W
ater Clarity
20
OC Hot Tubs Owner’s Manual
LTR50001045, Rev. N
Adding Chemicals To The Spa Water
IMPORTANT: All spa water chemicals, including MPS (shock), chlorine, granulated pH increaser or decreaser, granulated
total alkalinity increaser, calcium hardness increaser, liquid stain and scale inhibitor, and liquid de-foamer must always be
added directly into or in front of the filter compartment while a jet pump is running, and it must run for a minimum of ten
minutes.
1. Fold back the cover.
2. Press the
Jets
or
Jets 1
button.
3. Carefully measure the recommended amount of chemical and slowly pour it into the filter area. Use care not to splash
chemicals on your hands, in your eyes, on the spa surface, or on the siding.
4. Close the spa cover.
Warning:
High sanitizer levels can cause discomfort to the user’s eyes, lungs and skin. Always allow the sanitizer level to
fall to the recommended range before using the spa.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING SHOCK TREATMENT:
After administering shock to your spa, leave the cover open for
a minimum of 20 minutes to allow the oxidizer gas to vent. A high concentration of trapped oxidizer gas which may exist as
a result of the shock treatment (not daily sanitation) may eventually cause discoloration or vinyl degradation to the bottom
of the cover. This type of damage is considered chemical abuse and is not covered under the terms of the limited warranty.
Total Alkalinity is a measure of the total levels of carbonates,
bicarbonates, hydroxides, and other alkaline substances in the water.
TA is referred to as the water’s “pH buffer”. In other words, it’s a
measure of the ability of the water to resist changes in pH level.
If the TA is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely from high to
low. Fluctuations in pH can cause corrosion or scaling of the spa
components. Low TA can be corrected by adding sodium carbonate
(pH/Alkalinity Up).
If the Total Alkalinity is too high, the pH level will tend to be high and
may be difficult to bring down. It can be lowered by using sodium
bisulfate(pH/Alkalinity Down).
Once the TA is balanced, it normally remains stable, although the addition of more water with a high or low alkalinity will
raise or lower the TA reading of the water.
When the Total Alkalinity is within the recommended range, proceed to the next step.
1. Balancing the Water Chemistry Levels
8.2
8.0
7.8
7.6
7.4
7.2
7.0
6.8
6.6
Ideal pH balance
Add a pH
decreaser
Add a pH
increaser
pH too high
Too alkaline, causes
scaling
pH too low
Too acidic, causes
corrosion
pH
balance
120
140
160
180
100
80
Ideal TA balance
Add an alkalinity
increaser
Add an alkalinity
decreaser
60
40
20
TA too low
pH will fluctuate
wildly
TA too high
pH will be too high
and may be difficult
to stabilize pH
TA
balance
200
225
250
275
175
150
Ideal CH balance
CH too low
Causes equipment
corrosion
CH too high
Causes scale to
deposit on spa and
equipment
Add a calcium
hardness increaser
Dilute the spa
with soft water
125
100
75
CH
balance
Maintaining spa water chemistry can be tricky, especially since there are many methods of keeping your water clear and
clean. Follow the maintenance schedule on page 24 to determine how often you should test your water.
We do not recommend any brand of chemical. See page 24 for a table of common chemicals used in spas and their
generic equivalents.
See a spa dealer for guidance and recommendations on spa chemicals and supplies. Various chemicals often sold under
brand names, but a spa dealer can advise you on generic chemicals that are often much less costly than proprietary brands.
Balancing the Total Alkalinity (TA)
