Testing And Adjusting Spa Water - Cal Spas ESCAPE Owner's Manual

4.2 Testing and Adjusting Spa Water

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.
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 the pH level.
The recommended total alkalinity is 80-120 ppm.
If the TA is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely
from high to low. Low TA can be corrected by adding
an alkalinity increaser.
If the TA is too high, the pH level will tend to be too
high and may be difficult to bring down. High TA can
be corrected by adding an alkalinity decreaser.
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 fixtures and the heating element. Low pH can be corrected by
adding a pH increaser.
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 a pH decreaser.
Testing For:
Total Alkalinity
Calcium Hardness
pH
65
Ideal Water Chemistry
Ideal Range (ppm): Minimum
80
150
7.2
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 to be used. 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 a calcium hardness increaser.
If the CH is too high, dilute the spa water with soft
water.
When the CH is balanced, it normally remains stable,
although adding soft water or very hard water will raise
or lower the CH level.
Ideal Range (ppm): Maximum
120
200
7.6