Pool supplier does not recommend Frog @ease - so is it good then?

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datadr93

datadr93

Gold Supporter
Jun 4, 2024
201
Eastern Ohio
Pool Size
11400
Surface
Fiberglass
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair iChlor 15
Getting new hot tub. 1st time owner. Still deciding between chlorine or bromine. Currently have SWG pool where there'll be frequent cross usage (separate issue of cross contamination at another time regarding bromine use).

Follow posts, stickies, etc on TFP. Use PoolMath (yearly subscription). Between all that want to level set on expectations for daily care of the hot tub. And yes, up front seems like there's continuous involvement.

I asked pool store about Frog ease system and they clearly said they don't recommend the system. There's better "chemicals" to easily maintain hot tub. So out of the gate, store doesn't recommend the system which makes me wonder "does that mean it works". And this is based on same recommendations they have that are opposite of advice on TFP and PoolMath calculations.

Well aware the system is more expensive than regular chlorine... But the convenience I'm willing to pay... Only if it works.

Any real world users and thoughts? I don't want to entertain and try to calculate 'how many person hours to add chlorine', have too much to drink and forget to add, or more realistically simply get sidetracked and don't do daily check.

Tub should be used frequently. I've got the pool down to a science and very infrequently need to add anything.

Ps... Will not be considering SWG for hot tub, so please don't discuss that as an option. I've been over and over that and not going to go that route.
 
I’m looking forward to this discussion. As long as I use my tub every day or so, I’m good with keeping Cl level where it needs to be. When our lives or the weather interrupt our nightly usage, tend to forget to add/check Cl.
It’s rained here for 4 nights…out of sight, out of mind.
My brain and my heart aren’t on the same page.
After 10 months of ownership, I’m leaning more to convenience. Haven’t converted, just leaning….
 
Hot tub will have ozonator. Also considering loading with borax as I did with pool... this has worked great in pool and can only 'assume' same benefits in hot tub.

Based on other TFP posts, there also seems to be agreement that using Aqua Clarity weekly does a great job with reducing drain/refills and maintaining clarity. Have no issue with performing weekly oxidizer shocks (Frog ease states only needs monthly... but I'll take that with grain of salt).
 
datadr93 said:
Getting new hot tub. 1st time owner. Still deciding between chlorine or bromine. Currently have SWG pool where there'll be frequent cross usage (separate issue of cross contamination at another time regarding bromine use).

Follow posts, stickies, etc on TFP. Use PoolMath (yearly subscription). Between all that want to level set on expectations for daily care of the hot tub. And yes, up front seems like there's continuous involvement.

I asked pool store about Frog ease system and they clearly said they don't recommend the system. There's better "chemicals" to easily maintain hot tub. So out of the gate, store doesn't recommend the system which makes me wonder "does that mean it works". And this is based on same recommendations they have that are opposite of advice on TFP and PoolMath calculations.

Well aware the system is more expensive than regular chlorine... But the convenience I'm willing to pay... Only if it works.

Any real world users and thoughts? I don't want to entertain and try to calculate 'how many person hours to add chlorine', have too much to drink and forget to add, or more realistically simply get sidetracked and don't do daily check.

Tub should be used frequently. I've got the pool down to a science and very infrequently need to add anything.

Ps... Will not be considering SWG for hot tub, so please don't discuss that as an option. I've been over and over that and not going to go that route.
Click to expand...
If you look through the threads on TFP I’m not sure there’s a single positive thing to say about the frog system. Saltwater chlorinator is the most convenient so if that’s out then you’re manually chlorinating.
 
Bperry said:
If you look through the threads on TFP I’m not sure there’s a single positive thing to say about the frog system. Saltwater chlorinator is the most convenient so if that’s out then you’re manually chlorinating.
Click to expand...
Getting a Jacuzzi model... their warranty does not support use of SWG. That's why I was eliminating the consideration. If anyone has any knowledge to the contrary... I'm all ears.

Would they know I'm using a SWG if I didn't tell them? Other concerns with the hot tub parts to make the conversion?
 
datadr93 said:
Getting a Jacuzzi model... their warranty does not support use of SWG. That's why I was eliminating the consideration. If anyone has any knowledge to the contrary... I'm all ears.

Would they know I'm using a SWG if I didn't tell them? Other concerns with the hot tub parts to make the conversion?
Click to expand...
Theres no parts conversion to be made, same equipment either way. Adding dichlor and acid introduces salt as well.
 
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So back to guts of post... this is instance TFP agrees with pool store. Avoid the Frog ease system...

Will the addition of borax (up to 50ppm) and the ozonator ease some of the pain? I need to accept reality... as much as I could be disciplined to maintain the hot tub, I have to accept reality that what I'm supposed to do will not match the frequency with I would like to do it.

A few friends over, mixing between pool and hot tub... I guarantee the last thing on my mind after some shots and a few beers at end of late night is what the person-hours in the hot tub calculates so I can dump in chlorine. Reality sucks.
 
Bperry said:
Theres no parts conversion to be made, same equipment either way. Adding dichlor and acid introduces salt as well.
Click to expand...
I don't want to sidebar post too much. But if went chlorine route, would be using Dichlor up to 34ppm (for CYA 30ppm total) and then continue further with 10% chlorine until drain along with any weekly slams.

And you're saying there's no SWG conversion parts? Heating element doesn't need to be titanium? No change to plumbing for salt cell?
 
datadr93 said:
I don't want to sidebar post too much. But if went chlorine route, would be using Dichlor up to 34ppm (for CYA 30ppm total) and then continue further with 10% chlorine until drain along with any weekly slams.

And you're saying there's no SWG conversion parts? Heating element doesn't need to be titanium? No change to plumbing for salt cell?
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Salt water is a misnomer…it’s not ocean salt water. Theres no fancy heat exchangers needed. Plumbing is all the same, except for plumbing in the cell. There literally no difference.

You might want to read through the TFP articles in pool school. If you maintain the correct ratio of chlorine to CYA, theres no need for weekly “shocks” or any of that nonsense. Just test the water and if its low on chlorine, add some so its not low anymore. Then go about your day.
 
Bperry said:
Salt water is a misnomer…it’s not ocean salt water. Theres no fancy heat exchangers needed. Plumbing is all the same, except for plumbing in the cell. There literally no difference.

You might want to read through the TFP articles in pool school. If you maintain the correct ratio of chlorine to CYA, theres no need for weekly “shocks” or any of that nonsense. Just test the water and if its low on chlorine, add some so its not low anymore. Then go about your day.
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Haven't had to slam my pool once... follow the guidelines provided in PoolMath and had no issues with water balance.

And yes, completely aware it's not salt water... it's a chlorine pool generated by the SWG. But also understanding to add salt cell to generate the chlorine in hot tub could void the warranty.

But with hot tub, the chlorine gets used more frequently... especially if have bather load and extended soaks. I believe it's upwards of 7ppm FC loss per person hour. This is the area want to mitigate by forgetting to add after each time use hot tub.
 

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datadr93 said:
But also understanding to add salt cell to generate the chlorine in hot tub could void the warranty.
Click to expand...
Have you contacted the tub manufacturer directly about this?
Do you have a reliable reference to this in the manufacturers warranty paperwork?
Ask the manufacturer what options they recommemd to chlorinate the tub.
 
Bperry said:
Where did you read that?
Click to expand...

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 www.troublefreepool.com

"When you use your tub (this applies to when you are still using Dichlor or after you switch to bleach), the rule of thumb is, you'll use approximately 7 ppm FC per person per hour in a 350 gal tub."
 
proavia said:
Have you contacted the tub manufacturer directly about this?
Do you have a reliable reference to this in the manufacturers warranty paperwork?
Ask the manufacturer what options they recommemd to chlorinate the tub.
Click to expand...
The quote I received is that a SWG addition is an unregulated device and would void the warranty.

As to chlorinating, Jacuzzi recommends drain/fill every 3 to 4 months (depending on usage... more frequently if heavy use); weekly shock treatments; and chlorinating granules... no liquid chlorine. This is their recommendations... but if I don't need to perform weekly shocks/slams because I'm maintaining... all the better. And I will be using 10% liquid chlorine once my CYA reaches 30... chlorine is chlorine... just not their chlorine.
 
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This was another interesting post from 7+ months ago... but it matches my concerns on making sure appropriate levels maintained based on bather load and time in tub... which made me question the effectiveness of the Frog ease as an automatic dosing unit:

The Mule said:
I have a 135 gal hot tub, and the issue I ran into with Pool Math and other apps is basically related to time vs volume of water. A 13,500 gallon pool has 100 times more chlorine than my hot tub, so while one person in the pool for 30 minutes wouldn't change the chlorine level at all, in a small hot tub, it could reduce it by 50%. Although the amounts recomended by Pool Math were correct based on chemical equations, they really only applied to getting the free chlorine up to the correct amount at that specific point in time--meaning it was not nearly enough to last the 23.5 hours until the next usage. With these tiny hot tubs, after you get out, you will need to add more bleach than indicated by the math. Now, if you had a SWCG or an automatic dosing unit, then you could keep a much steadier chlorine level. My tub, using the 2 step bromine method, with fresh fill water, needs about 1 oz of 6-7% bleach after 30 min of use. With older water, it rises to 2 oz or more.
Click to expand...
 
datadr93 said:
The quote I received is that a SWG addition is an unregulated device and would void the warranty.
Click to expand...
From the pool store or manufacturer?
If from the manufacturer, get it in writing. It should clearly state this in the manufacturers warranty.

There used to be a "drape-over" SWG specifically for hot tubs. No idea if it's still available - but it wouldn't require any modifications to the plumbing.
Maybe @Jimrahbe or @YippeeSkippy can comment on it.
 

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