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Chemical Questions

Spa Fragrances In The Pool
Is Anti Foam & Hair Conditioner The Same?
Charge & Release System
Using Epsom Salts In A Spa
Hot Tub Shocking Tips
Using Hydrogen Peroxide In a Spa

Spa Fragrances In The Pool
Q:
I am interested in purchasing some spa fragrances. However, my spa has a rock waterfall that flows into my pool..therefore: Will spa fragrances have an adverse affect on the pool? Chemical balance? Oily? Is there any drawback to using these fragrances in the pool? Or does it just make the pool smell nice as well?
A:
I can't attest to the formulas of competitive spa fragrances, inasmuch as I have no knowledge as to their ingredients.

Scentsations, manufactured by Aqua Clear Inc., LLC are completely water soluble and are formulated for use in spas utilizing bromine and/or chlorine.

I would not expect there to be problems encountered in their use in your installation. However, considering the scale of the pool versus the spa I would not anticipate their effect in the pool to be pronounced.

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Is Anti Foam & Hair Conditioner The Same?
Q:
We recently purchased a hot tub and my wife insists that the product used for reducing foam in the spa is basically hair conditioner. Any info on this? It does not list ingredients on bottle. The cost savings would be quite high if this is true.
A:
NOT TRUE!
Take it from someone that knows -- 25 years ago I was a chemist formulating such products. Antifoams contain a silicone emulsion. Silicones are used in a variety of cosmetic products in very low levels. This does not mean they can or should be added to a spa.

Don't do it! Stick with the spa chemicals.

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Charge & Release System
Q:
I want to know what are the chemicals I'm putting into my hot tub, and what are the chemical reactions I'm trying to regulate. I'm using your Charge and Release Bromine system. I'd like to know about those chemicals as well. Also, how do you shock the Charge and Release system, and is it even necessary to do so?
A:
You do not need to use an additional product to shock a spa, if you are using Charge and Release. Release is used as a shock product.

The chemistry works as follows. Charge is a source of Bromide ions. When Release is added to the water, an oxidation reaction is initiated by the potassium peroxymonosulfate and the bromide ions are converted to hypobromous acid. Hyporbromous acid is the active sanitizer form. How much bromine is generated depends on the quantity of Release added and the presence of organic waste. After the bromine has been consumed during the sanitizing process it once again becomes bromide ions. The addition of additional Release continues the cycle -- which is why Charge should only be added on a monthly basis. These products are buffered so as to have a minimal effect of the pH.

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Using Epsom Salts In A Spa
Q:
I have a chronic medical condition affecting my entire body for which Epsom Salt soaks offer a degree of relief and are recommended as part of my on-going therapy. Frequency for the soaks is approximately 20 minutes twice to three times daily. As you can imagine, that uses lots of hot water and Epsom Salts to do the soaks in a regular bath tub. We also have a 400 gallon Spa that we sanitize using Bromine based products. Is it possible to use the Epsom Salts in the spa tub without damaging it? Would we still need to use bromine? Would we still need to deal with Ph, calcium hardness, etc.?
A:
Some years ago I came across a unit that was built like an isolation chamber. It was filled with water and Epsom salts and was sound proofed with built-in stereo. You got in, closed the raised cover and there you were floating in complete darkness.

If you filled the spa with water containing a high concentration of Epsom salts you would still need bromine in order to destroy waste products. Control of the pH and alkalinity would be necessary. Hardness control would be meaningless because of all the Epsom salts. The only problems take you will encounter are buoyancy (you could float instead of remaining seated) and corrosion. If the spa contains metals parts, that are of dissimilar metal in close proximity to one another, electrolysis will occur and one of the metals will dissolve.

You probably should ask the spa manufacturer about the practicality of doing this with your spa.

Q:
What can you tell me about using silver-copper ion generation as a means of purifying the water in my hot tub? What is the best alternative to bromine if one wants to avoid chemicals?
A:
Although adding Epsom salts to your spa sounds innocent enough, there is a potential problem.

Whenever you have a solution containing dissolved salts and you have two dissimilar metals in close proximity in that solution, a small current will be produced that will result in one of those metals being dissolved.

In as much as I have no knowledge as to the construction of the spa, I advise you to contact the manufacturer and seek their opinion.

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Hot Tub Shocking Tips
Q:
We use oxy-brite to shock our hot tub. Is there any special way to use this product. Like leave cover off for 20 mins.? Run jets at high and/or blowers? any other thing?
A:
Make sure that the product that you are using is intended for spa use. There can be pool versions of such products that are not properly buffered for use in spas.

It is not necessary to take the cover off or run the blowers. Recirculating on low until all materials are dissolved, is all that should be necessary.

The best time to shock is 1/2 hour prior to use to raise the sanitizer level, if necessary.

It is a good idea to shock after use in order to help assure a sanitizer level in the water.

The Spa Clear OXY-SHOCK Spa Formula and SUN Brite Spa Formula products are buffered for spa use. This helps prevent corrosive low pH conditions.

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Using Hydrogen Peroxide In a Spa
Q:
What do you think of using 35% liquid hydrogen peroxide with potassium monopersulfate shock and an ozonator in a 325 gallon fiberglass spa? We want to avoid the chlorine/bromine skin irritation and smell. Is this effective? What levels of residual peroxide is appropriate?
A:
I THINK THAT 35% HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IS A DANGEROUS CHEMICAL AND IT IS MY ADVICE NOT TO USE IT.

If you use the ozonator and monopersulfate as a shock and add a small monthly dose of a bromide salt, you should have little or no odor problem.

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