Testing And Adjusting Spa Water - Coleman CO534L-A Owner's Manual

Testing and Adjusting Spa Water

You have two types of testing methods to choose from:
reagent test kit is a method which provides a high level of accuracy. It is available in either liquid
• The
or tablet form.
• Test strips
are a convenient testing method commonly used by spa owners.
Balancing the Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity (TA) is the measure of the total
levels of carbonates, bicarbonates, hydroxides, and
other alkaline substances in the water. TA can be
considered a "pH buffer". It is the measure of the
ability of the water to resist changes in pH level.
The recommended total alkalinity is 80 - 120
ppm .
If the TA is too low, the pH level will fl uctuate
widely from high to low. Low TA can be corrected
by adding "pH-Alkalinity Up".
If the TA is too high, the pH level will tend to be too
high and may be diffi cult to bring down. High TA
can be corrected by adding "pH-Alkalinity Down".
When the TA is balanced, it normally remains
stable, although adding water with high or low
alkalinity will raise or lower the TA level.
Balancing the pH
The pH level is the measure of the balance between
acidity and alkalinity.
If the pH is too low, it can cause corrosion of metal
fi xtures and the heating element. Low pH can be
corrected by adding pH-Alkalinity Up.
If the pH is too high, it can cause scaling by allowing
metals or minerals to form deposits and stain spa
surfaces. High pH can be corrected by adding pH-
Alkalinity Down.
Testing For:
Total Alkalinity
Calcium Hardness
pH
Coleman Spas (online sales)
®
LTR50001135, Rev. A
Ideal Range (ppm)
Minimum Maximum
80 120
150 200
7.4 7.6
Balancing the Calcium Hardness
Calcium hardness (CH) is a measure of the total
amount of dissolved calcium in the water. Calcium
helps control the corrosive nature of the spa's water
and is why soft water is not recommended. The low
calcium content of soft water is very corrosive to
the equipment and can cause staining of the spa
shell.
The recommended calcium hardness is 150
- 200 ppm .
If the CH is too low, add "Liquid Hardness
Increaser".
If the CH is too high, dilute the spa water with
soft water or, if this is not available, add "Stain and
Scale Defense".
When the CH is balanced, it normally remains
stable, although adding soft water or very hard
water will raise or lower the CH level.
8.2
Too alkaline,
8.0
causes scaling
7.8
7.6
Ideal balance 7.4
7.2
7.0
Too acidic,
6.8
causes corrosion
6.6
Chemicals To Use:
To Raise
pH-Alkalinity Up
Liquid Hardness Increaser
pH-Alkalinity Up
Need to lower the pH level
Need to raise the pH level
To Lower
pH-Alkaliity Down
Stain and Scale Defense
pH-Alkaliity Down
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