Aqua Clarity Effectiveness????

[duganderson]

I used the Aqua Clarity product and posted this a while ago....

Aqua Clarity weekly maintenance & flush....my experiences so far......

I have been demoing the Aqua Clarity purge and weekly maintenance product for a few months and wanted to share my experience and hear about the experiences of others with this product. It is made by the same company as the Aww-Some purge which IS AWESOME. I know many folks on this site...

www.troublefreepool.com

I have been using it sporadically and my water quality does seem better (less chlorine demand and less foaming) when I'm using the product weekly.

What are your experiences with the product?

Thanks, Doug

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Hello Doug: Your comments indicate that you are using the Aqua Clarity sporadically. You claim to be getting good results with water clarity being good, using less chlorine and have less foaming. If you use it on a weekly basis, as recommended, your results would be even better. Biofilm is the bane of the hot tub and swim spa industry. Biofilms are responsible for so many water quality and health issues from rashes to legionella. When you mitigate biofilms your water maintenance is so very simple. Here is the problem. Consumers are constantly being told by their sales representative what to use for chemicals. Many of these same people never mention purging the system. Biofilm is never discussed. They push products that makes them more profit. Some of those products are great and many others are not So great. Manufacturers also make it difficult for the typical hot tub buyer. They have salt systems, UV, Ozone, chlorine, bromine, frog, nature 2 and a host of additional therapies that are thrown at them. Doug, here is what you need for you’re hot tub. Chlorine or bromine, you decide, and Aqua Clarity. Period! Sure, you need around 30 ppm of cyanuric acid if using chlorine and periodic pH and Total Alkalinity adjustments. Aqua Clarity helps eliminate biofilms from sticking to surfaces. Biofilms are constantly trying to attach no matter how well you maintain your vessel. No attachment, no biofilms. Your filter(s) grab them. End of story.

 

[dan1333]

I've been an ahhsome user since I've gotten my hot tub so it has always been purged with ahhsome at water changes.

I've been using aqua clarity for maybe 6 months or so now, generally weekly but sometimes I might go 10 days or so. The first few times were like mini purges and I'd get small biofilm scum rings I'd have to wipe away.

After maybe 3 months of it I can say my chlorine demand has dropped dramatically. I use the saltron mini and I had to actually lessen the time it was on because my free chlorine was shooting up too high in between uses.

So, I'm a fan, not only because of that but just having the peace of mind that my water quality is better and there's less of a chance for anything dangerous in my water.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

I have never used that product for my hot tub just used the correct amounts of chlorine properly. I did have to use clarifier once in a while which is what I believe this product is. I did use Ahhsome biofilm remover whenever I did a fresh water replacement and it worked great.

The clarifier was needed whenever I screwed up on water chemistry and only then. Missed a dosage of chlorine, went into the tub with a freshly cleaned (with soap) bathing suit or too many people. Hot tub water only lasts about 3 or 4 months before it gets old. You need to use either Dichlor until you get to that 30 PPM CYA or add stabilizer (dichlor is what I used) and then you can switch to bleach. Just remember the more stuff you add to your water the quicker you'll need to change it.

Something to remember when you do use any clarifier it is extremely important to rinse your filters well; best to have 2 sets of filters IMO.

 

[phonedave]

I have never used that product for my hot tub just used the correct amounts of chlorine properly. I did have to use clarifier once in a while which is what I believe this product is. I did use Ahhsome biofilm remover whenever I did a fresh water replacement and it worked great.

The clarifier was needed whenever I screwed up on water chemistry and only then. Missed a dosage of chlorine, went into the tub with a freshly cleaned (with soap) bathing suit or too many people. Hot tub water only lasts about 3 or 4 months before it gets old. You need to use either Dichlor until you get to that 30 PPM CYA or add stabilizer (dichlor is what I used) and then you can switch to bleach. Just remember the more stuff you add to your water the quicker you'll need to change it.

Something to remember when you do use any clarifier it is extremely important to rinse your filters well; best to have 2 sets of filters IMO.

Aqua Clarity is not a clarifier. It is more like AhhSome itself. It is for removing (or more accurately - preventing) bio-films between water purges.

Now, if AC removes biofilm, then yes it is going to get trapped in your filters and they will have to be rinsed.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Aqua Clarity is not a clarifier. It is more like AhhSome itself. It is for removing (or more accurately - preventing) bio-films between water purges.

Now, if AC removes biofilm, then yes it is going to get trapped in your filters and they will have to be rinsed.

Interesting concept of using this product. I'm not sure why you would need this product on a weekly basis if you are following the correct sanitation procedures but as long as using the product makes a person feels comfortable then great. I only used Ahhsome products for the water change cleaning of any biofilm and it did a great job. Never had a problem using just chlorine with a shock once a week but that was before this product was available.

 

[Ahhsomeguy]

Hi VinnyinNJ: Chlorine use in a hot tub is great. I use it in my own hot tub. The reason that Aqua Clarity works so well with chlorine or bromine is that it helps to prevent biofilms from attaching to surfaces even when those levels may be depleted for short periods. Chlorine and bromine oxidize or “burn out” planktonic or “free-floating” biofilm cells but once they attach and colonize or grow into the sticky slime forming gunk in your plumbing, chlorine and bromine really can’t remove them. Sanitizers, chlorine or bromine, try hard to break into the biofilm outer layers but get used up trying without any success, When little bits or pieces of the gunk breaks loose from the host family, if there is a residual or sanitizer in the water, it gets removed. Unfortunately, many hot tubs or swim spas can be operated with very low or zero sanitizer during heavy use times which allows biofilms to stick and grow. This can occur quickly, especially if the tub is shut off soon after the soak. Aqua Clarity MUST be used with chlorine or bromine or any EPA Registered sanitizer for best results. Aqua Clarity is NOT a product that can be used without chlorine or bromine as the main sanitizer. Aqua Clarity will be your backup quarterback when sanitizer levels get depleted and bacteria from bathers is allowed to fester in the tub. Aqua Clarity will aid as a water clarifier because the gunk that would normally begin to colonize inside your plumbing and jets is now transferred to your filter(s). As your filter(s) accumulate bio-gunk the water going through the filter(s) slows down and has a harder time permeating through the pleats, allowing for finer filtration. Yes, you will need to rinse the filters more often. However, it is simple to do that and remember the best news, you won’t need to purge the tub nearly as often since biofilm formations will be greatly mitigated By the use of Aqua Clarity. Using only one ounce weekly for each 200 gallons of water is all you need. The 6 ounce bottle of concentrate is diluted with 122 ounces of tap water to make a gallon. Be sure to use a good quality gallon jug, (not included), that has a child resistant cap for safety. Do not use a milk or water jug. You need a gallon jug that has a #2 in the recycling triangle at the bottom. One bottle of Aqua Clarity treats a 400 gallon hot tub weekly and provides two (12 ounce) purges for one whole year. At $89.95 this is a fantastic product and price.

 

[Mdragger88]

I have been putting AQ in every Saturday for almost a year- been planning on doing a write up about it but time flies!
My last purge had zero detritus. I did 2 purges to be sure.
I will continue to use it. This bottle is gonna last me like 2 years or more as I only use 1oz or a little less for my 200 gal tub.
I have also noticed less chlorine demand (this becomes obvious in less frequent use times as I too have had to turn down the saltron mini).
I appreciate AQ for what it is - a weaker version of AHHSOME which contains quats & powerful surfactants. Other clarifiers & purge products don’t have both.
I am just a mom who lives in the country, works hard & gets dirty & has a hard working husband who does the same. No matter how hard he scrubs in the shower all the grease will never fully come off. I don’t wanna be worried if he takes a well deserved long soak that I will have icky stuff in my pipes. So we chlorinate appropriately, purge every 6 months & now I am happily armed with Aqua Clarity to aid in the fight.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Hi VinnyinNJ: Chlorine use in a hot tub is great. I use it in my own hot tub. The reason that Aqua Clarity works so well with chlorine or bromine is that it helps to prevent biofilms from attaching to surfaces even when those levels may be depleted for short periods. Chlorine and bromine oxidize or “burn out” planktonic or “free-floating” biofilm cells but once they attach and colonize or grow into the sticky slime forming gunk in your plumbing, chlorine and bromine really can’t remove them. Sanitizers, chlorine or bromine, try hard to break into the biofilm outer layers but get used up trying without any success, When little bits or pieces of the gunk breaks loose from the host family, if there is a residual or sanitizer in the water, it gets removed. Unfortunately, many hot tubs or swim spas can be operated with very low or zero sanitizer during heavy use times which allows biofilms to stick and grow. This can occur quickly, especially if the tub is shut off soon after the soak. Aqua Clarity MUST be used with chlorine or bromine or any EPA Registered sanitizer for best results. Aqua Clarity is NOT a product that can be used without chlorine or bromine as the main sanitizer. Aqua Clarity will be your backup quarterback when sanitizer levels get depleted and bacteria from bathers is allowed to fester in the tub. Aqua Clarity will aid as a water clarifier because the gunk that would normally begin to colonize inside your plumbing and jets is now transferred to your filter(s). As your filter(s) accumulate bio-gunk the water going through the filter(s) slows down and has a harder time permeating through the pleats, allowing for finer filtration. Yes, you will need to rinse the filters more often. However, it is simple to do that and remember the best news, you won’t need to purge the tub nearly as often since biofilm formations will be greatly mitigated By the use of Aqua Clarity. Using only one ounce weekly for each 200 gallons of water is all you need. The 6 ounce bottle of concentrate is diluted with 122 ounces of tap water to make a gallon. Be sure to use a good quality gallon jug, (not included), that has a child resistant cap for safety. Do not use a milk or water jug. You need a gallon jug that has a #2 in the recycling triangle at the bottom. One bottle of Aqua Clarity treats a 400 gallon hot tub weekly and provides two (12 ounce) purges for one whole year. At $89.95 this is a fantastic product and price.

Since I have used the AhhSome biofilm cleaner I think it it's an awesome product! Assuming this product works as well as that I can see why someone may want to use it.

I mentioned proper chlorination because it's very important in a tub. Will a biofilm form even when using proper chlorination, yes it can with lower levels. It can happen that we forget to put sanitizer into a tub, but the question is why would you not add chlorine and see what happens to the level. If the product doesn't kill the bacteria but cleans the pipes of it why would anyone want to be in that. My tub has 3 pumps 2 of which doesn't filter so that stuffbwould be floating around as I'm in the tub as I see it. I will mention that I do understand how a biofilm eludes sanitizer, which is why I used the biofilm cleaner.

Unless things have changed, hot tubs should be drained every 3 to 4 months or sooner if used a lot or with high bather loads. The TDS will go through the roof, and water becomes harder to manage. I'm quoting an online person I met in a hot tub forum that "new water is the best thing you can do to fix water issues". I agree 100%

I think draining the tub, using the AhhhSome cleaner and using proper sanitization techniques works well for most people. There are some people who need extra to feel safer using their tub and this product sounds it's that product.

 

[phonedave]

Since I have used the AhhSome biofilm cleaner I think it it's an awesome product! Assuming this product works as well as that I can see why someone may want to use it.

I mentioned proper chlorination because it's very important in a tub. Will a biofilm form even when using proper chlorination, yes it can with lower levels. It can happen that we forget to put sanitizer into a tub, but the question is why would you not add chlorine and see what happens to the level. If the product doesn't kill the bacteria but cleans the pipes of it why would anyone want to be in that. My tub has 3 pumps 2 of which doesn't filter so that stuffbwould be floating around as I'm in the tub as I see it. I will mention that I do understand how a biofilm eludes sanitizer, which is why I used the biofilm cleaner.

Unless things have changed, hot tubs should be drained every 3 to 4 months or sooner if used a lot or with high bather loads. The TDS will go through the roof, and water becomes harder to manage. I'm quoting an online person I met in a hot tub forum that "new water is the best thing you can do to fix water issues". I agree 100%

I think draining the tub, using the AhhhSome cleaner and using proper sanitization techniques works well for most people. There are some people who need extra to feel safer using their tub and this product sounds it's that product.

It is not that it make me feel safer. It is that I have seen a demonstrable reduction in chlorine demand when using it. I also have significantly less "gunk" when I do a purge when I change my water. That is why I continue to use it.

As for the "gunk" floating around in the water. I would rater have it floating around in the water where my sanitizer can neutralize it and my filter then collect it than it sitting hidden in my pipes where it is ensconced in a shield of polysaccharides where it can grow and sanitizer cannot get to it until I do a purge.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

It is not that it make me feel safer. It is that I have seen a demonstrable reduction in chlorine demand when using it. I also have significantly less "gunk" when I do a purge when I change my water. That is why I continue to use it.

As for the "gunk" floating around in the water. I would rater have it floating around in the water where my sanitizer can neutralize it and my filter then collect it than it sitting hidden in my pipes where it is ensconced in a shield of polysaccharides where it can grow and sanitizer cannot get to it until I do a purge.

Back when I first got the tub in 2005 there was a lot of conversations about extra stuff that you can/should use in a hot tub. Ozonators, Nature 2 sticks, Baquacil and other specialty things. The forum I was on had a Microbiologist on it and basically had a "recipe" for safe hot tubbing. He tested his water religiously and had not found an issue with just using chlorine. He even skipped days to test without a significant bacteria growth.

My tub with our usage never had a high chlorine demand, your milage may vary. The idea of scouring the tub was with high chlorine amounts (SLAM!) and wait until the chlorine came down to normal levels before using the tub. People were concerned with a biofilm but the scouring was the method at the time.

Then came AhhSome biofilm remover and it worked great. I cleaned my tub which had never been cleaned like that and was impressed. At that point I figured I would clean the tub either every time I change water (3 or 4 months depending on use) or every other time.

I'm not denying this works, it wasn't around when I started my tub. Other items at that time were considered unnecessary and weren't part of my arsenal. But just chlorine was/is good enough for a Microbiologist I think it should be good enough for me. With the added benefit of using the biofilm remover.