JEFF... SO helpful. I also smiled at how much you changed from one video to the next...as your life changed. Had to make sure it was still the HTHQ. Again...THANKS!
Hi Jeff! Great video. You are so kind to offer your knowledge to newbies. Side note---- OMG is that your beagle or the neighbor's. I hope he doesn't bark 24/7 when you are trying to relax and enjoy your lovely hot tub. Take care!
thank you very much for this video. I have ordered a hot tub but have not received it yet. Delivery maybe next month or so. Since I am very concerned about all the maintenance I am facing soon, your explanations in your videos are very appreciated and helpful to understand what to do..thanks again.
For some reason the Poolmaster test strips did not work for me. The bromine would not register...it always came out white, no matter how much Lesuire Bromine liquid I used. I then got Aquacheck strips and WOW my bromine was off the charts! I ended up draining my hot tub half way and filled with fresh water and started over. :) LOVE your videos and have been using all your chemical suggestions. I had been SO frustrated with my hot tub when using Chlorine, I was ALMOST ready to sell it! So your videos saved my Hot Tub! LOL
Thanks, Cher! That's odd. I will say from when I first started this channel, I have moved to bromine tablets as I felt the liquid required a lot more monitoring and adjusting. Now I just throw 3-4 tablets in my floater about every 7-10 days and have to do very little else other than the occasional shock.
I’ve inherited a hot tub (came with the house) but I didn’t know the first thing about maintenance until yesterday. Your videos have helped a lot so thank you! How often do you filter the water and for how long?
You talked a lot about water chemistry. Do you have an opinion on having a dedicated circulation pump versus having two-speed jet pumps for circulation? Does a dedicated circ pump help make water maintenance easier? That is one of the biggest things I'm trying to determine as I look to buy my first hot tub. Not much information out there on the pros and cons of each. Would love to see you do a video on this.
Love the videos. We just got a Clarity Balance 7 spa this week and I'm struggling to get the pH/Alk/Clorine right. I keep adding pH down but it isn't making much progress. I hate these test kits and struggle to determine what color it matches to. Are any of the pH meters or the reagent test kits more accurate and easier to read? Second, we have well water and high iron water (pre-softener). I followed your advice regarding the metal out type of product and used the recommended (actually a bit more) amount. But it's still cloudy/brownish and leaving a ring on the water line. It's frustrating.. the kids are going crazy as they were hoping to be in it by now.
I've never actually used a test kit; just test strips. The well water can definitely be high in both calcium and iron, but it sounds like you've used a metal and calcium reducer. I also never am able to balance the pH if the alkalinity is way off, so you may need to use something like muriatic acid to really lower the alkalinity and then use pH up or down products to then work on the pH. I know they are related and products tend to affect both, but if the alkalinity is way high, pH or spa down products probably won't cut it. I like this safer muratic acid on Amazon (amzn.to/2WrIf0i) as it's a little easier and safer to work with.
I am a first time hot tub owner of 3 months. I currently use chlorine & will be switching to bromine with my next fill. I'm ordering Oh Yuk but if you look at your link Oh Yuk is paired with Sea Clear Spa system flush as buying them together. Do you suggest both? Also, you now use a bromine floating dispenser, what brand do you use & tablets? Thank you for all of your advice.
Hi Tracy. I'll have to take a look at the link then, as I don't know Sea Clear Spa system flush and certainly haven't used it. I only use Oh Yuk! and it works great! I do just use bromine tablets now in a floater and am very happy with that. I use Spa Choice tablets (here's the Amazon link - amzn.to/36gIsYz) and this small floater - amzn.to/36fKZ5l
Off topic but hi jeff i use bromine instead of clorine my problem is the chemicals seem to be good but i get cloudy water within 3 weeks of use my wife uses the hot tub everyday any suggestions
Hi Thomas. If your pH levels are good, my next suggestion would be to make sure and use a chlorine shock as opposed to any of the non-chlorine. It's totally OK to use chlorine shock with bromine sanitizer, and I've always found chlorine shock gets the water clearer. But it also can happen with high levels of calcium in the water. So if you see a lot of scale buildup around shower heads in the house, you probably have high calcium in your water. So you'll likely want to use these 2 products from Amazon by Leisure Time - amzn.to/32phOf2 Lastly, if none of that seems like the answer, with your wife using it daily, it could simply be you need to add more sanitizer and shock more frequently to keep up with the demand.
How about the Hot Spring Spas with Freshwater Salt System? This will generate Chlorine on its own. I am suppose to add Chlorine into the Spa first I get started until the Freshwater Salt System generates Chlorine on its own. My question: Can I add Bromine instead of Chlorine into this sytem? I guess not! I would appreciate your answer.
Hi Flint In most cases, you can use bromine in place of chlorine. However, checking the set up guide of that particular hot tub, it does say "NOT compatible with bromine" so I would follow their recommendations.
@@HotTubOwnerHQ thank you very much for your answer. It sure will help. I like your videos very much, because of your clear speaking I can understand you very well (I am German).
**** Get the Poolmaster Test Strips I use in the video on Amazon - amzn.to/2DT4dnh
JEFF... SO helpful. I also smiled at how much you changed from one video to the next...as your life changed. Had to make sure it was still the HTHQ. Again...THANKS!
Your videos are amazing. Thank you so much!
Hi Jeff! Great video. You are so kind to offer your knowledge to newbies. Side note---- OMG is that your beagle or the neighbor's. I hope he doesn't bark 24/7 when you are trying to relax and enjoy your lovely hot tub. Take care!
You are an excellent resource! Everything you have said resonated with me! Thanks so much!
You are so welcome!
I enjoy your videos and have learned a lot. Thank you for your advice
Your videos are so helpful. :) thank you
Glad you like them!
Awesome info for the newbie's Jeff.
Thanks, Carl!
I would have liked a close up on the test you were doing. Great video for beginners!
Thanks! I need a better camera as when I zoom in too much, the video quality isn't good. Soon!
thank you very much for this video. I have ordered a hot tub but have not received it yet. Delivery maybe next month or so. Since I am very concerned about all the maintenance I am facing soon, your explanations in your videos are very appreciated and helpful to understand what to do..thanks again.
Flint - I highly suggest going with Bromine vs Chlorine (See Jeff's video on this - MIND BLOWN!). Good luck and ENJOY!!!
@@cherm6008 thank you very much
Thanks, Flint!
Let me know if you have questions once it gets here!
@@HotTubOwnerHQ thank you Jeff, I very much appreciate that.
@@HotTubOwnerHQ I need help. I have leveling questions
We use that spa marvel and it keeps the ph and all of that in check
I keep meaning to try that! I'll have to get around to it!
Great job as always just bought m6 first one and you are my go to
Awe, thanks!
Jeff
For some reason the Poolmaster test strips did not work for me. The bromine would not register...it always came out white, no matter how much Lesuire Bromine liquid I used. I then got Aquacheck strips and WOW my bromine was off the charts! I ended up draining my hot tub half way and filled with fresh water and started over. :) LOVE your videos and have been using all your chemical suggestions. I had been SO frustrated with my hot tub when using Chlorine, I was ALMOST ready to sell it! So your videos saved my Hot Tub! LOL
Thanks, Cher!
That's odd. I will say from when I first started this channel, I have moved to bromine tablets as I felt the liquid required a lot more monitoring and adjusting. Now I just throw 3-4 tablets in my floater about every 7-10 days and have to do very little else other than the occasional shock.
@@HotTubOwnerHQ good to know. What brand tablets?
I’ve inherited a hot tub (came with the house) but I didn’t know the first thing about maintenance until yesterday. Your videos have helped a lot so thank you! How often do you filter the water and for how long?
Hi Sajith. Thanks for the compliments! The filtration cycles come on 4 times, about 20 minutes each every day if that's what you mean.
You talked a lot about water chemistry. Do you have an opinion on having a dedicated circulation pump versus having two-speed jet pumps for circulation? Does a dedicated circ pump help make water maintenance easier? That is one of the biggest things I'm trying to determine as I look to buy my first hot tub. Not much information out there on the pros and cons of each. Would love to see you do a video on this.
What kind/make/model of spa was that last one you bought that is 600 gallons?
Love the videos. We just got a Clarity Balance 7 spa this week and I'm struggling to get the pH/Alk/Clorine right. I keep adding pH down but it isn't making much progress. I hate these test kits and struggle to determine what color it matches to. Are any of the pH meters or the reagent test kits more accurate and easier to read? Second, we have well water and high iron water (pre-softener). I followed your advice regarding the metal out type of product and used the recommended (actually a bit more) amount. But it's still cloudy/brownish and leaving a ring on the water line. It's frustrating.. the kids are going crazy as they were hoping to be in it by now.
I've never actually used a test kit; just test strips.
The well water can definitely be high in both calcium and iron, but it sounds like you've used a metal and calcium reducer.
I also never am able to balance the pH if the alkalinity is way off, so you may need to use something like muriatic acid to really lower the alkalinity and then use pH up or down products to then work on the pH. I know they are related and products tend to affect both, but if the alkalinity is way high, pH or spa down products probably won't cut it.
I like this safer muratic acid on Amazon (amzn.to/2WrIf0i) as it's a little easier and safer to work with.
Is it true that you have clean behind the jets
I am a first time hot tub owner of 3 months. I currently use chlorine & will be switching to bromine with my next fill. I'm ordering Oh Yuk but if you look at your link Oh Yuk is paired with Sea Clear Spa system flush as buying them together. Do you suggest both? Also, you now use a bromine floating dispenser, what brand do you use & tablets? Thank you for all of your advice.
Hi Tracy. I'll have to take a look at the link then, as I don't know Sea Clear Spa system flush and certainly haven't used it. I only use Oh Yuk! and it works great!
I do just use bromine tablets now in a floater and am very happy with that. I use Spa Choice tablets (here's the Amazon link - amzn.to/36gIsYz) and this small floater - amzn.to/36fKZ5l
My hot tub manual specifically states not to use chlorine shock as it can damage jets and pump seals and stuff...
Interesting. I'd be curious to know which brand and model that is, as most don't have that stipulation.
Was planning to buy a swim spa. Now Im thinking to just move to a lake house lol
I'll take 1 of each!
Off topic but hi jeff i use bromine instead of clorine my problem is the chemicals seem to be good but i get cloudy water within 3 weeks of use my wife uses the hot tub everyday any suggestions
Hi Thomas. If your pH levels are good, my next suggestion would be to make sure and use a chlorine shock as opposed to any of the non-chlorine. It's totally OK to use chlorine shock with bromine sanitizer, and I've always found chlorine shock gets the water clearer.
But it also can happen with high levels of calcium in the water. So if you see a lot of scale buildup around shower heads in the house, you probably have high calcium in your water.
So you'll likely want to use these 2 products from Amazon by Leisure Time - amzn.to/32phOf2
Lastly, if none of that seems like the answer, with your wife using it daily, it could simply be you need to add more sanitizer and shock more frequently to keep up with the demand.
@@HotTubOwnerHQ thank you i will try that its awesome that your out there for the new hot tub owner thank you again
How about the Hot Spring Spas with Freshwater Salt System? This will generate Chlorine on its own. I am suppose to add Chlorine into the Spa first I get started until the Freshwater Salt System generates Chlorine on its own. My question: Can I add Bromine instead of Chlorine into this sytem? I guess not! I would appreciate your answer.
Hi Flint
In most cases, you can use bromine in place of chlorine. However, checking the set up guide of that particular hot tub, it does say "NOT compatible with bromine" so I would follow their recommendations.
@@HotTubOwnerHQ thank you very much for your answer. It sure will help. I like your videos very much, because of your clear speaking I can understand you very well (I am German).