BAQUASpa® Chemical Guide

BAQUASpa provides powerful, long-lasting protection against bacteria. And nothing is easier to use. BAQUASpa is bromine-free and chlorine-free… it’s gentle on your eyes, hair and skin. And now the benefits of BAQUASpa are even more appealing with the addition of Aqua Enhancers® – unique additives to several products in the line that condition your spa water to promote a truly skin-soothing experience.

Unlike bromine and chlorine, BAQUASpa doesn’t cause pH changes and is not affected by them. BAQUASpa is considerably more stable in hot water and lasts much longer than traditional spa treatments — so you don’t have add sanitizer nearly as often. And because BAQUASpa products are liquid, they’re easier to use.

JUST A FEW MINUTES A WEEK…

The BAQUASpa Water Care System is simple to use. Generally, caring for your spa with BAQUASpa is a simple 3 step, 3-product system:

  1. Test weekly and top-up if necessary.
  2. Add BAQUASpa Waterline Control.

If water temperature is cold, the addition of BAQUASpa Waterline Control may cause a temporary cloudy condition. Once the temperature reaches normal spa levels (98–104°F), the cloudiness will disappear..

  1. Add BAQUASpa Oxidizer.
  2. Add BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control.

BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control will react with some impurities in the water to form insoluble particles. Within the small environment of a spa, these insolubles may be deposited on the spa shell, especially at initial start-up. This “bathtub ring” will vary depending on the quality of the fill water, and usually appears as yellow/brown, sticky deposits. Wipe affected areas clean with BAQUASpa Surface Cleaner. When used properly, BAQUASpa Waterline Control will eliminate deposits from forming on the spa shell.

Four tests in one

BAQUASpa Test Strips are a quick and easy way to check your spa water’s BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control, Calcium Hardness, Total Alkalinity and pH levels. Each of the four pads on the test strip checks for a different water condition.

  • Test Strip to test BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control level. If the BAQUASpa Sanitizer is between 30 and 50ppm, your spa is ready to use.
  • TIP: To ensure accurate testing, always store your test strips in a cool, well-ventilated area. Always keep the lid sealed. Incorrect storage and handling may result in inaccurate readings. Replace and tighten the lid immediately after removing a strip to help keep the rest fresh. Store the strips in a cool, dry place. Leave the packet of drying agent in the bottle. Always dry your hands before removing test strips from the bottle.
  • The measuring cup should be thoroughly rinsed after each use.
  • The outside of the BAQUASpa Oxidizer bottle should be wiped with a clean, damp cloth after use to remove any liquid that may have dripped onto it.

How to use BAQUASpa® Test Strips

  1. Remove BAQUASpa Test Strip from the bottle and replace cap tightly. Dip the strip into your spa for one second and remove.
  2. Important: Do not “swish” the strip back and forth, as this will affect the accuracy of the test.
  3. Hold the strip level, pad side up, for 15 seconds. Do not shake excess water from the test strip.
  4. Compare the BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control, Calcium Hardness, Total Alkalinity and pH pads to the corresponding color blocks on the BAQUASpa Test Strip bottle. The color chart will tell you whether or not your BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control, Calcium Hardness, Total Alkalinity and pH are at the appropriate levels.

IMPORTANT:

ALWAYS TURN SPA BLOWERS OFF PRIOR TO ADDING ANY CHEMICALS.

DO NOT USE BAQUASpa PRODUCTS IN UNTREATED WOODED HOT TUBS.

WEEKLY MAINTENANCE

  1. BAQUASpa Waterline Control
  • Add a maintenance dosage – Always add Waterline Control prior to adding the BAQUASpa Sanitizer.
  1. BAQUASpa Oxidizer
  • Add a maintenance dosage according to usage rate (refer to dosage chart below).
  • Circulate on high speed for 15 minutes with blowers off.
  1. BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control
  • Check weekly and if needed top up if 30 ppm or below.
  • The level should be maintained between 30 and 50ppm.
  • †If using an Ozonator, test your BAQUASpa Sanitizer level every four days and top-up as necessary to maintain a level of 30–50 ppm.
  • TIP: Test sanitizer weekly and only add if needed. DO NOT OVERDOSE.

A balanced composition

No matter which sanitizing system you choose, keeping the water balanced is essential to your enjoyment of the spa. Water is balanced when pH, total alkalinity and hardness are all within the proper range. Problems arise when any of these factors are too high or low. Unbalanced water can become corrosive or cause the formation of scale deposits. Corrosive water also attacks the integrity of metal components; pitting, etching and staining them. Scale formation causes cloudy water, surface staining or short filter cycling. Any of these conditions can cause problems for the spa, and irritations, especially of the eyes and skin, for the people using it.

IMPORTANT:

ALWAYS TURN SPA BLOWERS OFF PRIOR TO ADDING ANY CHEMICALS.

pH

pH has the greatest effect on water balance. The pH of water is a measure of how acidic or basic it is. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14, with 7.0 considered pH neutral. Anything below is acidic; above is basic. The ideal pH for the BAQUASpa Water Care System is 7.2–7.8. Using BAQUASpa® Test Strips, test your spa’s pH weekly. It’s simple to adjust. When the pH falls below 7.2, add BAQUASpa pH Increaser. When the pH rises above 7.8, use BAQUASpa pH Decreaser.

 Total alkalinity

Total Alkalinity is the amount of “buffer’’ present in water. These buffers prevent drastic changes in pH, called “pH bounce.” The proper Total Alkalinity range for spa water is 80-120 ppm. Try keeping the TA at the lower end of the recommended range.

 Calcium hardness

All water contains some natural hardness, and it varies by geographic region. Calcium Hardness is the amount of dissolved calcium in your spa water. The correct hardness range is 200–400 parts per million (ppm).

When increasing calcium hardness, add chemicals in increments of no greater than 40ppm. For example, to raise calcium hardness 80ppm in a 300-gallon spa:

  1. Add 2.5 ounces of BAQUASpa Calcium Hardness Increaser.
  2. Circulate spa water for 15 minutes.
  3. Add final 2.5 ounces of BAQUASpa Calcium Hardness Increaser.
  4. Circulate for an additional 15 minutes.

 

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED RANGES

FOR WATER BALANCE FACTORS

pH 7.2–7.8

Total Alkalinity 80–120ppm

Calcium Hardness 200–400ppm

Metals None

Total dissolved solids not to exceed 2,000ppm

Water temperature not to exceed 104°F

Other important water balance factors In addition to weekly pH testing, other water conditions should be tested by Swim Rite Pools, though on a less frequent basis. Every four weeks, or when you refill your spa, take a water sample to Swim Rite in a Sample Bottle or a clean, plastic container, for the following tests:

  • MetalsProper water balance is the key to achieving excellent water quality and protecting your spa equipment (shell, heater, etc.). If you are located in a high calcium or metal content area, use BAQUASpa Metal Control to control metals and protect against scaling. Metals can enter the water through corrosion of surfaces such as heating elements in the spa’s heater or from fill water. It is important that no metals be present in your spa water at any time, as they can cause sanitizer depletion, staining or discolored water.
  • Total Dissolved Solidsor TDS, is the total amount of material dissolved in your spa water. Although the TDS concentration has little effect on water balance, a level above 2,000 ppm may cause problems with water clarity, sanitizer efficiency, eye irritation and taste. Be sure to follow recommendations to correct any imbalances in your spa.

Cover

Clean your cover every other week with BAQUASpa® Cover Cleaner, concentrating on the water side.

  1. If possible, place cover upside down on a flat surface.
  2. Pour a puddle of BAQUASpa Cover Cleaner (about 6″–9″ in diameter) onto cover underside and scrub with a Spa Cleaning Pad.
  3. Rinse cover thoroughly and replace cover on spa.
  4. Pour a 2″–3″ puddle of BAQUASpa Cover Cleaner on top of cover and scrub with a Spa Cleaning Pad and rinse thoroughly.

Shell

Clean your spa shell at the waterline regularly with BAQUASpa Surface Cleaner and a Spa Cleaning Pad.

Filter – Clean your spa filter at least every 4-6 weeks with BAQUASpa Filter Cleaner* – follow the label directions. Regular filter cleaning is an important step in your spa care routine and plays a key role in keeping your spa water clear all year long.

 Why you should clean your spa filter

By filter cleaning, we are not referring to a rinse routine – but rather the process of chemically cleaning your filter. A filter that’s operating properly keeps the water clear by trapping the hair, oils and cosmetics that wash off when people use the spa. When the filter is dirty this debris stays in the water. Regular attention to your filter will result in:

  • Better circulation in your spa,
  • Effective distribution of chemicals,
  • Less opportunity for corrosion and scaling.
  • Lowers sanitizer usage.

NOTE: Do not use filter cleaners that are recommended for pools. Always use a BAQUASpa recommended filter cleaner for use with your BAQUASpa Water Care System.

Water changing guidelines – Although BAQUASpa Sanitizer with Stain & Scale Control is persistent at controlling bacteria, and longer lasting than bromine-or chlorine-based systems, it’s important to remember that a spa is a small body of water. Continual use means bathers will deposit large amounts of dirt, perspiration, body oils, deodorant, makeup and other contaminants into a relatively small volume of water. We recommend changing your spa water every 60–90 days or whenever an extreme water quality problem develops. After draining, clean the empty spa shell thoroughly with BAQUASpa Surface Cleaner. Rinse thoroughly before refilling. This is also an ideal time to clean your spa cover and filter.

Temperature: Keep your spa water temperature no higher than 104°F. Temperatures higher than this can place undue strain on the cardiovascular system. A quality, shatterproof thermometer should always be used to accurately measure spa water temperature.