Water quality & other questions

If you have a slight green tint to water that is otherwise clear and you have used the sanitiser as directed then the problem will be caused by algae.  This isn't dangerous but it is obviously unsightly and needs to be resolved. This issue is caused by phosphates in the water. Phosphates are often added to our tap water to prevent lead from old pipes entering the water supply and to prevent scale from forming in the supply system.  They can also be produced by any plant debris allowed to enter the tub and and by some personal hygiene products, soaps and detergents. Unfortunately for us, phosphates are a primary food source for algae and high levels of phosphates can lead to high levels of algae growth.  Whilst the eco3spa Active Oxygen multi-function sanitiser will combat this problem to some extent it isn't as strong as a high dose of chlorine in this regard. The amount of phosphate in your source tap water can vary considerably from month to month so you might suddenly experience this problem when you haven't seen it before. Conversely, you might see the problem for a while but find that it has gone away after your next water change. If you do experience a green tinge to your water the first thing to try is adding a double dose of sanitiser to the water each day for a few days and the problem is very likely to clear up. If additional sanitiser doesn't help then we have a product, eco3spa Water Clarifier, that you can add to the water to solve the problem.

If you water is clear and you have been using the sanitiser as directed then this is nothing to worry amount. A musty smell when you lift up the cover is from the warm water vapour that has been trapped under the cover since you last lifted it.  If you were sanitising your tub with chlorine or bromine then the chemical would be the overwhelming smell when you lifted the cover.  Because eco3spa does not smell in the same way you can sometimes smell the musty water vapour but the smell will soon dissipate with the cover off. Keeping the underside of your hot tub cover scrupulously clean will help to resolve this problem.

Lack of a filter will definitely impact the water quality and the water is likely to go cloudy quite quickly, but it won't directly impact the level of bacteria in the hot tub and you can still use eco3spa If you have jets and circulation use the Step 1 Cleaner to clean biofilm from the pipework; then use the Water Conditioner to help with water quality and protect from skin irritation and use the Step 3 Sanitiser as directed to kill bacteria. It is difficult to say how long you will be able to keep the water in your hot tub without a filter. However, if you purchase some eco3spa test strips and use them to ensure there is sufficient sanitiser in the water you will know that your tub is safe to use, even if it is looking a bit cloudy.

When first switching to the eco3spa system, the sanitiser can occasionally be used up more quickly than expected. This happens because tubs that have been run on chlorine or bromine for a while often have very resilient biofilms in the pipework that are sometimes not fully removed by just one application of the Step 1 Cleaner. Consequently there is a requirement to add more sanitiser to overcome the bacteria that the biofilms are shedding into the tub. This problem is usually resolved after the second application of Step 1 Cleaner and the subsequent water change. If you are concerned that you might be experiencing this problem then we recommend that you double the dose of Step 3 Sanitiser that you are using and purchase some eco3spa test strips which will enable you to ensure that there is sufficient sanitiser in your tub prior to each use.

If you are going away for a week then that's no problem at all. Just apply a dose of sanitiser before you leave and another one on your return. If you are going away for 2-3 weeks then turn the temperature of the hot tub down to around 25degC and put in a double dose of sanitiser before you leave. If your tub will be due for another dose of the Step 2 Water Conditioner whilst you are away then apply it before you go. Also insert clean filters and leave any automatic filtration cycle operating as normal. When you return double dose the tub with the sanitiser again. Over the next few days if the water appears cloudy or at all smelly apply a double dose of sanitiser daily until it clears. This procedure also applies to cold tubs although, obviously, you won't need to turn the temperature down. If you are going away for 4 weeks or more and you don't have anyone to apply a regular weekly dose of eco3spa Step 3 Sanitiser to your tub then we recommend that you drain your tub and start again with the Step 1 Cleaner when you return. These procedures should ensure your hot tub is ready and safe to use when you return but if you have any doubt then purchase some eco3spa test strips and use them to ensure that the sanitiser level in your tub is sufficient before you bathe.

Yes, that's no problem at all. Just make sure that you continue to use a weekly dose of sanitiser and keep the filters clean.

Yes, the quantities shown on the hot tub instructions are for tubs between 1000 litres and 2000 litres. If your tub is only 500 litres then you can use half of the recommended doses, although we do recommend using the full dose of Step 1 Cleaner on the first application.

Possibly not easily, unfortunately! The chemical content of the mains water is continuously monitored whereas borehole water may have a high metallic content (eg copper, iron or manganese) and may also have high levels of dissolved minerals. If there is a high metallic content in the water the oxidising effect of the eco3spa Step 3 Sanitiser can cause the metals to precipitate out of solution resulting in metal staining on surfaces and discolouration of the water in the tub. It should be possible to fill your tub and treat the water before adding the eco3spa to remove the metals. There are a number of proprietary products on the market, primarily aimed at swimming pools, that should be able to help with this but it is not something that we can advise on with any great certainty unfortunately.