What hottub!?

Author
Discussion

davidexige

488 posts

207 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
Just in from 30 Mins in ours-
Still can’t get it absolutely crystal clear despite showering before etc

I was surprised (awaiting physicists) that when I put about 4 inches of water to top it up to day (first time in 3 weeks) the temp dropped by 3deg
We sometimes get a bit of a cloud in ours, couple of things, first make sure that the chemical balance of the tub is correct, then I use water clarifier, all the spa company's sell them, but I just get the one from B&Q as its local and seems to work well, just add the recommended dose and it's usually clear the next day, just remember that you'll need to then clean your filters, the other thing you can try is an oxidiser, these come in sachets and seem to work well.

Couple of links here

https://www.diy.com/departments/clearwater-water-c...

https://www.ukpoolstore.co.uk/acatalog/AquaSparkle...


PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
Thanks -
balances are fine, and shocked it this morning as usual.
And added some clarifier too.


Still not crystal clear frown

eliot

11,439 posts

255 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
i never use clarifier - murky water is for me is only when i’ve let the bromine levels drop or not cleaning the filter.
I have two sets and soak a set in a bucket for a day or
so.

davidexige

488 posts

207 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
Thanks -
balances are fine, and shocked it this morning as usual.
And added some clarifier too.


Still not crystal clear frown
Maybe time to empty and start again.


Uggers

2,223 posts

212 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
8bit said:
Yeah, it's no real hassle at all once you get used to it. Interested in your custom build insulation, would you mind sharing some details and perhaps a photo or two?
It's nothing too fancy. But it's a plastic tub that is usually clad in wood and used for wood burner heaters. I wanted it to be sunk into the ground, heated via ASHP and add my own jets and big pump.
Sticking my head under the decking it was obvious a lot of heat was escaping the tub as it was toasty down there. But knew it would be a nightmare of a job as its sunk into the ground, probably why I put it off so long.

Insulation needed to be waterproof and thin. Found insulation that's basically bubble wrap with silver foil on both sides. Spent a whole day on it and managed to wrap the whole unit in 2 layers. Fixing with waterproof Gorilla Tape. Rubbish photo, but difficult to get!

I can monitor electric usage just for the tub and at comparable times for outside temps I've cut down my electric usage by half!





PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
davidexige said:
Maybe time to empty and start again.
Hope not- it’s only 3 or 4 weeks old
We’ve been v good showering and no contamination or cream etc on us

Nickyboy

6,700 posts

235 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
Just in from 30 Mins in ours-
Still can’t get it absolutely crystal clear despite showering before etc

I was surprised (awaiting physicists) that when I put about 4 inches of water to top it up to day (first time in 3 weeks) the temp dropped by 3deg
I had the same trouble when we first got ours, it changed when i got a floating dispenser.

PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Sunday 11th April 2021
quotequote all
Yeah a Frog has come recommended to me

gtidriver

3,350 posts

188 months

Monday 12th April 2021
quotequote all
Ive just had my Hot spring tub installed today, can't wait till tomorrow to jump in..

PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Wednesday 14th April 2021
quotequote all


Works a treat !

8bit

4,868 posts

156 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
Anyone bought a 'tub from this place?

https://www.thehottubsupercentre.com/

Prices look fairly reasonable and selection looks pretty good, to my relatively untrained eye?

PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
My untrained eye suggests style / substance ratio needs addressing
I’d also mot touch a 13A personally

Superleg48

1,524 posts

134 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
My untrained eye suggests style / substance ratio needs addressing
I’d also mot touch a 13A personally
Why not?


PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
Superleg48 said:
PushedDover said:
My untrained eye suggests style / substance ratio needs addressing
I’d also mot touch a 13A personally
Why not?
Because they lack the ability to heat whilst giving any meaningful jets or pumping.

Superleg48

1,524 posts

134 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
8bit said:
Anyone bought a 'tub from this place?

https://www.thehottubsupercentre.com/

Prices look fairly reasonable and selection looks pretty good, to my relatively untrained eye?
You need to establish what the controls and main PCB are. You need to avoid anything made in China. Ideally you should go for American Balboa or Gecko (Canadian) inerds to ensure widest parts available at sensible cost.

Tubs with Watkins components are also good (Hotspring) but Hotspring are very expensive as are parts. Did I say avoid Chinese components?

We recently bought a tub from Palm Spas. These are made in Portugal and have American Balboa electronics. They offer great value too. I have had all the sides off for a good poke around and it is very well put together with good access to all components, plenty of space and all the fixings behind the jets on the underside of the shell. Pipes and cables all very tidily run and the pump and heater unit have isolation valves at each end, so if they need replacing you don’t need to drain to do it. A lot of thought has gone into them from a servicing point of view.


Superleg48

1,524 posts

134 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
PushedDover said:
Superleg48 said:
PushedDover said:
My untrained eye suggests style / substance ratio needs addressing
I’d also mot touch a 13A personally
Why not?
Because they lack the ability to heat whilst giving any meaningful jets or pumping.
We have a 13A and it works just fine on both counts.

PushedDover

5,658 posts

54 months

Saturday 17th April 2021
quotequote all
Superleg48 said:
PushedDover said:
Superleg48 said:
PushedDover said:
My untrained eye suggests style / substance ratio needs addressing
I’d also mot touch a 13A personally
Why not?
Because they lack the ability to heat whilst giving any meaningful jets or pumping.
We have a 13A and it works just fine on both counts.
I stand corrected then- my understanding is for any decent heating and pumping you’re gonna need a bigger current draw

8bit

4,868 posts

156 months

Sunday 18th April 2021
quotequote all
Superleg48 said:
You need to establish what the controls and main PCB are. You need to avoid anything made in China. Ideally you should go for American Balboa or Gecko (Canadian) inerds to ensure widest parts available at sensible cost.
Thanks, although how does one establish those sorts of details - simply phining the vendor and asking or some other means?

gtidriver

3,350 posts

188 months

Sunday 18th April 2021
quotequote all
I ordered my tub back in August,the relay and the price has gone up £1000, if your looking for one act soon or it'll be next year before you get it. Hotsprings Ashford salesman says 42weeks for there swimspas.

Superleg48

1,524 posts

134 months

Sunday 18th April 2021
quotequote all
8bit said:
Superleg48 said:
You need to establish what the controls and main PCB are. You need to avoid anything made in China. Ideally you should go for American Balboa or Gecko (Canadian) inerds to ensure widest parts available at sensible cost.
Thanks, although how does one establish those sorts of details - simply phining the vendor and asking or some other means?
Exactly that. You need to ask specifically what manufacturer of the electronics, controls, pumps and heater unit are. If they cannot tell you it is a red flag. If it is a recognised manufacturer such as Balboa or Gecko they will know.

A Hot Tub is a long term investment that you will keep well beyond whatever warranty it comes with, so it is important to get a Tub that is easily serviceable and parts availability and cost will not be an issue.