Pellet Fan
All Things Considered => General Discussion--Non food Related => Topic started by: Bentley on December 26, 2019, 08:34:26 PM
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Kristin has decided to put in a Hot Tub, no time machine in this one. I was so excited to hear the news I almost got the site for the concrete pad done in one day. I also found out if you are fat and out of shape and you use a shovel, later, you get really bad oblique muscle cramps that will literally take you to the ground. Supposed to be a 5 person, but it appears it will hold 2 fine.
Pictures of the Evil Cramp inducing hole tomorrow!
(https://i.imgur.com/0J1fR16h.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/N33qvmih.jpg)
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almost bought one a few years ago the GF at the time was excited about it until she mentioned it to my chiropractor and he told that is not something I should use with my health issues.
Hope you enjoy it.
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Some times that happens if you're really out of shape and fat just looking at the shovel then picking it up! :P
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You have plenty of Gatorade around. It's my cure for those cramps. Even the night leg cramps.
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I am down to my last 6, will have to switch over to crystal lite I guess! They lasted a pretty long time!
You have plenty of Gatorade around. It's my cure for those cramps. Even the night leg cramps.
(https://i.imgur.com/XPsiR2qh.jpg)
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My brother has a portable hot tub and he really enjoys it. Especially after using something like a shovel. I try to avoid having to dig a hole and tell my wife I can't get it to start because I broke the starter rope. She hasn't bought that excuse yet.
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My get up and go, got up and went years ago. Now days I just call the "Guy" to fix things that need a shovel. :D
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You have plenty of Gatorade around. It's my cure for those cramps. Even the night leg cramps.
I used to get Charlie horses in my legs for most of my life, only they weren't specifically at night. Could come on most anytime until my wife got me on a regiment of potassium and magnesium. Now, I'm about 99.9% free of them. Of course, Gatorade definitely tastes better. :rotf:
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I joined poolspaforum.com about the same time I joined PH. Nothing like our community here, but there are a few folks who will answer questions for you.
I guess that puts our hot tub at a little over 10 years old. It's kind of like the life as boat owner, the two best days are the day you purchase it and the day you sell it. Or more accurately, we used it constantly first year, and then less and less every year. We're once a week on cool fall evenings, then once a month for rest of year.
Still, I hope you two enjoy yours, they do have great healing properties.
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We went on the cruise two days after I dislocated my shoulder and I used the ship's spa a few times. It worked really well on my shoulder and helped loosen things up. I am also just full of arthiritis and it sure helped that also. Maybe I will get tired of it, but right now it seems like it would be lovely to spend some time in it each night.
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We had a 6 seater portable tub at our old house and we used the heck out of it. We are thinking of another one but it would be expensive because we have a 10* slope everywhere that would be feasible. In our opinion they are fantastic, trying to figure out how we can do it again and incorporate the deck area etc.
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We went on the cruise two days after I dislocated my shoulder and I used the ship's spa a few times. It worked really well on my shoulder and helped loosen things up. I am also just full of arthiritis and it sure helped that also. Maybe I will get tired of it, but right now it seems like it would be lovely to spend some time in it each night.
My wife has arthritis and she just melted into it. Don’t know if they are good or bad but they dang sure make the old bones better.
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I know I would be in right now if it were here. If that hole was filled with 105° water I would be in it right now. Will position the tub so you enter it from the patio, the 1st picture. Will probably have to put a hand rail for getting in and out. Front of tub will face the tree.
(https://i.imgur.com/2cPEBXPh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XTkCnsoh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gz1ScHzh.jpg)
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I know I would be in right now if it were here. If that hole was filled with 105° water I would be in it right now. Will position the tub so you enter it from the patio, the 1st picture. Will probably have to put a hand rail for getting in and out. Front of tub will face the tree.
(https://i.imgur.com/2cPEBXPh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XTkCnsoh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/gz1ScHzh.jpg)
Well its been nice talking with you. Once you have that it’ll be “radio silence “.
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Anyone know the answer to this? I have a 8' X 7', 4 inch non rebared(sp), 4000 psi concrete slab, on a hard clay compacted substrata with 2 inches of 5/8 inch gravel.
How much weight will this hold?
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(https://pbe1tq.ch.files.1drv.com/y4m9el7Vn8VSrpEr6a6YTByQ9daGd3Qt304fTWIPpNdD1c1f-6h1ia_JRsCfkZiouTr8DczaFa3cxyD-6Px5JRa6Dm0cOCrkQBC1WX6AQLhhRCw_W6i299btjNKA7sXeWMNFRo8NAecWE4pZWNJsgzyWNylRg_4OHVFzhk-CSdukNNN65717bgRI4qRUZG-VwUgzud5sPNNVMexj5AKyFfq9A?width=320&height=241&cropmode=none)
The contractor that poured my patio put a board here (about ¾-inch). I asked why and one guy said so it wouldn't fuse with the foundation. Then they caulked it.
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How much weight will this hold?
IDK, but I'd ask the retailer what's required. If the retailer doesn't want to share the information, I'd ask the manufacturer. I'd buy somewhere else if neither would tell me.
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Looked at that site earlier, but could not figure out their formula.
I do not directly know, but this article might help:
They just give what it will weigh. I really dont blame them for not recommending X. They have nothing to do with getting the electrical in place or doing the pad, they are not contractors or concrete people. So I can't hold them responsible for not recommending what it should be.
How much weight will this hold?
IDK, but I'd ask the retailer what's required. If the retailer doesn't want to share the information, I'd ask the manufacturer. I'd buy somewhere else if neither would tell me.
They say plan 4000 lbs. But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs. I have to believe that 4 inches on a well compacted clay soil should hold 3300 lbs.
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Not sure on this one. Really just want to use the foundation wall and patio as forms where I can. Not sure if doing that is an issue. Not sure if it fused if it would matter. House settling should be done, very little seismic activity here. Not sure I will need to skreet this small an area, but also not sure how to square those 2 sides.
I know just enough to dig the whole, now the real work starts and I have to use the brain. Why I am asking so many questions.
The contractor that poured my patio put a board here (about ¾-inch). I asked why and one guy said so it wouldn't fuse with the foundation. Then they caulked it.
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They just give what it will weigh. I really dont blame them for not recommending X. They have nothing to do with getting the electrical in place or doing the pad, they are not contractors or concrete people. So I can't hold them responsible for not recommending what it should be.
I'd hold them responsible. It appears to me to be an integral part of their business. I bought a huge diesel powered standby generator a few years ago. The supplier gave me writen specifications for the pad and recommendations for the fencing.
They say plan 4000 lbs. But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs.
Does their 930 lb. figure include the pumps, plumbing and such underneath?
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I think they know that people can put spas in a variety of locations -- on decks, on brick patios, build a new site. For example, we could put this on our patio out the back door. They did not pour that, they know nothing about it, I don't know how it was built or what it sgould support so I would not be able to say whether it would support the weight. So, if I decided to put the spa there, how would they be responsible for that?
He did recommend a 6 inch pad and I think we were hpoping to get away with a four inch pad since that is what most garages are, but I guess we will just go with six inches. Just not that much more concrete.
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For lack of a better term, it is a self-contained unit, so I would assume that is the weight of entire unit. Now, I guess you need to factor the weight of the people inside, but I dont believe that is possible. Buoyancy comes into play and probably many physics theories that I can not deal with You have all sorts of mathematical stuff going on now and that is above my SAT limit!
They say plan 4000 lbs. But specs show the spa empty is 930 lbs. and holds 285 gallons of water which is roughly 2400 lbs.
Does their 930 lb. figure include the pumps, plumbing and such underneath?
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He did recommend a 6 inch pad...
Sorry, I misunderstood the genesis of your original question. I'd follow that recommendation.
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Congrats on your hot tub Purchase! Your going to love it! Mine looks very similar to yours, Just a bit bigger. Your going to love those feet jets!
I started using them after my Deer Motorcycle accident in 2013 which broke my collarbone & 6 ribs. Went to the spa & rented time for pain relief. 25 bucks for an half hour gets pretty expensive real quick. In 2014 I bought a used one & in 2015 bought a new one which we still have & works flawlessly.
It does wonders for these old bones. Keeps my arthritis in my knee in check. After all these years I still use mine 5 to 6 times a week. Favorite time for me is evenings after supper. Or early mornings when I first get up.
Your first year is going to be tricky in learning your water management. I hope you have a good dealer nearby that will take you under their wing & guide you. Once you get your system down pat its easy peasy.
Bentley, Kristen, if you would like I would gladly PM you my PH number & I could share some simple tips that has worked for me & hopefully save you a years worth of grief.
Living in Wisconsin I use mine year round. 101 to 102 temp in winter & 99 to 100 in summer. I believe my slab is 4 inches with rebar & styrofoam insulation to keep it from heaving.
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Yes, please do!
Not sure if yours has this. Ours will have the...
FreshWater® Salt System Our unique and patented design automatically generates chlorine from salt, keeping water clean and fresh up to 3x longer than any other system.
A cartridge you replace every 4 months. I guess we also check water X times a week or month. My initial concern is that we have well water and how hard it will be and with what other nastys for something like a spa.
And whether we need these othere 3 I guess just depends...The Clean Screen®. I guess you attach this pre-filter to your garden hose to remove organic contaminants, tannins, copper, iron and other metals from the water as you fill your spa.
The Vanishing Act®, a calicum remover that reduces buildup for softer-feeling water. I guess it helps protect the spa from the damaging effects of hard water.
Silver Ion Purifier. A silver purifier cartridge inhibits bacterial growth. Simply insert the cartridge into the filter of your spa and the silver ions are released automatically — there’s no chance of under or over-dosing. Simply replace the cartridge every four months. Available for use with all Caldera spas.
Your first year is going to be tricky in learning your water management. I hope you have a good dealer nearby that will take you under their wing & guide you. Once you get your system down pat its easy peasy.
Bentley, Kristen, if you would like I would gladly PM you my PH number & I could share some simple tips that has worked for me & hopefully save you a years worth of grief.
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We had a salt water in ground pool at out old house and boy howdy were we buoyant. Not like in the sea, but it took getting used to at first. I initially got too much salt in it but got it balanced finally. We had well water too, and I had a hard time keeping chlorine in it and the ph down. We didn't have a pool place anywhere near us, so I was doing it wrong apparently. We have a cheapo Walmart above ground pool here and the folks at the pool store are awesome and helpful, so it's really easy to keep balanced. I think I'll try to talk Bonnie into getting a hot tub too. She has a touch of rheumatoid arthritis and our daughter has juvenile RA so it would probably be good for them. We'd have to turn the heater off in the summer when it's triple digits and upper 70s at night probably.
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I use my tub twice a day. Every morning and again right before going to bed.
I can't imagine not having mine.
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Does your ground freeze. If you do have freeze thaw cycles then I would isolate it from the foundation with a piece of 3/4 foam insulation. If no freeze thaw cycles to worry about then the isolation might not matter. Our pad was 3-4†with rebar for a 7 person spa. No problems. We also used it on a plastic tarp directly on level ground with no problems either. Filled it with brown lake water and 24 hours later it was crystal clear. Amazing filters.
Like others, we lost interest after a few years. Gave it away.
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You all who lost interest just must not have the aches and pains we do! I guess it will be nice that it is out the door, literally 5 steps to the edge of the spa, and walk in.
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You all who lost interest just must not have the aches and pains we do! I guess it will be nice that it is out the door, literally 5 steps to the edge of the spa, and walk in.
Big +1
I don't have the fresh water salt system. I do however put in a fresh water cartridge in the center of my filter 3 days after each fill Which lasts for 4 months.
What I've found works best for me is after a fresh fill & before I use the tub I take a water sample to my dealer & have it tested to get it right, right away before I use it. Then after each use I put a dairy queen spoon full of chlorine per person in the tub. And if I don't use it for a couple days I'll toss one in. I shock weekly. With a salt water system may be different.
Haven't had a ring around the tub or cloudy water in years! I'll add that my tub holds about 360 gallons.
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Was going to do the pour today, but Kristin comment on temperatures and what they should be. I had to use the old internet and was educated that the ideal pour temperature is between 50-60°. That would not have been a problem for the pour, but as I read more I came to realize that it takes anywhere from 30-48 hours for the concrete to set and that those temperatures should not be below 44° and really should stay above 50°.
Well, it is to be 22°, and I guess below freezing temperatures in that 1st 48 hours can wreak havoc on the concrete. So it is to be above 50° starting Friday at about 11 am till early Sunday morning. Will shoot for the pour then.
Pad is ready, about a inch and a half of gravel...no rebar, but a 56 sq ft, 5 inch pour, I figure some Hog wire will give it just a bit more added strength, and it was just lying around!
(https://i.imgur.com/MeUc2juh.jpg)
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My part is finished. Many cramps involved with this project, last night being the worst! And yes, you cannot broom finish a pad after 2 hours, that had set up in 50° weather...as you can see, it did not go well. But all you will see is the wood frame anyway, so I guess it really does not matter, except for pride.
(https://i.imgur.com/CdMOZWLh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/uVXj20dh.jpg)
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You really need a hot tub if you mixed all of that by hand. If you did, how many bags did you use?
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Ended up being 35, 80 lbs. bags. Mixed 4 to 5 at a time in the bucket of the tractor and it was a muther! I would be in it right now for my shoulders if it were set up!
You really need a hot tub if you mixed all of that by hand. If you did, how many bags did you use?
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I know that you are a self admitted cheap screw, but you know that they do rent small portable cement mixers. ???
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Yeah, but the $35 one only did 2 bags and the $75 one only did 3. I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!
I know that you are a self admitted cheap screw, but you know that they do rent small portable cement mixers. ???
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Cement work is hard work. I worked one summer during college as a brick layer tender. We were building fireplaces. Had to keep a guy going on the inside of the house with brick & mud building the fireplace and a guy on the outside building the chimney. I heard a constant barrage of “more mud!†And “more brick!†Went thru pairs of jeans fairly quickly as the lime in the concrete would eat thru them.
Al
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"Yeah, but the $35 one only did 2 bags and the $75 one only did 3. I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!"
I've mixed concrete in the bucket before and the hardest part is mixing in the bucket. The mixer, although mixes fewer bags at a time, does most of the work. Next concrete job I do, I will buy one off of Craigslist, do the job then resell it on Craigslist. Even if I have to take a 20-30$ loss on it, perhaps I will be able to walk the next day.
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Yeah, I think by about the third mix in the bucket he was thinking "I should have let Kristin rent the mixer". But he was also convinced his 5 bag in the bucket was going to go so much faster. Mybe would have if they could have mixed every batch as quickly as the first :pig:
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Well, it has had 49 days to cure and tomorrow they install the spa. Assuming the water temperature can get to 104° in 6 hours I know what I will be doing tomorrow evening after wood splinting!
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Enjoy and post pics of the finish product...
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Enjoy and post pics of the finish product...
Yeah, but skip the photographs of you in it. :)
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I could do 5 in the bucket, so I figured why rent!
When I was young enough to mix small batches of concrete, I always did it a 6 cubic foot wheel barrel. As I recall, I could do several 80 lb. bags at a time.
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Well it is filled, cover on and heating to 104°. The salesman said about 6° an hour and the water started at 54°, so I am shooting for 7pm! Will take some pictures tonight, as it has these colored lights that I was not aware of and they should look good in the dark!
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Freaking heater did not seem to work for the 1st 3 1/2 hours, so here we are 6:30 pm and it's 74°. That is probably 4 more hours, will see how I feel at 10:30!
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If that happened, it would be the end of the site...
Colored Spa... (https://youtu.be/BQr9RAokpVM)
Enjoy and post pics of the finish product...
Yeah, but skip the photographs of you in it. :)
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I guess I have to pack some swimming shorts if I swing by your house next month
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Yep!
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Very nice.
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Very very nice looking spa and we all want to know when the party is to celebrate all the hard work we all did inspiring you to complete it. I just want you to know I personally am exhausted :clap: :cool:
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Looks awesome, hard work paying off. Nice job. I like what you did with the calming background music in the vid....good touch.
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I started the morning off in 103° water with jets. It is a very pleasing experience. Now when you get out and it is 36° with 14 mph winds, you know you are not in Panama...
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I started the morning off in 103° water with jets. It is a very pleasing experience. Now when you get out and it is 36° with 14 mph winds, you know you are not in Panama...
Nice work. Looks very nice. Maybe if it snows yet you can lay in the hot tub, then roll in the snow, then jump back in the hot tub.
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Yeah Bent,
Those upper Midwest Swedes are nuts! Aye?
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If the unit was ground level, so all I had to do was crawl out, roll and then roll back into the spa I would do it. 104° does not quite do it for me, I think maybe 109° would be the ticket in Winter. Don't get me wrong, I like 104°, just like a taste more right now & it would be perfect!
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Yeah Bent,
Those upper Midwest Swedes are nuts! Aye?
As my dad used to say (who was 100% Swede): "You can always tell a Swede . . . but you can't tell him much."
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If the unit was ground level, so all I had to do was crawl out, roll and then roll back into the spa I would do it. 104° does not quite do it for me, I think maybe 109° would be the ticket in Winter. Don't get me wrong, I like 104°, just like a taste more right now & it would be perfect!
WoW!! You really like it hot! I keep mine 101 to 102 in winter & 99 to 100 in the summer. Mine only goes up to 104. I like to sit in mine sometimes an hour or so.
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Are water was green for a few days so I almost called you! I think Fed Law says heater can olny go to 104°, that is our max. When we 1st got it I could have taken 109°, but weather has warmed here in the last week. I turned it down to 99° today cuz I thought Kristin said it was to hot. I was ill informed in that decision and will probably be turning back to 104° when I get in it this evening!
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102 here in the winter. Will go to 100/101 for summer. Wife would like hotter, I would like cooler. And even 85 if the girls want to use it as a pool for them and their friends, I'll just leave it that way for a few weeks in July/August.
And if your water turned green, decide your chemicals, bromine, chlorine whatever you've got. I can say that after 11 years of ownership I never figured it out (perfect balance) and always put too much chlorine in to get clear water. your pumps will seize and have to be rebuilt. I've done that three times now on two pumps.
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I keep mine at 104 - 104 in the winter, 101 or so in the summer.
I also have trouble keeping by chemicals balanced.
Right now my PH is a little low, total alkalinity is high, chlorine low.
I add PH up and then it's too high.
Can't seem to get it dialed in.
But I use it every morning and every evening. Can't imagine not having it.
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Did not know about the clorine and the pumps, so will have to be careful with that. The ph is a bit high, and we are struggling to get the chlorine to register without dding the liquid. If we can get the salt system to start making the correct does of chlorine, I think we will be OK!
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Our water has never registered free chlorine (cl) when tested. The only time it does is right after liquid cl is added. We have been battling water condition from the get go. The salesman that set it up tested for "hardness" and it came out at about 150ppm, he said oh, that fine. We later come to find out it was supposed to be under 75ppm and ideal is 50ppm. The whole salesman set up the water, that is another story. So we do a little research and we use this $55 Vanishing Act pillow, it is supposed to soften the water, which it does. But then we are told we do not have the ph and alkalinity right. While trying to get this all dialed in, we have added more water over this time. Well I have been dealing with the factory for the last week, they say you are not going to get the Salt Cartage to produce cl till the water is the correct softness and the other levels are correct.
So I go buy this unit, our water seems to test out of the well at about 225ppm. We seems to be able to control the water like it was a pool, so I am trying to determine if I just want to do that for a few more months, adding water as we lose it. We add about 25 gals a month. Afraid that will take to long, so as soon as winter ends here in Mayberry I guess I will drain and start the process over AND do it correctly this time.
This thing is pretty cool. I guess they are made for RV's, but at our hardness, it will generate about 1100 gallons before it needs to be recharged. It is recharged by adding 4 can of salt (whats that $2?) and the resin last for 7 years! My kind of product!
Anyone that sees this and has one of thes On the Go...How long can it sit without having water go through it and still be viable? That one I cant seem to get data on, and we will only need to fill spa about every 4-6 weeks to top off!
(https://i.imgur.com/RFBk4Yoh.jpg)
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The whole thing with trying to maintain the proper PH was the reason I finally got rid of the one we had years ago. Got tired of chasing my tail. The never ending story of "too much", "not enough", "too much", "not enough" got old after a while.
Hope you can get it figured out for many years of enjoyment.
Al
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I will start fresh, with the correct soft water, and get the rest of the water balanced. I will then give the Salt system another try, and if it does not work, I will shut it off and treat it just like a little pool. Not that hard to keep 300 gallons of water intact!
I do know that the well water is to hard, it will have adverse consequences on motors and pumps if not corrected, so I take no issue with having to by the water softener!
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a bit over 10 years spa owner. Hard water where we live. I've seized two pumps an ruined two covers. I can keep the water crystal clear with chlorine, but cannot get the PH right. My spa repair guy likes me as I have to call him every few years to rebuild or replace my pumps.
Gotta be honest, I don't even try anymore. Clear water with chlorine and Matt the spa guy can take care of the rest. Pumps aren't that bad $$.
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Have been told if the water is not the correct Grains per million (gpm/softness) there is not way you will be able to balance the rest of the water. Will see. This unit cost $250 and cost $2 to charge and that is good for 1100 gallons. Then $2 more and $2 more, etc for 7 years. Will let you know if it works, you may be interested!
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Anyone know the answer to this? I have a 8' X 7', 4 inch non rebared(sp), 4000 psi concrete slab, on a hard clay compacted substrata with 2 inches of 5/8 inch gravel.
How much weight will this hold?
Why did you not use rebar? Clay expands when wet and contracts when dry. I had a house built on clay/shale base and was told by the contractor to keep the soil moist around the foundation. I did not do that during a summer drought and sure enough the foundation cracked and shifted. Had to sink peers and jack it up. Soo my unsolicited advice is to just keep it moist. If you have a sprinkler system that would help. Having said all that--since it is 4 inches thick, and small, it might not crack at all. :2cents:
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Because I used a Concrete Wire Mesh type of material and made it 5 inches thick! Not worried about the ground settling!
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Did not know about the wire mesh. So forget that comment. Wire mesh should be more than adequate in that small slab. Looks like a great tub.