Common Water Chemistry Questions - Cal Spas Patio Owner's Manual

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Sanitizers
Common name
Chlorine
Bromine
Shock
Common name
MPS
Dichlor
Note: Dichlor (chlorine) is both a sanitizer and a shock. Monopersulphate (MPS), when used as a shock, can be purchased
alone as non-chlorinated shock or combined with dichlor, which makes it significantly more effective than MPS alone.
Other chemical additives
Common name
Stain and scale inhibitor
Foam inhibitor
Clarifier
Do NOT use these in your spa:
• Sodium hypoclorite (household bleach)
• Trichlor
• Chemical floaters
• Bromine tablets
• Muriatic acid

Common Water Chemistry Questions

Question: Why is the use a floater not recommended to sanitize my spa water?
Answer:
We do not recommend the use of a floater for three reasons:
•
•
•
www.calspas.com
Usual chemical name
sodium dichlor
sodium bromide
Usual chemical name
monopersulphate
sodium dichlor
Usual chemical name
These are
chemical formulations and cannot
be purchased as a single generic
chemical.
The floater is unable to control the rate at which the sanitizer is dissolved into the water. When a floater
is first placed in a spa, the sanitizer level can be extremely high. High sanitizer levels can chemically burn
or discolor the spa's shell or the underside of the cover. Then, after a period of time, the sanitizer level
dispensed by the floater will fall to near zero. A low sanitizer level will allow viruses, bacteria or algae to
grow.
Floaters tend to stay in one area of the spa most of the time, causing this area to be exposed to extreme
sanitizer levels.
The floater may allow pieces of the highly concentrated sanitizer to fall out and settle on the floor or seat
of the spa shell. These pieces of sanitizer will chemically burn (blister) the spa shell. Although your spa
shell is specifically designed to resist the effects of spa chemicals, no spa surface can withstand this type
of highly concentrated chemical. Remember, chemical abuse is specifically not covered under the terms
of the warranty.
Both chlorine and bromine are available
under numerous brand names
MPS Shock, Oxy-Spa, SeaKlear
Dichlor Shock
usually proprietary Metal Stain Gone, Scale Inhibitor, Stain and
Scale Preventer, Stain and Scale Defense
Foam Gone, Foam Down, Defoamer
Water Brite, Spa Bright, Water Clarifier, Clear
Water, Natural Clarifier, Brite & Clear
• Borax or boric acid in any form, including
brand names such as 20 Mule Team Borax
or generic as sodium tetraborate
• Cyanuric acid, also called sun protector or
chlorine protector
Common brand names
Common brand names
Common brand names
2017 Portable Spa
LTR20171000, Rev. C