Spa Boy Owners Manual
TERM DEFINITION
Alkalinity
Total Alkalinity (TA)
A measure of how stable the pH is (a measure of the total levels of carbonates, bicarbon-
ates, hydroxides, and other alkaline substances in the water).
TA is referred to as the water’s “”pH buffer””. In other words, it’s a measure of the ability
of the water to resist changes in pH level.
If the TA is too low, the pH level will fluctuate widely from high to low. Fluctuations in
pH can cause corrosion or scaling of the spa components.
Low TA can be corrected by adding Arctic Pure, Perfect Balance to the spa water.
If the Total Alkalinity is too high, the water will be more susceptible to scale and high
pH. High pH may be difficult to bring down.
Note: Salt systems naturally drive pH levels to increase.
High TA can be lowered by adding Arctic Pure, Adjust Down to the spa water.
Once the TA is Balanced, it normally remains stable, although some sanitizers, and the
addition of more water with a high or low alkalinity will raise or lower the TA reading of
the water.
Potential Hydrogen
(pH)
The pH level is the measure of alkalinity.
pH is measured between 0 and 14 denoting various degrees of acidity or alkalinity.
Neutral water has a pH of 7.0 Water below 7.0 is acidic and becomes more acidic as it
approaches zero.
Water above 7.0 is alkaline and alkalinity increases as it approaches 14.
When the pH of water is 7.0 or below, chlorine will act primarily as a sanitizer. At this
level, it is very effective at killing bacteria.
At 7.4, chlorine will act equally as a sanitizer and oxidizer.
Above 7.8, chlorine will act principally as an oxidizer.
The pH of chlorine is 11.7ppm.
Spa water is considered balanced if the pH level is within the target range,
between 7.2pH to 7.6pH.
Adding chlorine either automatically through a salt system or manually, into spa water
with high pH, above 7.6pH, will further increase the pH level and dramatically
reduce the effectiveness of the chlorine as a sanitizer. This must be avoided by
first reducing the pH level into the target range 7.2pH - 7.6pH.
The chart below reflects the loss of sanitizer effectiveness/sanitizer effectiveness based on
the spas water pH level:
pH Level Sanitizer (Chlorine)
Loss of Effectiveness
based on pH Level
Sanitizer (Chlorine)
Effectiveness
based on pH Level
6.0 pH 4% 96%
6.5 pH 10% 90%
1.11 Definitions of Terms (continued)
59
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