Saltron Mini question

[A.O.]

Ok, I installed a saltron mini last October (2022) and has done perfectly... untill now. We use our 450 gal hot tub everyday and I've not added chlorine since I put in the mini. But here this last week or so the tub is not maintaining chlorine levels. I run it twice a day for 4 hours each which keeps the tub at about 4ppm chlorine. The little device that hangs in the pool is still bubbling like crazy when its on so whats going on?? Thanks.

 

[Texas Splash]

If it's bubbling we have to assume it's working and producing chlorine. Perhaps the water chemistry is off and it can't maintain the proper FC level. Can you share a full set of water test results?

 

[A.O.]

If it's bubbling we have to assume it's working and producing chlorine. Perhaps the water chemistry is off and it can't maintain the proper FC level. Can you share a full set of water test results?

Sure I'll go take a full set of tests today and report back.
Although I've done nothing different in a long time.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also let us know when is the last time you changed the tub's water and if you have done an Ahh-Some purge recently.

 

[Mdragger88]

It’s been my experience that the cells last about 18 months for me. I have 1/2 the size tub as you & mostly run it 2-3 hours a day.
As the cell depletes the fc production gets intermittent & eventually the low salt light will come on so be careful not to add salt just based on the light or you can easily end up with way too much. Be sure to dose with liquid chlorine to keep things good until you sort it out. It may be a good idea to go ahead & get a new cell on order.
Basically what may happen is that it’s putting out less then you end up underchlorinated & the weak cell really cannot keep up with that. The answer there is similar to what you do in a pool with a swg. First, Focus on the fc & maintain with liquid chlorine ensuring that you don’t have funky stuff eating it. This can be tricky because you can’t really do an oclt on a hot tub & there’s constant fc demand. But you can raise to slam level or around 10ppm to try to knock out anything that may be brewing then keep ensuring you have adequate fc via manual dosing & turn on the swg to see if you are gaining/maintaining. In my experience with the saltron mini the “cloud” of chlorine gas gets less & less as it dies. It always becomes very obvious when I replace it because the new one will really have a good cloud.

 

[A.O.]

Ok, here we go I'll try to address all of this..
we used the tub last night and the saltron should have ran 4 hours last night. Brought the Chlorine up to snuff yesterday AM with liquid chlorine to 4ppm.
First test results this morning
PH about 8, yes high but it fluctuates with a lot of use.
TA 40
FC 1 1/2
CC .5 or less (as per FAS DPD test)
CYA 0
Salt 3400 (Yes this is a bit high for the saltron but I have to fill my tub from my pool which requires a higher salt level)
CH 40 Low, but I have very soft water (well) here and my pool is fiberglass.

Full water change about 6 months ago with the Awsome purge, Awsome purge did a lot of nothing as tub and innards are always clean. 1/2 refill about 2 months ago.

Mdragger I'm not familiar with "oclt" term..

Here is my "cloud" as you put it, tried to post a video but wasn't working.

 

[Mdragger88]

Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
I would just watch it & always sure your bets with liquid chlorine for the time being.
0 cya means the fc will be harsh above 3ppm - get some in there so you can comfortably maintain a little higher fc & not risk falling to zero this will also allow you to do a slam basically without it being harsh on your equipment. (you can use granular stabilizer if that’s what you have on hand)
Your only symptom right know that would warrant a mini
SLAM Process
is fc loss- but you can do one to help ensure your standby demand (something funky brewing) isn’t the problem. It works the same as in a pool with the exception of the oclt being precise or accurate due to the never ending cycle of fc consumption in a tub.
Then you can test fc, turn on the swg & test again at the end of its cycle to determine how well it’s doing. It’s not as cut & dry in a hot tub because there is always some fc demand skewing results (people soup).
I know it may be hard to remember how things were before the swg when you were manually dosing but comparing your fc demand now to what it was then may provide some insight.
Using the saltron mini to make up for all your fc needs means that you will deplete the cell faster. I supplement with liquid chlorine or dichlor (when needed for cya replenishment) for anything more than a short 1 person soak & all my cells have died at the 18 month mark. As mentioned I run 1/2 the time per day as you. Yours is obviously working but it may intermittent or just putting out less now.

 

[A.O.]

Before the Saltron I normally added about 3 1/2 oz chlorine after each soak (2 people about a half hour each time) once or twice a day.
I had one 1" Triclor tab left and threw it in, I also have some 3" tabs I use in the winter when it gets too cold for my pool SWG, they are also Trichlor.. Nothing I have is Dichlor and I dont keep powdered stabilizer on hand.
I turned on the SWG after my tests this morning so I'll check levels when its done and see what it says and add chlorine if needed and report back. Thanks.

 

[Mdragger88]

Trichlor isn’t recommended for hot tubs because it can erode very quickly in the hot water leading to an acidic condition & very high fc. I would remove the tabs. Go with granular stabilizer or dichlor for your cya needs.

 

[A.O.]

OK, took the tab out, pretty much all still there.
After a 4 hour run time FC at 4ppm so the saltron seems to be working fine.. something must be eating my chlorine!
I'll have to try to find a small container of stabilizer , although all this is new, same way I've been taking care of the tub for a long time, nothing has changed which is weird.. to me anyway.
EDIT TO ADD: This will work? Amazon.com

 

[Mdragger88]

OK, took the tab out, pretty much all still there.
After a 4 hour run time FC at 4ppm so the saltron seems to be working fine.. something must be eating my chlorine!

It may just be intermittently throwing a low salt alarm & you’re not seeing it. I have mine set to run when I’m able to check it for this reason instead of say in the middle of the night. I give it a look when I’m outside.
Also, Try the test again without any supplements (tabs).
If the water is clear & no cc’s just one round of slam level fc (10ppm) may be all it takes to knock anything funky brewing out.
Based on your usage I would surmise it won’t be long before you need to replace the cell so it’s a good idea to have one handy for when it gives up the ghost completely.

 

[A.O.]

The little screen just has a 4 on it for hours, it has the normal salt light lit.
Water is crystal clear like always (see pic of the saltron above) negligible CC's

 

[Mdragger88]

The little screen just has a 4 on it for hours, it has the normal salt light lit.
Water is crystal clear like always (see pic of the saltron above) negligible CC's

When they start dying they will generally intermittently throw the low salt light & not produce- if you’re not there to see it you won’t know it happened, the cycle will end at the predetermined set point & begin again later. It may not stay that way for the whole cycle or do it every time.
For now count it as a win that it’s operating but be mindful that it may be occurring & test fc frequently.

 

[A.O.]

When they start dying they will generally intermittently throw the low salt light & not produce- if you’re not there to see it you won’t know it happened, the cycle will end at the predetermined set point & begin again later. It may not stay that way for the whole cycle or do it every time.
For now count it as a win that it’s operating but be mindful that it may be occurring & test fc frequently.

I test it pretty frequently as it is, at least a couple times a week, just so I can catch things like this.
And I'll keep an eye on those lights as well.

 

[Mdragger88]

After my first one died I was easily able to see the signs pretty quickly when my 2nd one was nearing its end, I looked back at it’s age & was like - duh , it’s the problem, I’m not crazy lol.

 

[A.O.]

So we used the tub last night and this morning the FC was at 3.5 ppm which in my opinion is a good place (and without any tabs in there). I did order some granulated conditioner, and raised the FC to 10 this morning for a one time slam as you suggested.
Will keep a closer eye on things for a while to see how its all doing.
You say you have your SWG set to run during the day, so do I but also at night so its running twice a day for 4 hours each, I did try it at 3 hrs twice a day and didn't feel it was enough.

 

[Mdragger88]

Mine is set for twice a day - 6 am & 6pm roughly. I am out and about outside at both those times usually so it’s convenient for me to check in on it.

 

[A.O.]

Mine is set for twice a day - 6 am & 6pm roughly. I am out and about outside at both those times usually so it’s convenient for me to check in on it.

Mine is set at 10am, and 10pm which works with our schedule. I want it to come on after our tub time.

 

[A.O.]

So for fun.. came home early afternoon and thought I'd check the FC, it was 7.5 so I thought I'd leave the top off for a couple hours to burn a little off so we could use it this evening. Came back and checked it a couple hours later and it was down to basically ZERO!! Whats up with that?

 

[Mdragger88]

So for fun.. came home early afternoon and thought I'd check the FC, it was 7.5 so I thought I'd leave the top off for a couple hours to burn a little off so we could use it this evening. Came back and checked it a couple hours later and it was down to basically ZERO!! Whats up with that?

You have no cya-