Hot tub, mineral sanitizers use elements like silver and copper to help keep your spa clean and free of bacteria and algae, but are they better than other sanitizers like chlorine or bromine? Well, before you switch to a mineral system, here's everything that you need to know about. Hot tub mineral sanitizers and how they work. Let's dive in real quick before we continue. If you want more help taking care of your hot tub be sure to grab our free hot tub cheat sheet at swimuniversity.com spa sheet, it's totally free and will help you keep your hot tub, clean and clear throughout the year.

First, what are the pros of a hot tub mineral sanitizer? One you'll use less chlorine or bromine using a mineral. Sanitizer means you only need to maintain your chlorine levels at 0.5 parts per million or your bromine levels. At one part per million and less chlorine means you can avoid that chlorine-like smell in your hot tub caused by chloramines two mineral sanitizers are easy to manage with the mineral system. You don't need to measure out and add chemicals and wait for them to disperse before you can use your hot tub again.

Mineral sanitizers are constantly working to kill algae and bacteria, and you only have to change out the mineral cartridge. Every few months number three, your spa water will feel gentler, sanitizers, like chlorine and bromine, can be harsh because you need less of these chemicals with a mineral sanitizer you'll have a softer water feel in your hot tub. However, there are a few downsides to hot tub. Mineral systems 1., they can cause stains or green water.

Copper is one of the most active ingredients in mineral sanitizers and it's a common cause of stains in hot tubs. Take the statue of liberty, for example: it's made of copper, but it's completely green. That's because copper oxidizes when it's exposed to air and water. So if you already have high copper content in your spa water, adding more copper from a mineral sanitizer may stain your hot tub, you can use a metal sequestrant to prevent the copper from settling on surfaces, but too much sequestering may make the mineral sanitizer less effective.

Since copper is one of the active ingredients, number two: you still need some chlorine or bromine minerals alone aren't enough to properly sanitize your spa. Water you'll still need to supplement a hot submineral system with chlorine or bromine to kill bacteria and contaminants number three. You might not save a ton of money, while minerals may cost less than chlorine. You still need to buy some chlorine and bromine, depending on how often you use your hot tub and how balanced you keep the water.

The cost may be the same compared to just using a traditional sanitizer okay. So what are the different types of hot to mineral sanitizers? Hot tub? Mineral sanitizers come in three forms, no matter which type you use, there's no measuring and no gloves needed to handle them. Number one filter sticks. Mineral sticks are the easiest way to add minerals to your spa.

The stick is pre-loaded with all the minerals that you need to sanitize your water simply turn off your hot tub, insert a mineral stick into your hot tub, cartridge, filter and turn your spa back on as the water passes through the filter. It also passes through the stick, releasing minerals into your spa. Water number, two floating dispensers. This is the second easiest.

Mineral sanitizer option simply connect a mineral cartridge and a chlorine or bromine cartridge to a floating dispenser. Then let it float in your water whenever you're, not using the hot tub. The minerals are released at a constant rate to keep your water clean. You'll know it's time to replace the cartridge when a dispenser turns on its side, number three: an in-line system or cartridge.

Your hot tub has to have an in-line system pre-installed by the manufacturer, to use this type of mineral sanitizer. These sanitizers use both mineral cartridge and a cartridge containing 0.5 to one part per million of chlorine both are inserted in the spa's inline port and left to sanitize your water. So now that you know about the different types of mineral systems: here's how to use hot tub mineral sanitizers, if you're converting to a mineral system from a sanitizer other than chlorine or bromine, you may want to completely drain and clean your hot tub before adding minerals. But if you're, using chlorine or bromine, here's what to do start by testing and balancing your hot tub water make sure your ph is between 7.4 and 7.6.

Your alkalinity is between 100 and 150 parts per million, and your calcium harness level is between 175 and 250 parts per million. You'll also want to test your water for metals. There are test strips and liquid test kits that test for metal, but your best bet is to take a water sample to your local hot tub store if your metal levels are high, especially your copper, add a metal sequestrant to the water. If you've been using chlorine, let that level drop to 0.5 parts per million before you begin for bromine, let it drop to one part per million.

If you need to raise your levels to 0.5 or one part per million. Add that sanitizer now some mineral sanitizers, like floating dispensers and inline systems, recommend shocking your hot tub before adding minerals, so be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions regarding shock once the water is balanced. Add the spa, minerals to the filter, floating dispenser or inline system, regardless of which type of hot tub mineral sanitizer system you use the cartridge or stick will need to be changed every three to four months or whenever you drain clean and refill your spa be sure To regularly test your chlorine or bromine levels so that they're in the proper ranges remember you need to maintain your chlorine levels at 0.5 parts per million and your bromine levels at one part per million and like any hot tub, we recommend shocking your hot tub with A non-chlorine shock once a week depending on how frequently you're using your spa or, if you have any issues like cloudy water chlorine shock, can raise your chlorine levels above 0.5 parts per million, so a non-chlorine shock is best for ongoing maintenance. Finally, if you need more help, maintaining your hot tub grab our free hot tub cheat sheet at swimuniversity.com boshi, and if you found this video helpful leave a comment hit the like button and subscribe for more hot tub maintenance tutorials.

That's it thanks again and happy soaking.