Hot Tub & Spa FAQs
I decided to buy a product to lock my pH at the proper level. When I added the product (such as Leisure Time pH BALANCE or Robarb PERFECT pH) my spa water clouded up! Why?
These products are meant to be used in water that contains less than 150 ppm calcium hardness. Have your dealer test your water to ensure that your calcium level is below 150 ppm before using any of these products. If your water does cloud, the filter will remove the cloudiness, but you should clean the cartridge after the water clears. Once the spa clears, the spa will resume normal operation.
There are several reasons that a spa foams. A common cause is the rapidly moving water combined with bathers bringing in soaps and detergents on their bodies and bathing suits. Showering before entering the spa helps prevent this problem. If excess detergents are the cause of the foam, using a defoamer such as a Rendezvous FOAM OUT, Leisure Time FOAM DOWN or Robarb SUDS-X will reduce the amount of foaming.
Another cause of foaming is soft water. This means that the calcium level in the water is low. This can be corrected by raising the calcium level to 150-400 ppm.
Organic waste build up can also cause foaming. By shocking the spa on a regular basis, the wastes are oxidized out of the water and foaming is reduced.
If you prefer to use chlorine: Add Spa Essentials Chlorinating Concentrate at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per 100 gallons. Repeat additions every 15 -20 minutes until 3-5ppm chlorine residual is established. Use water test strips or test kit to check sanitizer level.
If you prefer to use bromine:Add Spa Essentials Brominating Concentrate at a rate of 1 teaspoon per 200 gallons. Repeat additions every 15 – 20 minutes until 3-6ppm bromine residual is established. Or add Brominating Tablets to an automatic feeder or floater to establish bromine level. Use water test strips or test kit to check sanitizer level.
Overall, bromine tends to be more popular among spa owners. Bromine is offered in both a tablet form and as a two-part system. Unlike chlorine, bromine is effective over a wider pH range, doesn’t irritate your eyes or bleach bathing suits. Additionally, bromine is effective in its combined form, doesn’t smell and is an effective sanitizer.
Many spa owners however, elect to sanitize with chlorine. It is traditionally used in pools, and it is an effective sanitizer and oxidizer. Granular chlorine is the easiest form to use and will keep the water sparkling clean!
It is recommended that you add this “bank” in order to ensure that the sanitizer in the water is all bromine from the moment you first start using it.
The white chips are calcium deposits (scale which forms on the heater elements) which are knocked off when the blowers and jets are on. This problem can be prevented by using a sequestering agent, such as Rendezvous PROTECT PLUS or Leisure Time SPA DEFENDER, on a weekly basis to prevent calcium in the water from forming deposits.
Absolutely. Water that is low in calcium hardness can be corrosive to other metal parts in your spa, particularly your heater. We recommend maintaining a calcium hardness level of 150 – 400 ppm.
Ozone is a highly reactive oxidizing agent. Some people are under the impression that ozone will destroy clarifiers and make them ineffective. We have found, however, that ozone does not affect the effectiveness of clarifiers. Clarifiers do provide a very real benefit in ozonated spas by helping the filter keep the water clean.
Too little calcium in the water can cause corrosion, particularly in heaters and other metal components. To increase the hardness to the recommended level of 150-400 ppm, add a calcium hardness increaser such as Leisure Time CALCIUM BOOSTER or Rendezvous LIQUID CALCIUM HARDNESS UP. Too much calcium can cause scaling on the walls and heating elements or cloudy water. To prevent calcium in the water from causing these problems, add a sequestering agent such as Leisure Time SPA DEFENDER, Rendezvous PROTECT PLUS or Robarb METAL-X.
Too little calcium in the water can cause corrosion, particularly in heaters and other metal components. To increase the hardness to the recommended level of 150-400 ppm, add a calcium hardness increaser such as Leisure Time CALCIUM BOOSTER or Rendezvous LIQUID CALCIUM HARDNESS UP. Too much calcium can cause scaling on the walls and heating elements or cloudy water. To prevent calcium in the water from causing these problems, add a sequestering agent such as Leisure Time SPA DEFENDER, Rendezvous PROTECT PLUS or Robarb METAL-X.
The dishwasher will clean out the larger debris, but can also damage the fabric on the filter. The best way to clean your filter is to use a filter cleaner that contains both acids and detergents and is designed specifically for cartridge cleaning. This will ensure that all oils, lotions and minerals will be removed from the filter. Cleaning properly increases the longevity of the cartridge. Check your cartridge filter once a month. Try Rendezvous FILTER FRESH, Robarb EZ FILTER CLEANER or Leisure Time FILTER CLEAN.
When the pH and the total alkalinity are opposite of one another, always fix the low number first. In this case, add a pH increaser until the pH is within a normal range. Then, adjust the total alkalinity by adding a pH level reducer. Using Robarb PERFECT pH, Leisure Time pH BALANCE or GLB’s Rendezvous pH MAGIC after this will lock your pH into the proper range.
Non-chlorine shock for pools is not buffered and may affect the overall water chemical balance of the spa water. It is best that you use a non-chlorine shock, such as Rendezvous ACTIVATE or Leisure Time RENEW, designed specifically for spas. This will help reduce the need for extra chemical treatment to keep pH in the proper range.
Yes. Even though ozone is an effective oxidizer and will even destroy microorganisms directly exposed to the ozone, the ozone is relatively short lived in your hot tub water. As such the ozone is not present in the water for a sufficient length of time to assure adequate sanitation of the entire tub and the surfaces and plumbing. The use of an ozonator will reduce your consumption of chlorine or bromine as it makes it easier to maintain proper levels of these in the water it does not eliminate their usefulness.