How do I get started?
Spa Start-Up:
- Always drain and refill spa at least every 4 months.
- Clean and replace filter cartridges when dirty (Follow manufacturer's
instructions.)
- Balance water.
Click here for spa water balance guidelines.
- Heat water to recommended temperature before using cartridges.
- VERY IMPORTANT!
– Before using cartridges, establish an initial residual of 1.0 to 2.0 ppm bromine or chlorine with a granular Brominating Concentrate or a chlorine shock. DO NOT USE a non-chlorine shock. Use the appropriate bromine or chlorine test strips or kit and follow manufacturer's instructions.
How often should I drain and refill my spa?
Drain and refill the spa every four months,
which is when we recommend replacing your spa mineral product.
How often should I shock my spa?
Shock the spa with a chlorine or
non-chlorine shock once a week or if the water looks hazy.
How long should I run my pump?
Always follow the spa manufacturer's directions or state codes for spa operation.
Bromine & Chlorine
Why does King Technology recommend bromine over chlorine?
Bromine is the leading spa sanitizer with a number of benefits over chlorine. It dissolves
slower in hot water; it’s less odorous and less corrosive and it regenerates itself every time you shock the spa.
Chlorine is also compatible with our SPA FROG minerals.
What should my bromine or chlorine level be?
When using FROG minerals you can reduce chlorine or bromine levels to 1 ppm. Using chlorine or bromine alone you must maintain 2-4 ppm.
How should I test my bromine or chlorine levels?
Most test kits found at your local dealer will test for
chlorine or bromine as well as pH and total alkalinity. Keep in mind these kits will state that 1 ppm is low but it is NOT with FROG.
If you are experiencing water chemistry issues,
you may need to bring a water sample into your spa dealer for additional analyses.
Why does my spa have a strong chlorine smell?
Strong, smelly chlorine odor means you have chloramines,
organic by products of chlorine oxidizing sweat, urine and other contaminants.
Ridding the spa of chloramines demands a shock treatment. (either chlorine
or non-chlorine)
Spa Filtration
Can filter or circulation problems contribute to water quality problems?
Yes, filters and circulation issues can lead to
several water chemistry issues such as cloudy or hazy water. Make
sure your filter is
clean and in good working condition and your circulation time meets the spa manufacturer's requirements.
How will bather load impact my spa?
The number of people in a spa has a huge effect
on spa sanitation. For example, four people in an average spa
demand the same sanitation level of 200-300 people in an average home
swimming pool.
Spa Water Balancing
Do you have recommended water balance guidelines?
What type of test kit do you recommend?
Standard test kits available from your
spa dealer will work fine. If you are experiencing water chemistry issues,
you may need to bring a water sample into your spa dealer for additional analyses.
Should my spa dealer test my water?
It’s always a good idea to have your spa dealer fully
test your water once you have completed your start-up process to
make sure everything is in line. If you experience
any difficulties with balancing or sanitizing, have your dealer test the water and
give you an analysis of what needs to be done to correct the situation.
My pH is hard to maintain. Why?
Everything that enters your spa has a pH that
can raise or lower the total pH of the spa.
The following is a list of possible culprits that
could be giving you a difficult time in maintaining pH between
the desired range of 7.2 and 7.8.
- Tap water, depending on the area of the country, can either have a low or high pH
- Overestimating the amount of pH Decreaser or pH Increaser needed is often the problem
- Using bromine or chlorine tends to lower pH over time, while
using shocks like Calcium Hypochlorite or Lithium Hypochlorite may raise
the pH over time.
- High bather loads will tend to lower pH.
- Swimmer wastes, such as perspiration, urine, saliva and other body oils will also lower pH.
- A high alkalinity reading will raise the pH.
- Dirt, debris or leaves that blow into the pool as well as rain that is often acidic will lower pH.
- Salt chlorine generators will drive pH up.
What's the difference between pH and Alkalinity?
pH is the abbreviation for “potential hydrogen” and the
reading indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water.
Basically, it is the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) the
water is.
Total alkalinity is the measure of how stable the pH is.
It measures the water’s buffering capacity to resist pH changes.
Without control of the total alkalinity, the pH will rise and fall
abruptly.
What is calcium hardness?
Calcium Hardness (or Total Hardness), as the name implies,
refers to the hardness of the water, measuring the amount of mainly
calcium and also other minerals. Swimming pools require hard water – defined
as water with more than 100 ppm of hardness ions.
Like pH and alkalinity, calcium hardness affects the tendency of
water to be corrosive when it is low and scale forming when it is high.
Generally, calcium hardness levels should be kept between 200 and 400 ppm.
When should I use clear water aids, such as clarifiers?
Whenever you water looks hazy or cloudy, it is full of
various particles that clarifiers bind together so they are large enough
to be removed by your
filter. Shocking the spa can also take care of this process.
Does it make a difference if my water is from a well,
city or soft water system?
Yes. Water supplies contain different levels of natural
minerals like iron, copper or magnesium. These minerals must be removed from
the water with a Metal Out or Sequestering Agent (see your dealer) to ensure
easier balancing and proper sanitation. If using our FROG Mineral products,
make sure you remove the natural water minerals at spa start up, wait 24 hours and clean filter before you use
the special FROG minerals.
Other Spa Chemistry Issues
What causes cloudy water / haze?
- Your sanitizer level could be low.
- The pH could be high.
- Your filter might be dirty.
- You may need to increase your circulation time.
Why do I have foam?
The biggest culprit is detergent residue on swimming suits, but foaming can
also be caused by cosmetics, sun tan lotion, body oils or other
organic materials. Some tile and vinyl cleaners may
also cause foaming. High pH is another cause. Use a defoamer.
Why is my water discolored?
When the water changes color it’s usually due to
the presence of metals from fill water.
Iron with a rusty look or copper with a greenish, bluish appearance
are common. Test for calcium hardness. Consult with your spa dealer
regarding s
sequestering agents or other options to resolve the problem.
My spa has a strong chlorine odor. Why?
Strong, smelly chlorine odor means you have
chloramines, organic by products of chlorine oxidizing sweat,
urine and other contaminates. Ridding the spa of chloramines requires
a shock treatment. (either chlorine or non-chlorine)
