Thanks Jeff! About a week out from getting mine. Have been searching around for information, and your channel is awesome! Be a full day of watching your vids!
Hey Jeff! Craig here. My PH is always about 6.6-6.8 and you say keep it above 7 to save your plumbing. Glad to hear Arm and Hammer is useful. It’s cheaper than the bottled stuff! The wife already complains about how much I spend on everything. If I can also ask you about how do you set your filter cycles on am and pm for three hours each too much? Maybe that’s a good subject for your next show Thanks Jeff
I learned this method with my above ground pool. Baking soda for alkalinity, sodium tetraborate (20 mule team borax) to raise ph if needed, chlorox liquid bleach, and a decent shock every now and again. The only non household chemical is the shock. My chemical expenses on my 24' round x 5' deep pool are less than $100/season.
@@carllopresti697 No. Bromine system is not compatible with chlorine. I use Chlorox bleach instead of commercial chlorine tablets. Chlorine is the sanitizing system.
My neighbors hot tub has a pH reading of about four or five and his alkaline reading is about 20 ppm. He has about five bromine tablets floating in a floater no bromine reading comes up. what do I add? And it’s about an 800 gallon tub.
Love your videos very informative but your master spa the 8.2 holds 380 gallons of water. At least that what Master Spa description states. Well the 8.25 that I just bought suppose to hold 395 gallons. Maybe there is something I missed.
Thanks. I wouldn't fret too much over a difference of 15 gallons. But I do have an article on my website that shows you how to calculate how many gallons are in your hot tub - hottubownerhq.com/how-many-gallons-are-in-a-hot-tub/
I appreciate this clarification, when Jeff said that most spas are 600 gallons I got worried that the spa I ordered was extremely small since it holds 300 gallons of water 😅
Have to agree with @retired2009 goss. We recently got a Master Spa Twilight TS 8.2 and the specs say it holds 380 gallons. This is a 8' tub. I find it highly unlikely the spa in the video holds anywhere close to 600 gallons.
Morning,I have a commercial hot tub,I have to drain clean the hot tub after every guest,I thought I could clean the sides of the hot tubs when I drain the hot tub,I was wrong,started with a stubborn white rough mark at waterline,and it keeps getting worse, I cannot shift it any help ,I would be grateful, all my parramitters are fine,I have a surface cleaner for the hot tub,tried baking powder thsnks
Thanks for the tip Jeff I just purchased a hot tub to be delivered in June and I haven't yet purchased my chemicals so this will definitely save me some money thanks again.
I have a blow up HT. My alkalinity is basically zero. I’ve added 3 tblsp in the past 3 days. Which is twice the amount you suggested. Only did this because i seen another video that said to do a tablespoon not teaspoon. Still not registering but the ph is now ok. So what do I do? I’m so frustrated.
I put 12 tablespoons of baking soda and my ALK is only between 40-60. . Ph was 9 after that lol but i did muriatic acid, 1/4 cup and ph went down to 7.8…. My calcium hardness is still showing zero.. any thoughts? Thanks in advance! Love the channel
Great question. I assume it's because the factories we're likely shut down for at least a month due to the current situation. They probably have to do a lot of the building by hand and a 4 or more week shutdown could easily have put most companies behind on hundreds of orders. Most likely the larger the company (like Jacuzzi) the less of that you'll see since they have deeper pockets and more employees. If I hear anything else, I'll comment back. Jeff
I ordered my Hot Tub at one of them Shows in July 2020 I just got it Feb 2021, Yes the Covid stuff is killing the process for sure... the interesting thing is they are selling a TON of tubs because no one can go anywhere... that is what is really causing the backlog from what the delivery guy told me... NO Vacations Lets buy a HOT TUB! My electrician who who hooked my Tub up to Power, was telling me as much as 12 -14 months to get a tub.. that that was Echoed by my delivery guy. Not the best time to buy a tub i guess.. i Feel fortunate i got ours in 6 Months(ish) just in time for my wife's Birthday.
I am going nuts Jeff. I get the alkalinity dialed in and ph and chlorine is off. I get ph and chlorine dialed in and alkalinity is low .Then I add 1/2 cup of baking soda which my Sutro monitor recommended for my 412 gallon Thermospa. Which you say should not affect the ph or chlorine levels. Wrong ph is now high at 8.2+ chlorine is 1.5 and alkalinity is low at 31-50 my Sutro monitor says. What gives? I tested with a test strip to see if my Sutro monitor was wrong and its not. I am so frustrated I can’t use my hot tub every day.
My ph and akilnity is yellow on the test strip and I've can't get it to move I tried the baking soda tonight I'll check in the morning too if it changes what else do you recommend
I just opened and filled my 300 gal. Hot tub. Balanced the PH and Alkalinity plus hardness. Added 3 bromine tablets and so far 2 ounces of granulated bromine starter as well. And still don't have a reading using the test strips. Any suggestions? Ps I added another 2 ounces.
Thanks so much for this! we have a very small hot tub that's been up for about a week, do you recommend adding a tsp of baking soda every week, if we don't change the water? The book said change water every 2-4 weeks..and I'm really nervous about using harsh chemicals.(I bought a floater with chlorine tabs for cold/ Bromine tabs for hot) Thanks :)
Thank you! I just found this out as well! Thanks for bringing it to our attention! Also, I know you should add borax, but do you know how much? Thanks from Michigan❣️🌻
Yes, I actually have another video that dives into that in case you're interested. About 1/4 cup is about right. Here's that link - ua-cam.com/video/tVMDWh5Og8U/v-deo.html
Most brands list both, so it should be fine to use the same one. But if yours only says chlorine, I would get some that say bromine since the numbers are different.
Halllp! I keep having problems with Ph being too high and Alk too low. So I've used a whole bottle of ph- to get from 8.5 to 7.7 then I add Bsoda to get Alk almost Hugh enough to suggested levels..2 days later Ph is 8.4 and Alk is like 30 ppm :/ I've been leaving the air off when cover is on and only running jets. It helps a bit but I worry it puts stress on the plumbing to keep air restricted. I only have 1 pump in my hit tub (Seratoga/Champlain series) This is a 2 month tub and I'm still on my first fill. Should I keep adding baking Soda to get alk right then muriatic acid to drop Ph? It seems like a constant battle. I bought a bottle of Spa Sentry for next fill as recommended to battle ph bounce. 😅
Thanks for commenting! I answered your question in a new video I just shot, so look for that video to come out the week of 10/24/22! Thanks for being here! - Jeff
You're good Jeff! Question: is it possible that a low alkalinity gives skin rashes. My Bromine is ok, PH seem good (7,2) but the alkalinity is at about 50 and me and my girlfriend have huge rash since we've been a little too long in the spa. And also, there's alway a lot of foam when the tub's running high.
Hi Bruno. I've never heard of that, but I do know pH levels will almost never be correct if the alkalinity is way off, and high pH can definitely cause rashes. But it sounds like that's not the issue (as long as the brand of test strip you're using is accurate (could be worth trying a different brand). Foam is an indicator of high levels of total dissolves solids (TDS) and sometimes just means it's time to change the water (which should be happening about every 3 months). But you can also scoop out the excess foam and then hyper-chlorinate the water and let it sit for a day or 2 before soaking so the chlorine levels drop to a safe level. Lastly, if you've never done a biofilm cleaning, that could definitely be the culprit. Biofilm is basically bacteria buildup inside your plumbing. You won't see it to know it's there. I do a biofilm cleaning every time I change my hot tub's water. If you don't know how to do that, just check out my video on it - ua-cam.com/video/8VxcrdIHtQo/v-deo.html
I'm concerned that my hot tub has too much soap/detergents in it. My alkalinity is pretty much spot on to the approved range, while my pH is a bit low (maybe 6.8/7.0 as opposed to 7.2). I do get some foaming, but not an excessive amount. Foam Away works to control it for a day before needing more. But other than draining, cleaning, and filling the hot tub, is there anything that I can do to eliminate any residual soaps/detergents that may currently be in the water?
Cleaning the filters regularly (rinse weekly and deep clean quarterly) along with making sure sanitizing (2-3 times a week) and shocking (weekly) are happening regularly are the best ways to combat foam. But you can also use a skimmer net to get rid of any excess foam on the surface. If some people using the hot tub wear a lot of perfume/cologne/body lotions, etc you could also ask them to rinse off in a shower before getting in. Also, when you drain and refill, in between if you're cleaning, just use a mix of water and white vinegar rather than soap or any type of detergent. Hope that helps!
Hmmmm . . . I wouldn't, but I'd have to know what's in that product to say for sure. Looks like sodium hypochlorite (a mild bleach) is often used, along with baking soda (which would raise pH and alkalinity). What makes you want to use that?
Hi Sheena I really like Poolmaster's 4-way test strips. That's the one I've used for a while (for both my hot tub and above-ground pool). They also have thousands of great reviews on Amazon too. Here's a link if you need one - amzn.to/3d4tKH6
Hi Sheena I really like Poolmaster's 4-way test strips. That's the one I've used for a while (for both my hot tub and above-ground pool). They also have thousands of great reviews on Amazon too. Here's a link if you need one - amzn.to/3d4tKH6
So guess what??? I have no hot tub yet... When they didn't call or show up I called them. Come to find out there's another Jason Smith in Boise that ordered a bigger hot tub and the shipping guy got us confused when he was talking to me a month ago, and told me it was shipped. Mine still hasn't been built apparently. Yet he said it is going to ship this Monday the 3rd and will be here Friday the 7th. (Don't ask... I don't know how it's going to ship Monday when it hasn't been built yet either.) So, done holding my breath, but sounds like it'll be here on the 7th now... yaaaaa.....
@@HotTubOwnerHQ Yeah I have no clue how long it actually takes to build one but to say mine is not built yet, but hey it'll ship on Monday, seems a bit quick.
For the average size hot tub, start with about 1/4 cup of magnesium oxide powder. You can always add more, but if you overdo it, you’ll have to add something to drop it back down.
**** To primarily raise pH, get the Magnesium Oxide power on Amazon I mention in the video - amzn.to/3gaxLu5
Alkalinity (TA) is measured on a number scale. So, a teapspoon of bicarb per 100 gal increases alkalinity by how much ?
Thanks Jeff! About a week out from getting mine. Have been searching around for information, and your channel is awesome! Be a full day of watching your vids!
Love the video . Very informative, although another website said 1 Tablespoon/100 gallons. I don't want to overdo it. Thanks
Hey Jeff! Craig here. My PH is always about 6.6-6.8 and you say keep it above 7 to save your plumbing. Glad to hear Arm and Hammer is useful. It’s cheaper than the bottled stuff! The wife already complains about how much I spend on everything. If I can also ask you about how do you set your filter cycles on am and pm for three hours each too much? Maybe that’s a good subject for your next show
Thanks Jeff
I learned this method with my above ground pool. Baking soda for alkalinity, sodium tetraborate (20 mule team borax) to raise ph if needed, chlorox liquid bleach, and a decent shock every now and again. The only non household chemical is the shock. My chemical expenses on my 24' round x 5' deep pool are less than $100/season.
Cool! I had never heard of using Borax to raise pH. Thanks for sharing that!
Jeff
@@HotTubOwnerHQ just make sure you use the 20 Mule Team Borax and not the laundry detergent that contains borax or you're going to have a bubbly mess
What's the purpose of adding chlorox and can this be used in a bromine sanitizer ? Tks
@@carllopresti697 No. Bromine system is not compatible with chlorine. I use Chlorox bleach instead of commercial chlorine tablets. Chlorine is the sanitizing system.
@@bluestarindustrialarts7712
Tks Blue
Thanks for the tips. I just got a hot tub and usually leave the cover on after I add stuff but I won’t do that anymore. Thank you !
Glad I could help!
My neighbors hot tub has a pH reading of about four or five and his alkaline reading is about 20 ppm. He has about five bromine tablets floating in a floater no bromine reading comes up. what do I add? And it’s about an 800 gallon tub.
How do you have a easy way to get rid of high levels of hard water?
Love your videos very informative but your master spa the 8.2 holds 380 gallons of water. At least that what Master Spa description states. Well the 8.25 that I just bought suppose to hold 395 gallons. Maybe there is something I missed.
Thanks. I wouldn't fret too much over a difference of 15 gallons. But I do have an article on my website that shows you how to calculate how many gallons are in your hot tub - hottubownerhq.com/how-many-gallons-are-in-a-hot-tub/
I appreciate this clarification, when Jeff said that most spas are 600 gallons I got worried that the spa I ordered was extremely small since it holds 300 gallons of water 😅
Have to agree with @retired2009 goss. We recently got a Master Spa Twilight TS 8.2 and the specs say it holds 380 gallons. This is a 8' tub. I find it highly unlikely the spa in the video holds anywhere close to 600 gallons.
Morning,I have a commercial hot tub,I have to drain clean the hot tub after every guest,I thought I could clean the sides of the hot tubs when I drain the hot tub,I was wrong,started with a stubborn white rough mark at waterline,and it keeps getting worse, I cannot shift it any help ,I would be grateful, all my parramitters are fine,I have a surface cleaner for the hot tub,tried baking powder thsnks
Thanks for the tip Jeff I just purchased a hot tub to be delivered in June and I haven't yet purchased my chemicals so this will definitely save me some money thanks again.
In your other video you stated tablespoons. Which is it? Thanks
What about I add a lot of baking soda, and the alkalinity almost to 80ppm, and the ph is more high.I am crazy about the test of the hot tub.
Thank you for such relevant and useful information about the truth.
Great video Jeff, loving the channel, so informative! Hello from Ireland 😁
Hi. I changed my filter and I am still getting a change filter message. Can you tell me what’s going on. Thanks
Hi, If i don't use my tub regular, How long can i use it without any chemicals at all, Or don't even think bout using without chemicals ??
I have a blow up HT. My alkalinity is basically zero. I’ve added 3 tblsp in the past 3 days. Which is twice the amount you suggested. Only did this because i seen another video that said to do a tablespoon not teaspoon. Still not registering but the ph is now ok. So what do I do? I’m so frustrated.
great video, absolutely clear stated to understand . thanks a lot. I am very grateful for this one
Glad it was helpful!
I put 12 tablespoons of baking soda and my ALK is only between 40-60. . Ph was 9 after that lol but i did muriatic acid, 1/4 cup and ph went down to 7.8…. My calcium hardness is still showing zero.. any thoughts? Thanks in advance! Love the channel
Would love some information on why are all the new hot tubs are taking so long to get
Great question. I assume it's because the factories we're likely shut down for at least a month due to the current situation. They probably have to do a lot of the building by hand and a 4 or more week shutdown could easily have put most companies behind on hundreds of orders.
Most likely the larger the company (like Jacuzzi) the less of that you'll see since they have deeper pockets and more employees.
If I hear anything else, I'll comment back.
Jeff
@@HotTubOwnerHQ sounds good I orderd on 3/17 and still nothing ugggg
May be a run on spas. Many are vacationing at home and loose cash to be spent.😁
I ordered my Hot Tub at one of them Shows in July 2020 I just got it Feb 2021, Yes the Covid stuff is killing the process for sure... the interesting thing is they are selling a TON of tubs because no one can go anywhere... that is what is really causing the backlog from what the delivery guy told me... NO Vacations Lets buy a HOT TUB! My electrician who who hooked my Tub up to Power, was telling me as much as 12 -14 months to get a tub.. that that was Echoed by my delivery guy. Not the best time to buy a tub i guess..
i Feel fortunate i got ours in 6 Months(ish) just in time for my wife's Birthday.
Now how about decreasing ph
Thanks, for making it simple.
You bet!
I am going nuts Jeff. I get the alkalinity dialed in and ph and chlorine is off. I get ph and chlorine dialed in and alkalinity is low .Then I add 1/2 cup of baking soda which my Sutro monitor recommended for my 412 gallon Thermospa. Which you say should not affect the ph or chlorine levels. Wrong ph is now high at 8.2+ chlorine is 1.5 and alkalinity is low at 31-50 my Sutro monitor says. What gives? I tested with a test strip to see if my Sutro monitor was wrong and its not. I am so frustrated I can’t use my hot tub every day.
My ph and akilnity is yellow on the test strip and I've can't get it to move I tried the baking soda tonight I'll check in the morning too if it changes what else do you recommend
Great info Jeff. Tks
Thanks!
I just opened and filled my 300 gal. Hot tub. Balanced the PH and Alkalinity plus hardness. Added 3 bromine tablets and so far 2 ounces of granulated bromine starter as well. And still don't have a reading using the test strips. Any suggestions? Ps I added another 2 ounces.
You talked about how to fix low alkalinity but what if its way too high?
Muriatic acid $10 at Walmart
Thanks so much for this! we have a very small hot tub that's been up for about a week, do you recommend adding a tsp of baking soda every week, if we don't change the water? The book said change water every 2-4 weeks..and I'm really nervous about using harsh chemicals.(I bought a floater with chlorine tabs for cold/ Bromine tabs for hot) Thanks :)
Thank you! I just found this out as well! Thanks for bringing it to our attention!
Also, I know you should add borax, but do you know how much? Thanks from Michigan❣️🌻
Yes, I actually have another video that dives into that in case you're interested. About 1/4 cup is about right. Here's that link - ua-cam.com/video/tVMDWh5Og8U/v-deo.html
jeff my calcuim level is very low is there a good item to raise it like the baking soda trick
You’ve convinced me to go with Bromine over chlorine. Do you use the same test strips or are they different for bromine? Thanks
Most brands list both, so it should be fine to use the same one. But if yours only says chlorine, I would get some that say bromine since the numbers are different.
Halllp! I keep having problems with Ph being too high and Alk too low. So I've used a whole bottle of ph- to get from 8.5 to 7.7 then I add Bsoda to get Alk almost Hugh enough to suggested levels..2 days later Ph is 8.4 and Alk is like 30 ppm :/
I've been leaving the air off when cover is on and only running jets. It helps a bit but I worry it puts stress on the plumbing to keep air restricted. I only have 1 pump in my hit tub (Seratoga/Champlain series) This is a 2 month tub and I'm still on my first fill.
Should I keep adding baking Soda to get alk right then muriatic acid to drop Ph? It seems like a constant battle. I bought a bottle of Spa Sentry for next fill as recommended to battle ph bounce. 😅
Thanks for commenting! I answered your question in a new video I just shot, so look for that video to come out the week of 10/24/22! Thanks for being here! - Jeff
Thanks for the info, brother... Good stuff !!! :):):)
You bet!
You're good Jeff! Question: is it possible that a low alkalinity gives skin rashes. My Bromine is ok, PH seem good (7,2) but the alkalinity is at about 50 and me and my girlfriend have huge rash since we've been a little too long in the spa. And also, there's alway a lot of foam when the tub's running high.
Hi Bruno. I've never heard of that, but I do know pH levels will almost never be correct if the alkalinity is way off, and high pH can definitely cause rashes. But it sounds like that's not the issue (as long as the brand of test strip you're using is accurate (could be worth trying a different brand).
Foam is an indicator of high levels of total dissolves solids (TDS) and sometimes just means it's time to change the water (which should be happening about every 3 months). But you can also scoop out the excess foam and then hyper-chlorinate the water and let it sit for a day or 2 before soaking so the chlorine levels drop to a safe level.
Lastly, if you've never done a biofilm cleaning, that could definitely be the culprit. Biofilm is basically bacteria buildup inside your plumbing. You won't see it to know it's there.
I do a biofilm cleaning every time I change my hot tub's water. If you don't know how to do that, just check out my video on it - ua-cam.com/video/8VxcrdIHtQo/v-deo.html
I'm concerned that my hot tub has too much soap/detergents in it. My alkalinity is pretty much spot on to the approved range, while my pH is a bit low (maybe 6.8/7.0 as opposed to 7.2).
I do get some foaming, but not an excessive amount. Foam Away works to control it for a day before needing more.
But other than draining, cleaning, and filling the hot tub, is there anything that I can do to eliminate any residual soaps/detergents that may currently be in the water?
Cleaning the filters regularly (rinse weekly and deep clean quarterly) along with making sure sanitizing (2-3 times a week) and shocking (weekly) are happening regularly are the best ways to combat foam. But you can also use a skimmer net to get rid of any excess foam on the surface.
If some people using the hot tub wear a lot of perfume/cologne/body lotions, etc you could also ask them to rinse off in a shower before getting in.
Also, when you drain and refill, in between if you're cleaning, just use a mix of water and white vinegar rather than soap or any type of detergent.
Hope that helps!
Can I you denture cleaner in jaccuzi?
Hmmmm . . . I wouldn't, but I'd have to know what's in that product to say for sure. Looks like sodium hypochlorite (a mild bleach) is often used, along with baking soda (which would raise pH and alkalinity).
What makes you want to use that?
What test strips do you recommend? I'm a new owner
Hi Sheena
I really like Poolmaster's 4-way test strips. That's the one I've used for a while (for both my hot tub and above-ground pool). They also have thousands of great reviews on Amazon too. Here's a link if you need one - amzn.to/3d4tKH6
Hi Sheena
I really like Poolmaster's 4-way test strips. That's the one I've used for a while (for both my hot tub and above-ground pool). They also have thousands of great reviews on Amazon too. Here's a link if you need one - amzn.to/3d4tKH6
So guess what??? I have no hot tub yet... When they didn't call or show up I called them. Come to find out there's another Jason Smith in Boise that ordered a bigger hot tub and the shipping guy got us confused when he was talking to me a month ago, and told me it was shipped. Mine still hasn't been built apparently. Yet he said it is going to ship this Monday the 3rd and will be here Friday the 7th. (Don't ask... I don't know how it's going to ship Monday when it hasn't been built yet either.) So, done holding my breath, but sounds like it'll be here on the 7th now... yaaaaa.....
That's a quick build if they are shipping in just a few days! Frustrating for sure!
@@HotTubOwnerHQ Yeah I have no clue how long it actually takes to build one but to say mine is not built yet, but hey it'll ship on Monday, seems a bit quick.
How about just add how much of the mag oxide is needed then we got all the basics instead of having to keep hunting
For the average size hot tub, start with about 1/4 cup of magnesium oxide powder. You can always add more, but if you overdo it, you’ll have to add something to drop it back down.