Should I treat my spa water the same way I treat my pool water?

Although the pH and total alkalinity measurements are the same, keep the sanitizer level (bromine or chlorine) in your spa between 3-5 ppm. The filter also requires more frequent cleaning and the water more frequent care than a pool, to ensure pH and sanitizer levels are correct. For further details, please speak with your spa retailer.

I bought a product to lock my pH at the proper level. When I added it, my spa water clouded up! Why?

These products are meant for use 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 water clears, the spa will resume normal operation.

I am using bromine tablets to sanitize my spa and the directions for use say I need to add a "bromide bank" first. Why do I need to do this?

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.

My retailer tells me not to use soft water (low calcium level) in my spa. Why is the calcium level important to my water's balance?

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 100-300 ppm, add a calcium hardness increaser. 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.

My spa has an ozonator. I have heard that I should not use a clarifier in my spa. Why?

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.

My cartridge filter is dirty, and I was told to just put it in my dishwasher to clean it. Is this the best way?

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 are removed from the filter.