Hottubs Spas and Thermal Spa Alkalinity

Total alkalinity refers to the measure of alkaline in your hot tubes water, and more importantly it is just a gauge of your waters capacity to resist sudden fluctuations in pH. Because of this, hottubs spas alkalinity and pH levels go hand in hand. Maintaining proper alkalinity levels will often automatically improve pH levels, and usually your hottubs spas pH won’t require any action. After reading this page, go to hot tub pH information page of HotTubsDepot Water Quality & Balance section to learn more about your hottubs spas water balance.
Hot tubes alkalinity levels will make the water begin to taste salty and will result in boosting the pH at a level above operational standards while reducing the power of your hottubs spas sanitizer. At this point the alkalinity must be reduced in order to properly maintain the pH. It is also important to remember that low alkalinity in the thermal spa can produce rapid changes in pH in either the acidic or basic direction due to bather load, chlorine, temperature, or other variables in your hot tubes.
For best thermal spa conditions, always keep your hot tubes total alkalinity between 80-120ppm (parts per million). Alkalinity levels which are very high require less urgent action than hottubs spas water levels that read too low in hot tubes. If your hottubs spas alkalinity levels are too low, it will result in fast deterioration of your hot tubes equipment. If you recently moved to a new location and used to have your water balance procedures down to a perfect science, you might have to start all over again and find a new system that works for your current location. Water supplies in different communities can vary greatly between regions - so you will have to develop a system that is right for where you live specifically.. Remember that perfect results in hot tubes water are difficult to achieve, so just try to do the best you can. Just make sure that your hot tubes water balance levels are safe by testing every day or at least before use. By doing this you will be able to enjoy the best hot tubes experience possible for many years to come.

Testing Your Hottubs Spas and Thermal Spa Alkalinity

Your first step in achieving ideal thermal spa water balance is to test your water. The most convenient way to test the hot tubes water is to purchase a test strip sold at hot tubes stores to measure the waters alkalinity and pH levels. These test strips can quickly give you water readings so that you will then know the appropriate action to take with your hottubs spas. If you find out that your alkalinity levels are off, don’t get stressed out and give up - just add the appropriate amount of either an alkalinity increase or decrease product (alkalinity decrease is the same chemical as pH decrease).
Possible Scenarios for your Hot Tubes:

1. 1)Your thermal hottubs spas alkalinity is correct, but your pH is low
   • one of the many products found in hot tubes stores that will only raise pH without doing anything to total alkalinity
2. Your alkalinity is high and pH is low in the hottubs spas
   • Add a pH decrease product to lower the alkalinity level and then add a product that will only raise the pH without changing the alkalinity in your thermal spa
3. Alkalinity and pH levels are both high in the hottubs spas
   • Add pH increaser to raise both pH and alkalinity levels.
4. Alkalinity and pH levels are both low in the hot tubes
   • Add pH decreaser in your hottubs spas to lower both pH and alkalinity levels.
5. You own a plaster spa and your thermal spa water alkalinity is low.
   • The lime in the plaster mix will give you consistent alkalinity problems. If you own a plaster hot tub, you will need to test your hottubs spas water often, and adjust as necessary.

Always read your hot tubes chemicals product directions for best hottubs spas water conditions.
*IMPORTANT NOTES for the best hot tubes water

• Always keep your alkalinity levels between 80-120 PPM in your thermal spa.
• Best hot tub pH range is between 7.2 – 7.6. Any higher or any lower will cause equipment problems, skin irritations, and water odor in the hottubs spas
• Before testing you should always remove a small cup of water from your outdoor spas and let cool for about five minutes. This will ensure that your water is more stable for accurate test results.
• After you add chemicals, always give your hot tubes sufficient time for the water to balance itself out. This usually takes an hour or two-or you can always come back and retest tomorrow.
• Having high hot tub chemical levels can cause your water tests to give false results. Test chemical levels to make sure they aren’t in excess before adding other products to your hottubs spas.
• It is usually better to shoot for the higher ends of the ideal range for total alkalinity levels. Alkalinity levels that are too low can damage your thermal spa.