Chemical Additions-Water Quality FAQ

Although this is not the only way to balance your spa, this information can help you get back to perfect readings.

 

We also will test your water for free here at Ajax Pool and Spa.  Just bring us a 1-2 cup sample of your water.

 

STANDARD CHEMICAL ADDITIONS

 

SIZE OF SPA:    

150-200 GALLONS (VERY SMALL SPAS – 1 TO 3 PERSON SPAS)

200-250 GALLONS (UNDER 6 FOOT SPAS – 3 TO 4 PERSON SPAS)

250-300 GALLONS (6-7 FOOT SPAS)

300-450 GALLONS (7-8 FOOT SPAS)

 

SIZES OF ADDITIONS: 

SHOT                     1 S          1.5 OZ. OF LIQUID

CAP                        1 C          ONE CAPFULL OF STANDARD SIZE PACKAGING 2# CONTAINER

½ C         ½ CAPFULL OF STANDARD SIZE PACKAGING 2# CONTAINER

¼ C         ¼ CAPFULL OF STANDARD SIZE PACKAGING 2# CONTAINER

TABLESPOON     1T           ONE TABLESPOON OF LIQUID OR DRY SUBSTANCE

½ T         ½ TABLESPOON OF LIQUID OR DRY SUBSTANCE

TEASPOON          1TSP      ONE TEASPOON OF LIQUID (3 TEASPOONS TO ONE TABLESPOON)

 

SPA ADDITIONS:

 

  1. SANITIZERS:             CHLORINE OR BROMINE – IF THE CHLORINE OR BROMINE READING IS 5+ YOU MUST INTERPULATE THE ACTUAL HIGH READING.  VERY HIGH CHLORINE OR BROMINE READINGS MAY “BLEACH OUT” YOUR TEST RESULTS.  IT WILL ALSO MAKE YOUR ALKALINITY TEST PURPLE.
  2. CHLORINE AND BROMINE CANNOT BE USED TOGETHER, THEY WILL TURN THE WATER CLOUDY OR GREEN.
  3. YOU USE DOUBLE THE BROMINE THAT YOU WOULD USE IN CHLORINE IN SPAS.
  4. THE FLOATER SETTING SHOULD BE 1/8” TO 1” OPEN FOR CHLORINE.  TABLET ADDITIONS CHLORINE:
  5. 1 TABLET FOR 150-200 GALLON SPAS
  6. 2-3 TABLETS FOR 200-300 GALLON SPAS
  7. 3-4 TABLETS FOR 300-450 GALLON SPAS
  8. OVER 4 TABLETS ONLY IF HEAVY USE OR PROBLEM SPA.
  9. THE FLOATER SETTING SHOULD BE 2” TO 3” OPEN FOR BROMINE. TABLET ADDITIONS FOR BROMINE:
  10. 2 TABLETS FOR 150-200 GALLON SPAS
  11. 3-5 TABLETS FOR 200-300 GALLON SPAS
  12. 4-7 TABLETS FOR 300-450 GALLON SPAS
  13. IF THE CHLORINE IS OVER 10 PPM ADD THIOSULFATE.
  14. IF THE CHLORINE IS 1.0 OR LESS ADD GRANULAR CHLORINE

IF THE BROMINE IS 2.0 OR LESS ADD GRANULAR BROMINE.- GRANULAR ADDITIONS FOR CHLORINE & BROMINE.

  1. ADD 1 TEASPOON CHLORINE FOR SPAS 150-250 GALLONS
  2. ADD 1 TABLESPOON CHLORINE FOR SPAS 250-450 GALLONS
  3. ADD 2 TEASPOON BROMINE FOR SPAS 150-250 GALLONS
  4. ADD 2 TABLESPOON BROMINE FOR SPAS 250-450 GALLONS
  5. IF THE SPA IS CLOUDY, CALL THE OFFICE FOR DETERMINATON OF IF WATER SHOULD BE CHANGED OR NOT BEFORE MAKING ADDITIONS. 

 

  1. PH BALANCERS (7.4 – 7.6 PH)
  2. TO INCREASE PH ADD:
  3. ½ CAP FOR 150-250 GALLON SPAS
  4. 1 CAP FOR 250-450 GALLON SPAS
  5. DOUBLE IF PH IS LOWER THAN 7.0
  6. TO DECREASE THE PH ADD:
  7. 1 TEASPOON FOR 150-250 GALLON SPAS
  8. ¼ CAP (OR ONE CAP OF 24 OZ. BOTTLE) FOR 250-450 GALLON SPAS
  9. DOUBLE IF PH IS HIGHER THAN 8.0

 

III.  ALKALINITY

  1. TO INCREASE THE ALKALINITY ADD:
  2. ½ CAP FOR 150-250 GALLON SPAS
  3. 1 CAP FOR 250-450 GALLON SPAS
  4. DOUBLE IF ALKALINITY IS UNDER 50 PPM
  5. TO LOWER THE ALKALINITY ADD (IF OVER 180 PPM):
  6. 2 TEASPOONS OF PH DECREASER FOR 150-250 GALLON SPAS

1 CAP OF PH INCREASER TO RE-BALANCE PH

  1. ½ CAP PH DECREASER FOR 250-450 GALLON SPAS

2 CAPS OF PH INCREASER TO RE-BALANCE PH

 

  1. OTHER ADDITIONS
  2. SHOCK TREATMENT:
  3. ADD 1 OZ. OF SHOCK TREATMENT TO SPA EACH WEEK FOR 150-250 GALLON SPAS.
  4. ADD 2 OZ. OF SHOCK TREATMENT TO SPA EACH WEEK FOR 250-450 GALLON SPAS.
  5. DOUBLE DOSAGE IF THE SPA HAS COMBINED CHLORINE OR BROMINE PRESENT ON TEST.
  6. TRIPLE DOSAGE IF THE SPA IS CLOUDY.
  7. SCALE PREVENTOR:
  8. ADD ONE SHOT OF SPA DEFENDER OR OTHER SCALE PRODUCT EACH WEEK FOR ALL SPAS.
  9. FOAM OUT:
  10. ADD ½ TEASPOON EACH WEEK IN 150-250 GALLON SPAS EACH WEEK.
  11. ADD 1 TEASPOON EACH WEEK IN 250-450 GALLON SPAS EACH WEEK.
  12. CLEAN FILTER IF SPA FOAMS UP BEFORE RUNNING JETS OR ADDING FOAM-OUT.
  13. ENZYME TREATMENT:
  14. ADD ½ CAP (OF NATURAL CLEAR QUART BOTTLE) IN 150-250 GALLON SPAS EACH WEEK.
  15. ADD 1 CAP (OF NATURAL CLEAR QUART BOTTLE) IN 250-450 GALLON SPAS EACH WEEK.
  16. DOUBLE DOSAGE IF SPA FOAMS WHEN JETS ARE RUNNING.
  17. CLARIFIER:
  18. ADD ONE SHOT OF CLARIFIER EACH WEEK IN ALL SPAS.
  19. WATER:
  20. ADD WATER TO PROPER LEVEL EACH VISIT.
  21. IF WATER IS OVER 104 DEGREES REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE OFFICE.
  22. IF WATER IS 106 OR OVER YOU MUST ADD COLD WATER TO COOL DOWN.  IF THE WATER TEMP IS EXTREAMLY HIGH YOU MAY NEED TO PUMP SOME OFF TO BRING THE WATER BACK DOWN TO 104 DEGREES.  MANY TIMES THIS PROBLEM IS FROM LEAVING THE JETS ON.

 

  1. WHEN THE SPA HAS CRASHED (TURNED CLOUDY, STINKY, BROWN/GREEN/YELLOW COLOR) IT IS FROM ZERO SANITIZER WITH CONTAMINANTS.  TO GET IT TO CLEAR WE MUST DO THE FOLLOWING:
  2. CHLORINE & BROMINE  SPAS 150-250 GALLONS:
  3. ADD 2 TABLESPOONS GRANULAR CHLORINE OR 1 CAP BROMINE
  4. ADD 1 SHOT CLARIFIER
  5. CLEAN FILTER
  6. ADD 4 OZ. ACTIVATE
  7. ADD TWO CAPS OF NATURAL CLEAR
  8. CHLORINE SPAS 250-450 GALLONS:
  9. ADD 1.5 CAPS OF GRANULAR CHLORINE OR 2 CAPS BROMINE
  10. ADD 2 SHOTS OF CLARIFIER
  11. CLEAN FILTER
  12. ADD 6 OZ. OF ACTIVATE
  13. ADD TWO CAPS OF NATURAL CLEAR