Have peace of mind by making sure your hot tub water is clean and sanitized. Believe it or not, you can achieve this continuous sanitation with salt! We have created some videos to show how chlorine will keep your water pristine. Dive in at any time with confidence and embrace the future of water maintenance with the natural simplicity of salt.

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Salt System Start-up

1. Make sure the spa has been filled with the BluWater supplied Pre-Filter that attaches to your hose.
2. Spa needs to be heated to at least 80 degrees to ensure the sodium bromide properly dissolves.
3. Add the small packet of TRU-START to the water with both pumps on to circulate the powder. This will help neutralize the phosphates in the water and help the salt (sodium bromide) to produce bromine more efficiently.
4. Check pH and alkalinity levels. Add pH decreaser if needed and adjust to appropriate levels. pH needs to be in the range of 7.2 - 7.8 ppm and alkalinity needs to be in the range of 80 - 120 ppm.
5. Add the specially formulated SODIUM BROMIDE at 1.2 lbs. per 100 gallons and check the sodium bromide levels to ensure you have reached 1,500 ppm or 7 on the sodium bromide test strip. 1 cup of sodium bromide is approximately one pound.
6. Add 4 oz of UNIQUE or METAL FREE which will help remove metal contaminants such as rust and iron.
7. Adjust the BluFusion control panel to the power level of (7), and once you lock this number in, then press the boost button. This will double the amount of power going to the cell unit for faster bromine production.
8. If hooked up to a 24-hour circulation pump, you will need to set the BluFusion salt system control panel to (2). If hooked up to pump #1 low speed, you will need to set the filter cycles to run between 6-10 hours and set the salt system control panel at (7).

Weekly

1. Test for pH & alkalinity and adjust to proper levels. pH needs to be in the range of 7.2 - 7.8 ppm and alkalinity needs to be in the range of 80 - 120 ppm.
2. Test for bromine using the same test strips that you use for testing pH & alkalinity. Bromine should be in the range of 2 – 5ppm. Press the up button on the BluFusion control panel power settings to increase bromine and the down button to decrease.
3. When the pH & alkalinity has been adjusted and is in range, add 4 ounces of HOT TUB SERUM TOTAL MAINTENANCE on a weekly basis. This product provides many benefits, keeping your salt water spa crystal clear, and is the only EPA registered product that prevents and removes bio matter build up from internal plumbing lines and also protects the salt water cell for increased life.
4. Add 2 ounces of Unique.

Every Two Weeks

1. Rinse/hose off filters.
2. Shock water. Shock is used to oxidize organic waste that can make your water cloudy and give it a bad odor. When you use a shock product, leave the cover open for half an hour with the spa running to aid in oxidation. If you use the tub daily, you may need to shock weekly. If you have a heavy bather load of 3 or more in the spa at one time, this can cause a spike in bacteria level, and the spa should be shocked right after use to restore the sanitary level of the spa.

Monthly

1. Test for pH & alkalinity and adjust to proper levels. pH needs to be in the range of 7.2 - 7.8 ppm and alkalinity in the range of 80 - 120 ppm.
2. Check sodium bromide (salt) levels using your sodium bromide test strips. 1500 ppm is recommended.
3. Rinse filters and then soak them using a large bucket or pail in Filter Perfect filter cleaner (a non-phosphate based cleaner) for a minimum of 6 hours or overnight.

Every 6 Months

Add another pack of TRU-START to your water. This will help replenish and neutralize excess phosphates.

Yearly

1. Drain, Clean & Fill. Before draining the spa, remove filters and add ½ jar of HOT TUB SERUM TOTAL CLEANSE. Turn on the jets and let mix for 25 minutes, then drain.
2. Clean Cell. Remove the front access panel from your spa and locate the BluFusion cell unit. Loosen the hose clamps and remove the cell unit from the ¾” clear line. Unplug the white connector that attaches the cell unit to the power box. Soak the cell unit for 20 minutes in a solution of half white vinegar and half water. Use a bottle brush to scrub the unit. Do not completely submerge the cell unit; keep the wire side of the cell unit out of the water. After twenty minutes rinse the cell unit off with water and re-install the cell unit back into the ¾” line.
3. Change Filters. Install a set of new filters and follow the start up instructions.

Troubleshooting

Conductivity Test

This test will determine how well the cell generator is converting sodium bromide (salt) into bromine. Unlock the salt system control panel and hold both the up and down arrow buttons for 6 seconds. The conductivity number will now be displayed. A normal healthy conductivity reading should be over 1.10. If you are getting a reading lower than 1.10, first check your pH and alkalinity levels and adjust if needed . If pH and Alkalinity levels are too high on a consistent basis, this will cause scaling to form on the cells inside the cell generator and cause the conductivity level to give a low reading. Also check to make sure your sodium bromide (salt) levels are at 1,500 ppm and add another packet of TRU-START. Wait 24 hours to recheck conductivity level. If still getting a low conductivity reading, then clean your cell generator as listed above in the yearly instructions. Checking the conductivity after just adding salt when the water is below 70 degrees will result in a low conductivity number, as the salt has not yet built up a sodium bromide residual. Wait 24 hours after adding salt to get an accurate reading.

Yellow Water: Bromine level too high

Spa water that is tinted yellow usually indicates a high bromine residual and a low pH. This is fairly common with bromine spa systems, because the bromine can discolor the Phenol Red used to test pH. The pH reading looks higher than it actually is, which often causes the mistaken addition of more acid. The higher the bromine reading, the more tendency to discolor the pH test, so it can become a vicious cycle. Check your bromine level using your bromine test strips, and if it shows a bromine level of 15 ppm or higher, add a capful of Thiotrine, which will neutralize and bring down the bromine. Rinse and clean filters 24 hours after adding Thiotrine. Repeat procedure if bromine level is still high after 24 hours.

Green Water: No bromine or bromine level too high

Spa water that is tinted green can either be from too much bromine in the water, or from no bromine in the water causing a bacteria build up. A simple bromine test strip will indicate if you have no bromine or too high levels of bromine.

No bromine: If your test strip reads no bromine in the water, immediately add 2 ounces of non-chlorine shock to the water with pumps on. This will automatically turn the salt into bromine for a short time and help kill the bacteria. Check your sodium bromide (salt) level using the sodium bromide test strip. If salt level is under 1,500 ppm, then add more salt to reach the 1,500 ppm mark on the test strip. If sodium bromide (salt) level is at 1,500 ppm then perform the conductivity test as mentioned above to see if the cell needs to be cleaned.
Bromine too high: Green water can also indicate a high bromine residual and a low pH. This is fairly common with bromine spa systems, because the bromine can discolor the Phenol Red used to test pH. The pH reading looks higher than it actually is, which often causes the mistaken addition of more acid. The higher the bromine reading, the more tendency to discolor the pH test, so it can become a vicious cycle. Check your bromine level using your bromine test strip, and if the bromine level reads 15 ppm or higher, add a capful of Thiotrine to neutralize and bring down bromine. Rinse and clean filters 24 hours after adding Thiotrine. Repeat procedure if bromine level is still high after 24 hours.

Brown Water: Rust, Iron and mineral levels too high

Iron/Rust. Brown water is not the most appetizing hot tub water color, and if your spa suddenly turns brown like tea, the problem is usually high levels of minerals, namely iron oxide and rust. This may occur within hours after shocking the spa, or making big pH adjustments. The filter cartridge should remove some of it, but to clear it up faster, you can force the metals back into solution with a sequestering agent like Unique.
Contaminated water: Brown spa water also occurs from contaminated fill water. During dry, hot periods, some municipal water supplies begin scraping the bottom of the barrel, which adds a lot of particulate matter to the water supply. You can combat this by using your Pre-Filter on your hose when you fill the spa, to remove even microscopic particles from your fill water. We advise purchasing a second set of filters when filling your spa from a well source.

Foam: Soaps and other foreign substances

Foaming in spas is not uncommon. It is caused by buildup of insoluble compounds, such as perspiration, cosmetics, etc. Detergents from poorly rinsed bathing suits can cause extensive foaming, as can any fragrances, bath oils or other warm water scents not especially designed for spa use. Read labels carefully when selecting any kind of spa fragrance. AVOID USING LIQUID FRAGRANCES in your salt water spa. Try to wash bathing suits less frequently if foaming occurs.