Hot tub forum???

[CanuckPool]

I have the bromine tabs in there now, didnt I read somewhere that it is dangerous to mix chlorine and bromine together??

[waterbear]

there is chlorine IN your bromine tabs...it is a necessary part of the bromine chemisty. you don't want to mix bromine and trichlor tabs together but bleach is probably the best oxizider to reactivate your bromine bank.

[DaveD]

How about adding a topic for hot tubs? I see bits an pices of the topic all over?

It's becoming apparent to me that spa stores are as bad or worse than pool stores. Since my dad's wife has sensitive skin, they have ALL suggested different miracle cures like Nature2 or Aquaguarde (a new one I can find no specific info on). I keep telling him all of these silver ion or other products do is reduce the demand for chlorine and NONE of them eliminate it's need to be maintined at 3-5 ppm.

Everything I've read on this site and others suggest the following

FC 3-5 PPM
If bromine - bank to 6-9 ppm and maintain by adding chlorine when it drops
Alk 150-180
CA 100-200 mg/l
pH 7.6-7.8

Note I listed ranges so that it is not too difficult to maintain within range. My guess is he will need only bromine, chlorine, and baking soda and occasionally a pH reducer powder (rarely needed). Generally he will need to increase alkalinity becasue of aireration and pH - because of the addition of chlorine - hence the baking soda.

As far as his wife's sensitivity, told him to have her try a bromine spa at her daughters' and then not shower for an hour. If she has no reaction, then bromine should be OK. Whether bromine or chlorine, told him she should always shower afterward and moisturize with her favorite moisturizer. If she does this, I would doubt either would ever bother her.

Have seen chlorine calculators on this site. Since the spa is only 440 gallons, could you use the same calculator for bromine since both are ppm measurements?

Is there any advantage to scale inhibitors? My guess is that if maintin any one of the scaling indices - puckorius, Ryzner or Langlier in the neutral to slightly descaling range you should be OK. Do the above ranges stay in the neutral to slightly descaling mode?

Has anyone investigated Aquaguarde?