in for your usage but it'll take time and tweaking to get it right. Better too much than not enough when it comes to ozone.

I assume I shouldn't use softened water because I need the hardness?

Honestly I don't know why, I've just always been told not to and I've never had cause to doubt it. You do need some hardness, and I'm not sure what the hardness is of softened water, so that could be it.

 

[theRover]

That does make sense re: the water softener, I didn't know when I filled, so I used the softened water, hence the low hardness reading.
So, I re filled the other day after the pool place repaired the leak. Of course, it still leaks. Waiting on the pool place to decide when they have time to repair again. I'd like to send them my water bill.
Thanks for the info about the uv/ozone. That's far more than I received from the pool place