Glossary Of Common Water Maintenance Terms; Water Balance Summary For Your Hot Tub (Chart) - Hydropool serenity hot tubs Owner's Manual

GLOSSARY OF COMMON WATER MAINTENANCE TERMS

1 CHLORINE – in granular, liquid or puck/tablet form, is an oxidant and biocidal agent. It is very effective and fast acting. Recom-
mended chlorine residual level is 3.0 to 5.0 ppm.
2 CHLORAMINES – a compound formed when chlorine combines with nitrogen or ammonia present in the water. When allowed to
go unchecked, it causes eye and skin irritation and is indicated by a strong chlorine odor.
3 ONE-PART BROMINE – also available in puck/tablet form, is another type of oxidant/biocidal agent, and is introduced into the hot
tub water via a brominator. Recommended bromine residual level is 3.0 to 5.0 ppm
4 TWO-PART BROMINE – composed of a liquid or powder component introduced manually into the water on a weekly basis, and a
granular component that is added daily or as the hot tub is used.
5 BROMAMINES – are formed when bromine destroys nitrogen-bearing organic matter. Unlike chloramines, bromamines don't
cause eye irritation, however, when allowed to go unchecked, will cause an objectionable odour.
6 SHOCK – the practice of adding an oxidizing agent to hot tub water to destroy ammonia, nitrogenous and organic contaminants
(chloramines and bromamines)
7 pH – a logarithmic value expressing the relative acidity or basicity of a substance (such as hot tub water) as indicated by the hydro-
gen ion concentration. pH is expressed as a number on a scale of 0 to 14, where 0 is most acidic, 1 to 7 being acidic, 7 considered
neutral, 7 to 14 being basic, and 14 being most basic. The ideal range for hot tub water is 7.4 to 7.6 ppm
8 pH INCREASER – raises the pH level of the water.
pH DECREASER – lowers the pH level of the water.
10 TOTAL ALKALINITY (TA) – the amount of carbonate, bicarbonate and hydroxide compounds present in the water that deter
mines the ability or capacity of the water to resist change in pH. Also known as the 'buffering' capacity.
11 ALKALINITY BOOSTER – raises the alkalinity.
12 CALCIUM HARDNESS – the calcium portion of the total alkalinity which represents 70 to 75% of total hardness. Calcium concen-
trations determine whether water is 'soft' - too little calcium, or 'hard' -too much calcium.
13 CALCIUM BOOSTER – increases the calcium level.
14 TOTAL DISSOLVED SOLIDS (TDS) – a measure of the total amount of dissolved matter in the water (calcium, carbonates, bicar-
bonates, magnesium, metallic compounds, etc.)
15 SEQUESTERANTS (STAIN AND SCALE CONTROLLERS) – keeps dissolved metals and minerals in the water from attacking
the hot tub shell and support equipment components.
16 DEFOAMER – removes foam build-up from the water surface. At best, this is a temporary remedy, as excessive foam is merely a
symptom of improper water balance (typically high organic residue and/or high pH).
17 CARTRIDGE FILTER CLEANER – degreases and cleans cartridge filters.
18 OZONATOR – generates Ozone (a gaseous molecule composed of 3 atoms of oxygen) and is injected into the hot tub water for
the oxidation of water contaminants.
19 TEST KIT – used to monitor specific chemical residual or demands in the water. May be in the form of litmus strips or liquid drops.
20 PPM – abbreviation for 'parts per million', the unit of measurement used in chemical testing which indicates the parts by weight in
relation to one million parts by weight of water. Essentially identical to the term mg/L - milligrams per liter.
SANITIZER (ppm)
Chlorine
Bromine
CHEMICAL
PH
Total Alkalinity (TA)
Calcium Hardness
*National Spa & Pool Institute recommended levels for residential spas/hot tubs
WATER BALANCE SUMMARY FOR YOUR HOT TUB*
MIN IDEAL
1.0 3.0 - 5.0
1.0 3.0 - 5.0
7.2 7.4 - 7.6
80 80 - 120
150 200 - 400
MAX
5.0
5.0
7.8
180
500 -1000
28