The Key To Clear Water; Testing And Adjusting Spa Water - Cal Spas F-168 Owner's Manual

4.1 The Key to Clear Water

Excellent water quality is a simple matter of four things:
Chemical Balance
You will need to test and adjust the chemical balance
of your spa water. Although this is not difficult, it
needs to be done regularly.
Depending on your choice of sanitizer, you need to
test the level of calcium hardness, total alkalinity, and
pH.
See page 77 to learn how to balance your spa water.
Filtration
Cleaning your filter regularly is the easiest and most
effective single thing you can do to keep your water
clear.
A clogged or dirty filter will cause the heater and
pump to work harder than they need to, possibly
causing them to fail.
The spa's heating system will only function with the
proper amount of water flow through the system.
See page 79 for filter cleaning instructions.

4.2 Testing and Adjusting Spa Water

You have two types of testing methods to choose from:
• The reagent test kit is a method which provides a high level of accuracy. It is available in either liquid or
tablet form.
• Test strips are a convenient testing method commonly used by spa owners.
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Sanitization
Sanitizers kill bacteria and viruses and keep the water
clean. A low sanitizer level will allow microbes to
grow quickly in the spa water. We recommend using
either chlorine or bromine as your sanitizer.
Spa owners with an ozonator also need to add
sanitizer, although their requirements are different.
See page 78 to learn how to use sanitizer.
Regularity
Clear water requires regular maintenance. Establish
a routine based on a regular schedule for your spa
water maintenance.
Maintaining your water quality helps the
enjoyment of your spa and extends your spa's life
by preventing damage from neglect and chemical
abuse. See page 80 for the schedule of
recommended maintenance.