Balanced Water

When talking about balanced water, we are talking about water that will neither corrode nor scale. Balanced water helps keep metal pipes and heating elements from corroding. Balanced water also helps prevent scale deposits from forming on spa surfaces, pipes and on heating elements. These scale deposits reduce the spa equipment's efficiency.

WHAT IS pH

pH is a measure of whether something is acidic, basic, or neutral, and it is always measured on a scale of 0 to 14. Everything has a pH value associated with it. A pH of 7.0 is neutral, a pH under 7.0 is acidic, and a pH over 7.0 is basic.

TOTAL ALKALINITY

No discussion of pH would be complete without looking at total alkalinity. Total alkalinity is a measure of alkaline materials in the spa water. While this doesn't mean much to most of us, what is important is that these alkaline materials play a significant role in helping to maintain the spa's pH. These alkaline materials help prevent changes in the spa's pH. At proper total alkalinity levels, the spa's pH will be more stable. This stabilizing is referred to as buffering the pH.

CALCIUM HARDNESS

Calcium hardness is a measure of dissolved calcium in the spa's water. While calcuim hardness is important to water balance, it is not as frequently tested as pH and total alkalinity. In fact, most consumer test strips do not test calcuim hardness. As such, periodically have your water tested by Eastgate Pools & Spas so that we can advise you as to what treatment, if any, is needed.

Clean Water

While balanced water is determined by pH, total alkalinity and calcuim hardness, clean water is determined by the spa's sanitizer. When we talk about clean water, we are referring to more than just water that looks nice. We are referring to water that is safe for the users of the spa. Clean water is free of both visible debris as well as invisible debris like bacteria.

SANITIZERS

While ecoone® eases the oxidation demand on your sanitizer it is not a registered sanitizer. Maintain the minimum recommended amount of sanitizer in your spa. This may range between .05 ppm and 3 ppm depending on your local regulatory agency guidelines.

At  minimum, we recommend ozone and shocking weekly with a sanitizing shock such as ONEshockTM or dichlor.

OZONE: (Highly Recommended) Ozone is the most powerful and, arguably the safest sanitizer available. However, ozone oxidizes very quickly and does not create a 'residual' in the water. A minimum residual of chlorine should be used with ozone systems.

Use with ecoone®: Shock weekly with ONEshockTM or dichlor per label instructions to kill any residual or resistant bacteria. May also use non-chlorine shock.

DICHLOR / ONEshockTM: (highly recommended) Highly effective and 'self-shocking,' ONEshockTM / dichlor is a balanced form of chlorine that can be used both as a sanitizing shock and residual sanitizer. When used correctly with the ecoone® system, you will not experience chlorine smell, itching or rashes.

BROMINE: (compatible) Establish initial bromine levels per package instructions. Set floater for minimum dispersal and adjust as needed. Shock weekly with either dichlor, ONEshockTM or non-chlorine shock.

TRICHLOR: DO NOT USE (white pucks, similar in appearance to bromine) Never use trichlor as a spa sanitizer. It may damage your spa, cause respiratory issues and WILL void most spa's warranty.

BACTERICIDES / ALTERNATIVES

BIGUANIDE: (not recommended) Not tested for compatibility.

COPPER / SILVER: (compatible) Copper & silver based products are somewhat effective bactericides for spas. However, in the warm water, 'bacteria-friendly' environment of a hot tub, they should still be used with a chlorine shock such as ONEshockTM.

“ACTIVE OXYGEN:” (compatible) This is essentially non-chlorine shock being sold as a sanitizer. It is NOT a sanitizer. Works well with ozone.

MINERAL CARTRIDGES: (compatible, not necessary)

MAGNETS & MISC. GADGETS: mostly harmless – not sanitizers. Scientifically dubious.

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