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Calcium

Water Hardness / Damaged Spa Heater
White Powder In Spa Filter
Calcium Film On Spa
Scale / Film on Spa

Water Hardness / Damaged Spa Heater
Q:
My spa has burned out 4 heater elements in less than a year. I believe this is a problem due to water conditions. Our water is drawn from a well with a water softener.

I've been told that the hard water will burn out the element and now I'm also told that soft water will burn out the element.

Someone also told me about putting muriatic acid in the spa water to keep the element clean.

What are the proper levels of hardness for a spa, and if it is too hard or soft how do I balance the water so I don't have to keep buying heater elements?
A:
There are several incorrect statements in your letter. I'll try to clarify them.

Soft water can be corrosive and lead to excessive foaming. Using softened water is OK - provided you increase the hardness of the water to the 150-200 PPM. Spa Clear Liquid Calcium Booster is formulated for just this application.

High levels of hardness will not, of themselves, corrode the heater. High levels of hardness can lead to scale deposit formation in the heater coils and this in turn will insulate the coil and reduce its heating efficiency.

Now we come to the real problem. Muriatic acid does not dissolve copper!!! Muriatic acid in the presence of an oxidizing agent such as bromine or chlorine, will dissolve copper. Low pH water and the presence of chlorine or bromine was probably cause of the corrosion.

It is imperative that you maintain the pH in the proper range (chlorine 7.2-7.6 and bromine 7.2-7.8 ). To help facilitate this it is important to keep the alkalinity in at least the 80-120 PPM range in order to help stabilize the pH.

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White Powder In Spa Filter
Q:
I always seem to have a build up of white powder in the filter. What is the most likely cause? Will using an excessive amount of shock treatment cause this problem?
A:
You haven't provided enough information for me to very specific.

Too much shock will result in excessively high levels of chlorine or bromine, as the case may be. Do you have high levels?

The white powder is probably a calcium salt that has precipitated from the water. Check the hardness level of the water. There are products and steps to control high levels of calcium.

You should not be using calcium hypochlorite as a shock!!! In your situation, I would recommend a non-chlorine shock treatment such as OXY-SHOCK Spa Formula.

If the white powder is the only problem, hosing the filter cartridge periodically is a good idea.

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Calcium Film On Spa
Q:
Hello, I just recently bought a used 6-man hot-tub from a friend. He hasn't used it in awhile & it's dirty with this hard, white film inside which he says is calcium. Some rinsed off with a hose, but most didn't & it's tough to scrape off. What will work the best to take this off? I believe the tub is fiberglass? (I'm new to the spa game)
A:
Deposits of calcium and other minerals is probably the likely cause.

There are products to add to the water that will help remove such deposits. Sun for Spas Stain and Scale Remover is such a product. This is the preferred way because it will remove the deposits in the filtration system. Make sure that the spa water is moderately acidic, pH 4-5 and allow to remain in contact overnight. Scrubbing with a non-abrasive brush should speed things up. Do not add any chlorine or bromine. Drain and rinse before refilling. Repeat if necessary. After removal is complete refill and add the maintenance of Sun Stain and Scale Remover to help prevent a recurrence.

You could use an acidic solution and wipe it on the deposits, Adding some pH minus to water should work - use rubber gloves. You could use vinegar full strength - in a well ventilated area with rubber gloves. After the deposits are removed, add Sun Stain and Scale Remover to prevent a recurrence.

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Scale / Film on Spa
Q:
Hi, I hope you can help as I'm running out of places to turn.

I have just refilled my spa with well water (not softened) . Tested water and Alk was high. I added 2 tbsp of shock to spa as per pool companies advice and 2 tbsp PH-.

Next day no change, added 2 tbsp PH- and repeat for 3 days in total. I noticed a light brown film that would rub off had form on the spa. I contact my pool company and they came out and used muriatic acid to lower PH and Spa Guard to remove calcium and stabilize PH.

Wait 2 days and filter indeed had calcium, but film had now taken on a "pebbled" texture and I cannot remove it. I assume the water has reacted to the chemicals. Raw water tests proved to be normal.

I am lost on what to do and so is the pool company as they have not experienced this before. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
A:
Well water can be high in minerals and can cause stains and scale formation. If possible fill the spa with softened water. If not possible to fill with softened water, I suggest the following:

Empty the spa and clean as best as possible. Take a sample of water into the dealer and have it tested for, pH, Calcium, Iron and alkalinity. Stain and scale controls products are available to help deal with this problem. Bear in mind that these products are formulated to treat potable water - not well water. It will be necessary to add many times the recommended dosage in order to deal with the problem. Not knowing the extent or specifics of the problem, I would suggest that you start with 6 times the label dosage. Add to the spa as it is being filled and add no other chemical for 12 hours. Thereafter, balance spa chemistry as required. Add additional product if there is a sign of discoloration. Each time make up water is added, first add some additional product.

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