Strong 'skin sensitivity' reaction to Bromine hot tub. How to do a bathtub test for a “Chlorine” reaction?

[phonedave]

I want to report that the new chlorine sanitization after the fresh refill and purge is a big success. My wife is having zero skin sensitivity to the chlorine. After the initial shock with .8 oz of Dichlor (per PoolMath, the FC was at 11 ppm. Overnight the spa heated to 103º and in the mid morning when tested, the FC level was at 6.5 ppm. We went in for a soak. She was in for twenty minutes and no skin irritation at all. Woo Hoo! Thank yo to all for the helpful information.

Now I have a question that I started this thread for, since it is a different topic: CYA test shows no CYA after adding 2 oz Dichlor? Should be ≈ 23 ppm.

Again, thank you all for the info and patience with my skepticism. I am VERY happy that I turned out to be overly concerned.

I am glad everything worked out for your wife (and you). The idea that somehow chlorine is "harsh" is very prevalent. When things are in balance, then very very very rarely is chlorine the actual issue.

CYA is a likely the most inaccurate measurement you will make, the health of your eye, the ambient light, how tall you are (hold it at waist level - at 6' 4" I wager my waist is farther from my eyes than average), are all factors into when that black dot disappears. Your brain also can trick you "I *think* I can still see the dot".

20 is on the very end of the scale that the tube measures. CYA does not degrade over time to any great extent, even in a hot tub. The hot water will make it degrade faster than in a pool, but we are talking noticeable amounts over weeks, not 10 ppm in day.

If you added the correct amount of CYA, then you can be pretty sure, that is the amount of CYA in your water. I try to keep my hot tub at 30, just for this reason. So that I can actually see that dot disappear with some room in the tube to spare.

 

[Mdragger88]

Great news!
Fwiw-
We keep our tub hot- 105. I use dichlor every week or two to maintain my cya. Its acidic so be sure to note the effects of adding in poolmath before also dosing with acid when using it.

 

[phonedave]

Great news!
Fwiw-
We keep our tub hot- 105. I use dichlor every week or two to maintain my cya. Its acidic so be sure to note the effects of adding in poolmath before also dosing with acid when using it.

I don't think my goes to 105. I think it maxes at 104. I keep it at 103. If I went any higher, nobody else would get into it. My wife tolerates 103, and my kids turn it down to 101 if they use it (wimps )

 

[Mdragger88]

I don't think my goes to 105. I think it maxes at 104. I keep it at 103. If I went any higher, nobody else would get into it. My wife tolerates 103, and my kids turn it down to 101 if they use it (wimps )

I do turn it down for the kids - 100 & no more than 15 minutes exposure . They are teens now. We usually get in first & after the temp drops then they can get in. Less temp & time is recommended for smaller kiddos.
I think the hubs would prefer 110+
We have a 110v tub so the temp drops too low after a short time of use in colder temperatures.

 

[Newdude]

We have a 110v tub so the temp drops too low after a short time of use in colder temperatures.

When the glorious day came that I stopped using my solar cover on the pool, I trimmed a piece for the hot tub and it helped alot in cold weather. I'd peel back just enough of a corner for my head to stick out and I'd get 45 mins instead of 15 with the 110v tub.

 

[Mdragger88]

When the glorious day came that I stopped using my solar cover on the pool, I trimmed a piece for the hot tub and it helped alot in cold weather. I'd peel back just enough of a corner for my head to stick out and I'd get 45 mins instead of 15 with the 110v tub.

I had an old barely used intex solar cover in the she shed & threw it out right before I got the tub like a dummy! This is why I stay hoarding pool stuffs
maybe I will find another on the “Clarence” aisle again someday. I think I paid $5 for it & used it twice.

 

[phonedave]

I do turn it down for the kids - 100 & no more than 15 minutes exposure . They are teens now. We usually get in first & after the temp drops then they can get in. Less temp & time is recommended for smaller kiddos.
I think the hubs would prefer 110+
We have a 110v tub so the temp drops too low after a short time of use in colder temperatures.

My kids that use the hot tub are 18 and 26. They can make their own decisions about heat