Not having success with BBB in my hot tub

[chem geek]

Just an update. Decided to give CL one last shot. As Richard and I discussed, my CYA was high so I did a drain and refill and have the CYA at 30PPM now. Also gave up on the salt since Richard suggest that it oxidize the CL faster. Things appear to be much more stable after the refill. I can hold a CL greater than 6PPM for a day day or two now so maintaining the tub with CL is now tolerable.

Thanks for the update. The lower CYA level will keep the sanitation level of chlorine up while the elimination of extra salt (chloride ion) will cut down the outgassing of chlorine gas (it's not that it oxidizes faster, but that it gets converted back to chlorine gas -- the opposite of dissolving chlorine gas in the water).

As others have mentioned, using Bromine is quite typical in a spa so if you get frustrated with the chlorine just switch. Keep us posted, especially if anything changes (e.g. you experience hot tub itch, or you start to lose too much chlorine, etc.).

Richard