User Guide

Once you’ve determined the readings for pH, total alkalinity and
calcium hardness using Leisure Time® Spa & Hot Tub Test Strips,
you will need to adjust your water so that the levels fall within
the normal ranges. Testing your spa water regularly will make you
aware of any changes in water balance. If your spa water does
not fall within the recommended ranges and remains unbalanced,
problems such as cloudy water, scaling, equipment corrosion and
skin irritation can occur.
Refer to the Problem Solver on page 15 if you are experiencing any
of these or other problems. You can also visit LeisureTimeSpa.com
to find answers to your questions or use the online water analysis.
RECOMMENDED RANGES FOR BALANCED WATER
pH 7.2-7.8
Total Alkalinity 80-120 ppm
Calcium Hardness 150-400 ppm
Metals None
Total Dissolved Solids Not more than 2000 ppm
Water Temperature Not hotter than 104˚F
ADDING A SANITIZER
Using an effective sanitizer to control and prevent bacteria growth
is the most important start-up procedure in our program. Using a
sanitizer properly controls and prevents bacteria in your spa, which
keeps the water clean and fresh. No matter which sanitizing system
you use, spa water must be maintained at a sufficient sanitizer level
to keep the water clean. The following pages outline the application
directions for each of the sanitizers Leisure Time® Spa offers.
4 5
Total Alkalinity
Total alkalinity acts as a buffer to prevent the pH level from
changing as additional chemicals or other substances are added to
the water. Any fluctuation above or below the recommended range
of 80-120 parts per million (ppm) may cause the pH to be unstable
which can lead to corrosion, cloudy water or scaling. When the total
alkalinity needs adjusting, use Leisure Time® Spa Up, Leisure Time®
Spa Down or Leisure Time® Alkalinity Increaser.
pH
It is critical that the pH of your spa water stay within the range of
7.2 – 7.8. Any fluctuations above or below this range can cause spa
water to be corrosive or scale forming. pH is easily adjusted by
using Leisure Time® Spa Up or Leisure Time® Spa Down. For added
convenience, use Leisure Time® Liquid Spa Up or Leisure Time®
Liquid Spa Down.
Once the pH is in the ideal range, Leisure Time® Spa recommends
adding Leisure Time® pH Balance Plus to the circulating water
to lock the pH in place for the next three months. This product is
available at your local retailer. Please note that when using Leisure
Time® pH Balance Plus, your total alkalinity reading may no longer
be in the range of 80-120 ppm, but no adjustment is needed
because it has special buffers that are doing the work for you.
Calcium Hardness
Spa water requires some calcium to be present. The recommended
range for calcium is between 150-400 ppm. Calcium levels outside
this range can cause scale buildup, foaming or corrosion of
equipment and plumbing. To raise the calcium level, use Calcium
Booster. The only way to lower the calcium level is to drain part
of the water and replace it with softer water. Using a sequestering
agent such as Defender will prevent calcium and scale formations
by chemically bonding with the calcium to keep it in solution.
BALANCED WATER
See pages 6-10 for details on sanitizing systems:
Chlorine Bromine Reserve & Renew® Free System