HI there,
I am SO in need of guidance here, its not even funny. At the end of June, we bought a Sundance Capri 810 spa. It is only 215 gallons, has an ozonator, and we use a mineral cartidge sanitizer (Nature2). The dealer we bought it from has given us the biggest run around ever. The manager FINALLY got fired and we have gone to the top, directly to Sundance. I got so fed up, that I started getting advice from another dealer closer to my house. Oh my God, he had us on a schedule of WAY too many chemicals. He had me putting in 2 oz. of Stain and Scale on Mondays, 2 oz. of clarifier on Weds., and a big capful of non-chlorine shock on Fridays. And we also put in 1 tsp. of sodium diclor after every person using it. For the size of the tub, its usage is pretty high. I go in it every day once, alone, and everynight my husband and I go in together. That is 3 people per day. Could someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me get on a routine? This new manager at our original dealer, told us to skip all that stain and scale and clarifier stuff (expect when filling or it gets cloudy). All he has us doing is using 1 teaspoon of shock after each person's use, and every 3 days or so use 1 tsp. of sodium diclor instead, after each use. Does that sound OK? We have already refilled this thing 2 times, the last time from my husband getting FOLLICULITIS. I am really getting bummed out here. Oh yea, and have you ever had problems with test strips?????? Our test strips (LaMotte Insta-test), the little squares show 2 colors...e.g. for T.A., dark green on the outside of the square and yellow on the inside. This is also driving us NUTS. How am I supposed to read that??? Seriously, have you heard of this? We are following the directions, exactly. And lastly, the other day the new manager at the deal crossed out FREE CHLORINE on the test strips bottle and told us to only use the TOTAL CHLORINE readings. I think that is totally wrong and goes against everything I have ever read. Thanks for all your help ahead of time.

Ok<
I have a 280 gallon spa and have had it for years.
I use bromine and dichlor, Bromine in a floater and dichlor after every night of hot tubing about an ounce
I test twice a week ph, bromine, alkalinity. I also have a spa frog like your nature 2 but with the spa frog you can use bromine and with nature YOU CANNOT

If you are using the nature two thats cool, BUT DONT USE BROMINE they are not compatible

SO here is what I would do.
Keep using the nature two, I believe if using this your chlorine level can be .5-2 ppm or so. I would only add dichlor after an evening of spa ing. I wouldnt add it more than once a day. If its not used for a week still add about an ounce of dichlor.

Check your levels twice a week chlorine, ph, alkalinity, if you get cloudiness add some more dichlor to sanatize.

I never use the stain stuff, wasted money

If you get foaming and you will use the foam rid stuff, it works great just about a capfull as you enter and see foam its get rid of it

here is a great site http://www.rhtubs.com/nature2.htm

Have fun and enjoy it will get better and easier
Mike

mike- if you're using dichlor after every use- no need for the brominator
It's a little redundant, and will serve to lower your PH a bit more than dichlor alone.. as well as give you that bromine smell (yuck!)

Sodium Dichlor is a terrific sanitizer when used properly, as it's PH is almost neutral.. Just tossing in a about a teaspoon per use (in a 300 gallon tub), as well as about 3-4 teaspoons once a week is all that's needed

Just an item of note: Sodium Dichlor is INCOMPATIBLE with bromine! You should not ever use the two together in a spa. Sodium Dichlor (essientally chlorine) can cause voilent reactions with Bromine.

I would also discontinue use of the test strips and go with the drops, as they are more acurate.

My chemical table is as follows:

1/2 hour before using spa check chemicals, balance water ph first with muratic acid (if high). wait 15 minutes with jets on. Check chlorine level, adjust as necessary, wait 15 minutes and then enjoy tub. If used on daily basis, this is all I do. If I use it sporatically, check levels every other day and adjust as necessary.

On a tub as small as yours, I would add 1/2 tsp of dichlor after the final use of the day. The smaller tub, the harder it is to keep the chemical balance.

One more thing, if you use bathing suits, don't launder them. Before using the tub after a fresh launder, rinse at least twice in cool clear water and let dry. AFter each use, just rinse and hang to dry. The chemicals and soaps in the laundry detergent wreak havoc on spa chemistry, as does shampoos, hair gels, deodorants, perfumes, makeups, lotions, etc. It's always a good idea to rinse or shower before using a tub. I've had the same water in my tub for over 6 months and have never had cloudy, smelly, green, or foamy water, using this method.

If you think about it, a properly maintained spa will have enough sanitizer to clean the suits you wear better than laundering them. It's not like you are out in the garage working on the car in the suits, so actual soap is not necessary.

I've recommended this to every spa owner I know, and I can say with good faith that every one has not experianced an ill spa since, no foam, and much less frequent water changes.

charger- I take a look at the ingredients of bromine.... you'll find it'sa about 70% sodim dichlor

Swine,

Thanks for the correction....disregard the statement of "sodium dichlor is INCOMPATIBLE...." I was thinking of the calcium hypochlorite....

One of those instances of think one thing, say another!

<G>

Jer

My small softub is always sparkling imaculately clean and I use almost nothing to keep it all year. When I get out I toss in a cap of chlorine granules, no foam, no film, no odor , no disscolor, just perfect hot water.

Using all kinds of up. down, clear, sanitize, is like using drugs.
I don't need any of it.