I hear all this talk about dichlor etc and PH beeing affected, But what is the real reason? The reason I ask is it seems that MPS is the standard when it comes to shock but it has a low PH like TriChlor. All the data that I see says that MPS is around 2.5 on the PH scale.

Trichlor has a LOOOW ph. Disolves in contact with water, doesn't need a flow past it. O.k. for thousands of gallons of pool water, doesn't affect ph much. But in a couple hundred gallons it will. Best to check with your spa's manufacturer, most don't recommend using it.

Ya, But so does MPS... So what gives?

you have no control over the dosing or dissolve rate of the tablets. Small undisolved pieces fall to bottom of your spa and stain it. You can do what ever you like....it's just not recommended.

the problem I have...

I want the benefits of Chlorine. But dosing every day is a pain in the A$$. When we got the spa new we had that rash foli-whatever from the tub sitting after the water test after the factory, I used the spadepot's recipe to clean it up and it seemed to have worked. 500 gallon spa consumes just about 2 teaspoons of dichlor a day with the PH beeing at 7.4.

Also I go out of town often for a week at a time. I am gunshy of this foli-whatever and dont want the crap to come back again. Love the tub and it relaxes me very well.

If I supplemented with nature2 would that help give me a buffer against this foli-whatever?

I shock the spa and add the de-scaler and such once a week, religious about chemistry and such. But what a PITA.

I use the spa every day when I am home and the kids and spuse usually get in there with me and we spend 15 min a night in the tub. One out of 3 nights I am in there by myself.

Often times I come home and there is no free chlorine left. And the total chlorine is at about 1-2ppm

Would supplementing with nature 2 give me a buffer on the sanitizer? I have seen the effects of bromine with my neighbors tub (bearings falling out of jet's, floater, smell, etc. ) and I am sure I dont want that.

Thanks for the help here guys. Looking for the silver bullet I guess, Wish there was a dichlor feeder.

Anybody got one of these? Do they work?
http://www.waterwarehouse.com/products/ ... ID=9431736

yes, nature2 will give you a buffer. Generally, wiping the spa bar top(above water line) and underside of cover every 2weeks with chlorine shocked spa water will keep the foli-thing and any musty smell at bay.
Adding an ozone unit would help as well. Without those items, every third day the spa is unused you should/ or someone should add 1/2 teaspoon of dichlor per 100 gals. Shock weekly or at least bi-weekly-w/ 1 teas. per 100gals.

Good advice on wiping up with the shocked water. never thought of that. Also I do indeed have an ozonator and it works fine, One question though, Since my re-fill I have not had foam, Today I shocked with 5 TBSP of MPS (GLB brand if matters and it is fresh) Foams now. Didnt foam last night.

Does MPS usually cause foam? I used a enzyme product after called "spa perfect"

Water is cyrstal clear since I got rid of this bacteria prob though. The GLB shock as a slight blue color to the water and it is cool!

For the price of that auto machine you
could hire a pool boy!