FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Aquafinesse acts in a completely different way to chlorine or
bromine disinfection. You are bound to have lots of questions about using
it both before you start and during your first few months of use. The most
common questions are answered here, but if you would like to know more then
please
contact us to discuss use of the product in
detail.
If you are really interested in the detail you could have a look at the
KEMA test report on Aquafinesse which was generated by KEMA, the most
thorough and rigorous International Testing and Certification Institute based in
Holland. [Please note that the product name in the report is stated as ‘Hottub
Briljant’ which is a pseudonym for Aquafinesse].
 What is Aquafinesse?
Is Aquafinesse the same as Aquagarde?
Do I need to use the chlorine tablet supplied with
Aquafinesse?
What
do the chlorine tablets do?
How is Aquafinesse supplied?
Can I use Aquafinesse in any spa - old or new?
How do I use Aquafinesse?
Do I need to balance the water when using Aquafinesse?
How long will a pack of Aquafinesse last in my tub?
Do I need to shock the spa water before using Aquafinesse?
I’m using Aquafinesse and the spa water is dirty and
cloudy – what am I doing wrong?
How often should I clean/change the filters when using
Aquafinesse?
What’s the best way to clean the filters?
How often should I change the spa water?
Is it safe to drain Aquafinesse water onto the garden?
What happens if I overdose the spa with Aquafinesse?
Can I use aromatherapy products with Aquafinesse?
Aquafinesse is a completely different form of spa
disinfectant (or sanitizer) to chlorine or bromine. It sanitizes the spa
water by removing the food source of bacteria so that they cannot grow and
multiply. This food source is called ‘biofilm’ and is present on all the
spa surfaces, jets and pipework. Aquafinesse also softens the water by
breaking down and dissolving limescale build-up.
Aquafinesse is a 2-stage process that
comprises a liquid to destroy the biofilm, coagulate the bacteria and soften the
water, combined with a low concentrate chlorine tablet to destroy the bacteria
that has been transferred to the tub’s filter(s).
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Aquafinesse is very similar to the original Aquagarde product sold in the UK
until Autumn 2006. Aquafinesse does contain a lavender scent that the
Aquagarde product did not have. However, there is now a new product called
aquagarde available which is a completely different formulation.
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When used in combination with a good
working ozone or silver ion system, no additional sanitizers are needed.
However, it is very difficult to tell is your ozone system is working correctly
and the US National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI) recommends that hot tub owners
maintain a minimum level of 1.5-ppm chlorine in the spa water. To meet these
standards, we strongly suggest using the provided sanitizing tablets as directed
in the slow-release dispenser.
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Achlorine tablet is used, in conjunction with the slow release dispenser to
provide sufficient chlorine to kill the coagulated bacteria that has been
transferred to the filter by the tub’s pumps. The amount of residual
chlorine remaining in the spa when using this tablet is very low compared to
traditional chlorine disinfection so it should not cause any unpleasant smells,
dryness or bleaching effects.
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Aquafinesse can be used in any spa, old or
new, so long as it has an effective filtration system (removable/cleanable
filters) and a means of providing water circulation through the filters for at
least 4 hours a day. We recommend the use of a product such as
Spa Flush
to clean biofilm from the pipe work before Aquafinesse is used for the first
time and at every water change.
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Can I
use Aquafinesse in a spa with water that’s already got chlorine or bromine in
it?
If the spa has
just been filled with water and ‘shocked’ then you can switch to Aquafinesse.
For a spa that has had Chlorine or Bromine in it for a week or more then you
must drain the spa first, refill it with fresh water before using Aquafinesse.
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Aquafinesse comes in a box that contains everything you need for up to 6 months
of effective spa water treatment. The box contains 2 x 2 litre bottles of
Aquafinesse solution, a graduated measuring cup, low concentrate chlorine
tablets, slow release tablet dispenser and a set of instructions.
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After your hot tub has been filled with fresh water, shake the bottle and, using
the measuring cup, pour the appropriate amount of Aquafinesse into the spa water
leaving the jets on for at least 2 minutes to mix it in. You can use the
spa right away since no shocking of the water is needed. A chlorine tablet
is placed in the tablet dispenser and located in the vicinity of the filter
basket.
Apply one measure of Aquafinesse to your spa water per
week. The chlorine tablet should be replaced in its dispenser as soon as
it has dissolved (approximately every 5 - 10 days).
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Aquafinesse performs a certain amount of water balancing
'automatically'. However, you should always be aware of your water balance
and maintain maintain you pH within the range: 7.0 - 8.0. Very
importantly, if your pH drops below 7.0, as it can easily do in software areas,
it is likely that your equipment will start to corrode so you must increase it.
Read more about pH.
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Each pack of Aquafinesse lasts 3-6 months, depending on the size of your spa.
The table below shows how long one pack of Aquafinesse will last in your hot
tub.
| Size of your hot tub |
1 pack of Aquafinesse will last approximately....... |
| Less than 1000 litres / 220 gals |
6 months |
| 1000 - 1250 / 275 gals |
5 months |
| 1250 - 1500 / 330 gals |
4 months |
| 1500 - 2000 / 440 gals |
3 months |
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No you don’t
have to shock the water after you’ve filled the spa and before using
Aquafinesse. If you have concerns about the quality of your mains water (i.e. it
is from a spring or well) then you can shock it and then wait 12-24 hours for
the Free Chlorine level to drop before using Aquafinesse.
When using
Aquafinesse, we do recommend weekly or fortnightly shocking/oxidizing of the
water with a product such as
Spa Lite
to destroy organic wastes, body fats and oils that the filter is unable to
remove. It also helps keep the water crystal clear.
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Nothing! In fact it’s a good sign because it means that Aquafinesse is getting
to work and doing what we say it does by ‘conditioning’ the spa and its water.
If your spa is older than 6 months then there will be a significant build up of
biofilm that will be removed by Aquafinesse and will be dissolved in the spa
water. Combine this with the limescale that is being removed by
Aquafinesse as well and it is easy to see why, in the first week to 10 days of
its use, the spa water will be very cloudy and discoloured which will need to be
removed by the filters. We call this process ‘conditioning’ of the spa and
its water by Aquafinesse. After this period the spa water should be
crystal clear.
For newer spas
with no significant biofilm build-up, then the conditioning process may just be
a few days.
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Aquafinesse places a lot of emphasis on the filters doing
their job properly during the first week to 10 days of its introduction into
your spa. You can help this process by cleaning the filters daily
and drying them before re-introducing them into the spa. After the
initial conditioning period you should clean the filters either weekly or once a
fortnight, depending on how often you use your tub..
Some spa owners purchase a second set of filters to rotate
with the set that are being cleaned so that they don’t miss out on their tub
sessions!
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In your dishwasher with a proprietary filter cleaner poured
into the powder dispenser. If you don’t have a dishwasher then soak the
filter(s) in a large bucket with the filter cleaner and rinse off. Always
dry the filters first before reinserting them in the tub.
Have a look at
How
to Clean your Hot Tub Filter Cartridge for more information.
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Every 3 to 4 months.
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Yes, Aquafinesse will not damage your garden plants etc.
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This can have a detrimental effect on the filters, which
means a complete drain and refill of the spa and cleaning of the filters.
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Yes, so long as they are crystal based and not oil/liquid
based.
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