Watkins HOT SPOT RE, Owner'S Manual

Page: 26 / 36

Water Quality and Maintenance Page 24
If the pH is too high, it can be decreased by adding sodium bisulfate to the spa water.
NOTE: After adding sodium carbonate or sodium bisulfate, wait two hours before testing the water for pH. Measurements
taken too soon may not be accurate.
E. It is important to check the pH on a regular (weekly) basis. The pH will be affected by the bather load, the addition of
new water, the addition of various chemicals, and the type of sanitizer used.
F. When the pH is within the recommended range, proceed to the final step.
MAINTAINING THE SANITIZER LEVEL
A. Sanitizer is extremely important for killing algae, bacteria and viruses, and preventing unwanted organisms from
growing in the spa. At the same time, you don’t want too high a sanitizer level, or it can irritate your skin, lungs and
eyes.
B. Always maintain the sanitizer level in your spa at the recommended level for each type of sanitizer.
C. Watkins recommends only the following sanitizers:
• FreshWater
Ag+
® Silver Ion Purifier with potassium monopersulfate or patassium peroxymonosulfate (MPS)
• Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione (Sodium Dichlor or Chlorine)
• Baqua Spa
™
• Granular bromine
WARNING: DO NOT use tri-chlor chlorine, any type of compressed bromine or chlorine, acid or any type of sanitizer which
is not recommended by Watkins.
Refer to the following two sections to use either the FreshWater
Ag+
® Silver Ion Purifier or Sodium Dichlor as your sanitizer.
FRESHWATER
Ag+
® SILVER ION PURIFIER
Watkins Manufacturing Corporation highly recommends the use of the FreshWater
Ag+
® Silver Ion Purifier.
The FreshWater
Ag+
®
Silver Ion Purifier, used in conjunction with the addition of an aggressive oxidizer such as a common
non-chlorine shocking agent (potassium monopersulfate, also known as MPS), will sanitize the spa water.
IMPORTANT: Remember to use MPS designed for use in spas, such as Hot Spring
®
Spa Shock. Other non-chlorine
shocking agents for swimming pools may contain chemicals incompatible with the FreshWater
Ag+
® Silver Ion Purifier (such
as blue crystals in MPS). The recommended MPS should have an active ingredient percentage of 30% - 33%.
THE WATKINS WATER MAINTENANCE QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Steps Minimum Maximum To Raise To Lower
1 Total Alkalinity 125 150 Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Bisulfate
2 Calcium Hardness 150 200 Calcium Hardness Use a mixture of
Increaser 75% hard water
and 25% soft water
or use a Stain and
Scale Inhibitor
3 pH 7.4 7.6 Sodium Carbonate Sodium Bisulfate
4 Sanitizer See section on Maintaining the Sanitizer Level
Ideal Range (ppm) What Chemicals to Use