Ask 'Dr. Spa' Q & A Message Board

Stabilizer is something for pool water - it keeps the UV rays from destroying the chlorine. It is not needed in a portable spa. But keeping an eye out for too much stabilizer can be good if you don't change your water every 3 to 4 months. chlorine can become less effective when theres too much stabilizer in the water and I've read some reports that high stabilizer (over 100 PPM) may be bad for us. I'm sure that by the end of a water's 3 month life its way over 100.

If your not getting a reading with 1 teaspoon chlorine - when do you take the reading and how big (gallons) is the tub? My tub is 400 gallons and a teaspoon gives me approx 1.5 PPM of chlorine. You need to test about 20 minutes after adding it. If you are and you have no residue - something's not right, re-reading your post 3 PPM residue with 3 tablespoons is definately wrong!

Your alkalinity is at 60 - what is your PH? If your alkalinity doesn't fluctuate as the water gets older, again something isn't right.

I would suspect your test kit/ strips.

: my test kit"aquacheck" has a pad for ppm stabalizer

: it is reading low...below 30

: I sanitize with AllClear sodium dichlor and use spaguard ph up and down,
: when called for...however it usually holds well at proper level.

: I add 1 teaspoon AllClear with every use...once per day...and 3
: tablespoons once per week, as a shock

: And I use Nature 2 and 24circ ozone

: I don't get a chlorine read with the 1 teaspoon, and get a read of 3
: when I do the shock

: Water is always pristine.

: So what is ppm stabalizer all about...and what do I have to do to get it
: where it belongs?

: My total alk seems to stay @ approx 60....which is a little low.

: So how do I adjust this up as well?