FROG TArget™

Total Alkalinity acts as a buffer that helps stabilize pH levels in the water. It prevents rapid pH swings, which can make water uncomfortable as well as affect the hot tub surfaces and equipment.

Maintaining proper Total Alkalinity levels ensures overall water balance and helps prevent scaling or corrosion. Additionally, sanitizers are most effective when water is balanced.

Balanced Total Alkalinity:

• Makes water feel comfortable for bathers. Improper Total Alkalinity levels can lead to skin and eye irritation.
• Contributes to clearer, cleaner water,
• Helps prevent cloudy water caused by pH fluctuations or improper chemical reactions.

When you maintain Total Alkalinity within the ideal range of 80-120 ppm, you’ll get the most out of your hot tub. It’s far better to maintain balanced water than to correct a problem.

Low Total Alkalinity may be caused by source water, human body oils and sweat, or even some chlorine products.

A low alkalinity level may not immediately be noticeable on hot tub equipment and surfaces. However, a low alkalinity level will often drive the pH level in the water down, turning the water more acidic. The result is itchy, dry skin and irritated eyes. Plus, surfaces may be damaged. Metal, rails, filters, screws, pipes, may also corrode. And sanitizers are less effective – you’ll need to add more to keep water clean. Plus, you’ll find that pH will fluctuate, which makes water balance challenging.

Keeping Total Alkalinity within ideal ranges protects equipment surfaces and helps maintain the other chemical balances in the hot tub.

High alkalinity levels are not as damaging to your hot tub as low alkalinity levels. Yet, it’s still important to keep the Total Alkalinity balanced to prevent against unplanned maintenance costs – as well as to prolong the life of your hot tub filter, pipes and other equipment. The most common problem hot tub owners experience with high alkalinity levels is cloudy or murky water. That’s because hot tub water with high alkalinity allows particles to more easily come out of solution (in other words, small substances float freely in the water). This is what causes other hot tub issues associated with high alkalinity:

• Scaling on hot tub surfaces and equipment.
• Reduced water circulation due to clogged pipes and filters.
• As particles come out of solution, they float freely in the water and are deposited on whatever the hot tub water comes into contact with – that’s called scaling.
• Particles can clog filters and pumps and pipes narrow with scale – all must work harder, causing high water pressure, cracks and reducing their overall lifespan.
• pH lock, where changes to the hot tub water’s pH are resisted due to the high alkaline level in the hot tub.

If Total Alkalinity is above 120 ppm, use FROG DropH™ to lower it. Yes, that’s the same chemical used to decrease pH; they work similarly! Follow the easy-to-read chart on the bottle, pour DropH into the TruDose Cap, turn the jets on, and pour the contents into the water. Test your water until Total Alkalinity is within the ideal range of 80-120 ppm.

A number of things can cause Total Alkalinity levels in your hot tub water to change. Adding chemicals is one factor. For example, pH increasers can contain alkaline substances that raise Total Alkalinity. pH decreasers can also impact Total Alkalinity levels – that’s why it’s important to always test and adjust Total Alkalinity first.

The water you fill your hot tub with, which we call your source water, can have varying Total Alkalinity levels. When you drain and refill your hot tub, or add water to top off the level, new source water can increase or dilute the existing Total Alkalinity.

Additionally, as water evaporates, the concentration of minerals and alkalinity increases. This can lead to rising Total Alkalinity levels if the water is topped off without adjusting chemical balance.

How many people use your hot tub? The number of people who use the hot tub can affect Total Alkalinity. People introduce organic substances like sweat, oils, and lotions, all of which can alter water chemistry.

Changes in pH levels can influence Total Alkalinity. High pH levels tend to increase Total Alkalinity, while low pH levels can reduce it.

Water aeration and circulation can alter Total Alkalinity levels. Aeration increases pH and can decrease Total Alkalinity.

Seasonal temperature fluctuations and weather conditions can also affect Total Alkalinity. Hot weather can increase evaporation rates, which cause minerals and alkalinity to become more concentrated in the water.

Chlorine-based sanitizers and shock treatments can also influence Total Alkalinity when used with other hot tub water care products.

All of these reasons are reminders to regularly check your water levels and adjust as needed.

Got questions about Total Alkalinity? Visit our webpage for more information.