Solana DRAFT 00, Owner'S Manual

Page: 41 / 127

THE SOLANA
™
SPA WATER MAINTENANCE PROGRAM
Each step in your water maintenance program is dependent on the completion of the previous steps. Omitting a step or failing to reach
the recommended range may cause an imbalance in your water’s chemistry. Unbalanced water chemistry can damage the spa and its
components as well as cause discomfort for the user.
F
ILLING THE
S
PA
W
ITH
W
ATER
A. To prevent contaminants from entering the spa, Watkins recommends using the FreshStart ™
10,000
pre-filter when filling the spa with
water. Always fill the spa through the filter compartment.
B. The FreshStart
™
10,000
pre-filter is designed to remove unwanted contaminants such as rust, dirt, detergents and algae from the fill
water. Dissolved minerals and metals such as lead, calcium, copper and iron are not removed.
C. Instructions are included with the FreshStart ™
10,000
pre-filter. When the spa is filled, proceed to the Start-Up and Refill Procedures
section.
B
ALANCING THE
T
OTAL
A
LKALINITY
(TA)
A. The recommended Total Alkalinity (TA) for your spa water is 125-150 ppm.
B. 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.
C. 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 bicarbonate.
D. 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.
E. 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.
F. When the Total Alkalinity is within the recommended range, proceed to the next step.
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™