Carefree's
Spa Water Care Ideas
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Water
balance is essential for the enjoyment of your spa.
Water balance
should be checked a minimum of once per week
except with the
AquaFinesse™
water care system. You should treat your
spa water at least once per week even when not in
use.
The
tables below provide specific instructions with a
recommended weekly routine for water balance actions
for the water purity systems we offer.
No water purity system is perfect and some work
better for some than others. Some skin types are sensitive to chemicals
or the additives in the chemicals. The systems we
offer are as follows:
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AquaFinesse™,
no more itchy skin, water tests or balance
chemicals. Removes the bio-film from your spa
plumbing.
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Ionization cartridge/shock
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Bromine/Chlorine
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Salt system
that generates it's own chlorine. Otherwise no
packaged chlorines, bromines or spa shock is not
needed.
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Biguinide
sanitizers and hydrogen peroxide oxidizers such
as Soft soak or Baquacil or Baqua Spa.
(least preferred systems).
With any water care system, shower after use!
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1) Silver
Ionization (Nature 2™)
cartridges are made up of copper and silver minerals that
attach to bacteria and inhibits
growth. The ionization cartridge is placed
adjacent to or inside the filter as per manufacturer's
instructions. Replace this cartridge every four months.
Nature 2™ is not a sanitizer nor does it oxidize
contaminates. Therefore the use of chlorine and spa shock or enhanced
spa shock is required in this
system. Nature 2 uses 50% less chemicals than other
water care systems. Use the recommendations that follow
and on the box when using an ionization system. Carefree
recommends zinc ionization and touch of bromine for
business travelers or mountain hot tub properties. |
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Water Care
Schedule |
What to Do - Mineral Ionization
Cartridge/Shock |
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Spa Start-up (also
see Spa Fill Instructions)
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Drain and refill your spa.
Do not use softened water.
Correct calcium hardness at
the time of drain and refill
only (120-150 PPM). Add 2
oz. per 250 gallons of Stain
and Scale Control. Add the
Nature 2 cartridge adjacent
to the filter. With larger
filters nest cartridge in
the pleats of filter. Add 1 teaspoon of chlorine
to spa per 250 gallons of
water. Note: 1 teaspoon
= 1/4 ounce. Add 1 tablespoon of
potassium peroxymonosulfate
(Shock) to spa per 250
gallons. |
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Everyday |
Run the pump and filter
system at least 6-12 hours
daily. |
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After Each Use
Note: You may add before spa
usage as long as you wait at
least 15 minutes. |
The Nature 2™
mineral purifier will become
inactive if you do not add spa
shock to the water after
each use. Add 1 teaspoon of
shock for each person that
used the spa (max. 5
teaspoons). If spa is not
used, add 1.5 - 2
tablespoons of shock every 3
days. |
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Once a week (also
see Weekly Water Test) |
Add 3 tablespoons of spa
shock per 250 gallons. Frequent users may
also need to
add 1 teaspoon of chlorine
per 250 gallons after each
use. After adding spa
shock, run the pumps and
keep cover open 10-15
minutes. Check pH and
total alkalinity levels with
a test strip or 5-in-1 test
kit. |
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As needed |
If the water starts to look
hazy, shock the water with
1
teaspoon of chlorine per 250
gallons. After
heavy use or exposure to
rain or snow additional shocking is
recommended. When using the
Nature 2™ system there
is no way to test for the
shock you are using. You can
determine how much shock to
add by the water clarity.
Spa shock usage varies from
user to user. If you
start with 1 teaspoon per
person and the water stays
clear you are on the right
track. If the water is
cloudy, add 1.5
teaspoons for each person
that used the spa until the
water becomes sparkling
clear to the bottom. |
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Every 4 Months |
Drain and refill your spa. Replace Nature 2™ purifier,
repeat spa start-up. |
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2) Bromine
comes in
three different forms. A liquid (not common), bromine
concentrate (a mixture of bromine and chlorine), and
bromine tablets. The easiest is use of bromine tablets.
Bromine comes with its own activator and
kills bacteria as well as oxidizes contaminates as they
dissolve. 1-2 Bromine tablets are placed in the filter area
where they can slowly dissolve. Additional tablets are
added as required to compensate for bather load.
Occasionally, bromine gives off a harsh or
unpleasant smell. To eliminate odor, the water
should be oxidized or shocked once per week.
Use the recommended instructions for this system as
follows: |
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When |
What to Do - Bromine/Chlorine |
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Spa Start-up (also
see Spa Fill Instructions)
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Drain and
refill your spa. Do not use
softened water. Add 1
teaspoon of chlorine to spa
per 250 gallons of water.
Note: 1 teaspoon = 1/4
ounce. Correct calcium
hardness at the time of
drain and refill only
(120-150 PPM). Then use 2
oz. per 250 gallons of Stain
and Scale Control. Add
2 bromine tabs to your
floater or skimmer basket. |
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Everyday |
Run the spa's
pump and filtration system 6-12 hours
or more daily
on standard mode. |
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After Each Use
Note: You may add before spa
usage as long as you wait at
least 15 minutes. |
Keep some
portion of two Bromine
tablets dissolving in the
skimmer. Adjust with more or
less bromine depending upon
spa size and bather load. As
an alternative to the
tablets, bromine concentrate
can be added 1 teaspoon per
200 gallons. Repeat that
dosage every 15-20 minutes
until desired test strip
result (3-6PPM Bromine) is
achieved. |
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Once a week (also
see Weekly Water Test) |
Add 3 tablespoons of spa
shock per 250 gallons. Frequent users may need to
add 1 teaspoon of chlorine
per 250 gallons after each
use. After adding spa
shock, run the pumps and
keep cover open 10-15
minutes. Check pH and
total alkalinity levels with
a test strip or 5 in 1 test
kit. |
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As needed |
If the water starts to look
hazy, shock the water with
1
teaspoon of chlorine per 250
gallons. After
heavy use or exposure to
rain or snow additional shocking is
recommended. You can
determine how much shock to
add by the water clarity.
Spa shock usage varies from
user to user. If you
start with 1 teaspoon per
person and the water stays
clear you are on the right
track. If the water is
cloudy, add 1.5
teaspoons for each person
that used the spa until the
water becomes sparkling
clean. Do not add more than
5 teaspoons of chlorine per
day. Common sense says
that you should not use the
spa when shocking the spa. |
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Every 4 Months |
Drain and refill your spa. Repeat
spa start-up. |
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3) Biguinide
is
a non-bromine/chlorine system. It sanitizes or kills
the bacteria. It uses hydrogen peroxide to break down
the bacteria or to oxidize the waste. Biguinide is a
multiple bottle system and is based on the amount of
water/gallon size of your tub. The start-up dose
for a biguinide system is twice as much as the weekly
dosage. Weekly products contain waterline
control, stain and scale, shock and sanitizer. This
system of water care is Carefree's least preferred
system.
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4) The revolutionary
ECO Spa
transforms mildly salted water
(one-tenth the concentration of sea water) into a natural chlorine
solution that completely sanitizes your spa water. All pools and spas
require the correct balance to function properly including salt system
spas and pools. The goal is to achieve the following water balance
levels and ranges: |
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Total Alkalinity |
90-120 PPM |
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pH |
7.4 – 7.8 |
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Calcium Hardness Salt System |
150 PPM |
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TDS (total dissolved solids) |
3000-3500 PPM |
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TDS |
3000 PPM Salt |
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Drain & Refill if TDS levels exceed |
4500-5000 PPM |
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Water Care
Schedule |
What to Do - ECO Salt System |
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Spa Start-up (also
see Spa Fill Instructions)
Contact CarePlan
your backyard escape now at
Carefree Spas. Spas at
Highlands Ranch. Used and
refurb spas. Live your life
with healthy water Aqua
Finesse. Carefree Spas the
best warehouse discounts for
hot tubs, spas, used spas,
Aqua Finesse.free Spas &
Pools at 303-321-9500 for
questions regarding
conversion of your spa or
pool to and Eco Spa or Eco
Pool System.
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1) Drain and
refill your spa. Do not use
softened water. Switch
on the red toggle switch
on the Eco Spa Power Unit
inside salt system access
panel or service area This
is the desired setting for
the “ORP.” Oxidation
Reduction Potential which is
the sanitizing power.
2)
As the spa heats up, use a
5-way test strip to
determine water balance
needs such as pH,
Alkalinity and Calcium
Hardness. These factors
should be corrected as per
instructions on bottle
labels if out of range. All
chemicals added to the
balanced water should be
mixed (pre-dissolved
thoroughly).
3)Wait
until the spa to heats to 95
degrees. Do not add the ECO
Spa salt prior to the spa
temperature reaching 95
degrees. You will broadcast
(spread throughout) the salt
in small batches (1.5
pounds) directly into the
spa water with the pumps
running. 7-12 pounds is
typical for our spas.
4)Verify
that all salt is dissolved
by turning off pumps and
visually looking in the
spa. Any settled salt can
be “swirled” into a
dissolved state. The
estimated amounts of salt
required range from 7 pounds
per 250 gallons model to 12+
pounds on a 400 gallon spa.
Monitor the “add salt” light
on the Eco Spa power unit.
The light will go off once
the correct salt level is
achieved. With the “add
salt light” now off, your
start-up tasks are complete
and you are ready to use
your spa. |
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Everyday |
Run the spa's
pump and filtration system 6-12 hours daily
on standard mode. |
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After Each Use |
Nothing special. |
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Once a week (also
see table above) |
Use 5 and 1 test strips or a
high range
test
kit to test water balance.
Correct the alkalinity and
pH before it goes out of
range. Always correct
alkalinity first. Often, pH
rises as the Eco Spa system
operates. This is a normal
function. Lower the pH with
pH decreaser. A typical
correction to the water
balance for reducing pH
levels is 1-2 capfuls which
should be broadcast
throughout spa with the
pumps running. |
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Other Eco System notes |
Avoid any items with
phosphates and be certain
your water is tested for
phosphates and treated with
“salt water magic” as
required. Test for
phosphates or new fill and
several times during the
life of the water. Laundered
swim suits are culprits for
containing phosphates. |
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Every 6 Months |
Drain and refill your spa. Repeat
spa start-up. |
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What
Salt Do I Use in My Spa?
Course, granular, kiln dried solar salt is the only
correct salt. Any salt with potassium chloride
additives or anti-caking agents are not approved and
will not operate with the Eco Salt System properly.
Carefree Spas & Pools is the only source for the correct
salt.
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Troubleshooting:
If the test strip reflects out of range levels of
chlorine, before adjusting the ORP setting, correct the
pH. High pH is caused by the operation of the Eco Spa
system. Once pH is corrected, verify that the light on
the Eco Spa shows ORP “low” or “high” or “in range.”
Remember that the 12 o’clock setting is typically the
correct setting for good water balance. |
Review water test
procedures, the manufacturer’s Eco Spa manual or call
303-321-9600 or visit our Highlands Ranch store to
review your questions.
5)
AquaFinesse
Developed in the
Netherlands with proven results for the
past 10 years. AquaFinesse is the most simple and
effective means of spa water care. AquaFinesse has
improved spa maintenance and enjoyment.

This
proprietary formula is a
salt and enzyme based solution
with trace amounts of tri-chlor which not only
sanitizes the water but also
eliminates the need for
test strips, pH adjustment and alkalinity balance. The
rules for spa care have now changes.
There is
no offensive odor but rather a soft,
pleasant lavender scent.
AquaFinesse works with your
filter, ionization and ozone system
to eliminate bio-film and bacteria.
Once a week; simple and
quick routine maintenance keeps your spa
crystal clear. Once you have tried this system, you will
never go back to a harsh chemical routine.
Call with
any questions. Our representatives will be ready to
assist you.
303-321-9600
Buy Aqua Finesse
on-line now.
Copyright
© carefreespas.com 2010 |
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