The products we use mostly are called FREE, SPA DOWN, BOOST, and CONTROL. LEISURE TIME is the maker. Each product has a function. They do not contain any Chlorine or Bromine or Sodium Dichlor. They are called Sanitizers.
My dealer is RHODES, POOL, PATIO, & SPA. Alex is the owner. 626-335-6008 is the phone. Rick and Dave have been there for years. Alex, Rick, and Dave all like to share their knowledge. Call them when you have a few minutes. They can probably give you the best advice.
We also change the water every 3 months.
I agree on the electrician idea. Ours uses a 50 amp GFI Breaker and 220V. I would not personally want to mess with this. Water and electrical just seems like a bad combo.

 

Red: Free, Boost, and Control is their biguanide system. Down is a universal pH reducer.

 

Not sure about your budget but check this out. I had one in a house I sold and saving up for one in my current house.
http://www.endlesspools.com/index.html

 

Biguanide is an alternative to Chlorine and Bromine. I am not clear on the point you are trying to make.

 

No point really - just informing you that what you are using is biguanide as opposed to chlorine and bromine. There are upsides and downsides. My sister's tub manufacturer specifically says not to use biguanide - I don't remember who it is or why they say not to. They say to use chlorine, and if you choose to use bromine, the ion stick must be removed.

I do agree that Leisure Time is an excellent chemical system, no matter which flavor you choose to use.

 

We have had a Jacuzzi Brand for 5 years now and have not had a problem. Main reason I went with Jacuzzi was for the warranty. Some of the other "off" brands do not have a long enough warranty or can be hard to find parts for.

When we purchased our, the State of Indiana waived the sales tax if it was bought as a doctors prescription. With the wife's back as well as mine, there was no problem getting one. I don't use it much in the summer, but once it cools off, I have been known to use it every night... Especially during volleyball season.

I would definitely recommend the ozone generator as well as the Natures 2 cartridge....really cuts down on the amount of sanitizer {I use Sodium Dichlor aka chlorine} that you need to use.

A good source of info:
http://www.rhtubs.com/cgi-bin/bbs/co...oframes;#50329

Woof
Bowser

 

Thanks for clearing that up. I was trying to figure out what I was missing.

The Biguanide apparently does not clear all micro organisms. In fact, the spa can develop micro organisms that are resistent to the Biguanide. Once you use Biguanide, you are not supposed to 'shock' the tub with Chlorine. If necessary, you are supposed to 'shock' with Hydrogen Peroxide.
This is the solution; The FREE is the actual Biguanide sanitizer. The BOOST contains a percentage of Hydrogen Peroxide. The BOOST is part of your weekly regimen.
Used together, the FREE and BOOST should work as prescribed.
The SPA DOWN product reduces pH. The SPA UP product increases pH. They also have many other products to cure more unique water issues.
ONE MORE SUGGESTION: Once you select a dealer and have ordered your spa, ask the dealer to allow you to bring in a sample of your water for testing. Get that sample from the faucet you will use to fill your spa.
I found out that my outside faucet in my backyard was tapped into my water softener. Soft water is bad for the spa. I had to drain the spa and refill with my soft water tank turned off.
Good luck and thank you all for asking the 'tough questions'.

 

Thanks for all the replies guys! All the info is VERY helpful. Hoping to go do some shopping here soon. I would think with the economy these guys would be willing to deal.

 

The "Natures 2" cartridge is a silver ion stick.

When you start up a spa, before you put any sanitizer in it, you need to get the pH balanced out along with total alkalinity and calcium hardness in the correct range. If you don't do this, you are going to have continuing issues. Leisure Time has excellent "startup" kits that have everything you need, just decide first which sanitizing system you are going to use. This would be a discussion item with the spa dealer - as I said before, there are upsides and downsides to each type. Any decent dealer should be able to help you with a correct maintenance program for whichever type you use.

Any decent spa dealer will test your water free of charge if you bring in a sample bottle.

Red, you didn't have to drain your spa if you used soft water - you could have added some calcium booster to what you had.

 

Have any of you ever heard of DreamMaker spas? A friend at work has one and told me about it and he is very happy with his. They are much cheaper and run off of 110V. Yeah I know its not gonna be as nice as a fancier brand name but I thought it might do the job until things get better at work and the cash flow improves. Below is a link. What do you guys think?

http://www.dreammakerspas.com/home.html

 

Mixed reviews.

http://www.rhtubs.com/cgi-bin/reviews/reviews.pl

 

Thanks for the heads up on that! Might be worth checking out anyway.