PRISTINE BLUE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PristineBlue is a unique dual action bactericide and algaecide
brought to the market as a completely chlorine and bromine-freealternative to traditional swimming pool and hot tub water
disinfection systems.
PristineBlue's active ingredient, Copper Sulphate. The bactericidal
properties of copper have been known for centuries. It is one of the
reasons why, in the UK, our houses have copper water pipes and
copper hot water storage tanks. It is completely harmless to bathers
and in fact it is so safe that it is often used as a drinking water
additive in the USA!
What is PristineBlue?
How does
PristineBlue work?
What are the components of the PristineBlue
system?
How
is PristineBlue supplied?
Can
I use PristineBlue in any spa, old or new?
Can I use PristineBlue in a spa with water
that’s already got Chlorine or Bromine in it?
How do I start using PristineBlue?
What regular water maintenance tasks do I have
to perform?
How often should I clean the filters in the
spa?
How
long will PristineBlue last
in my tub?
How often should I change the spa water?
Is it safe to drain the water onto the garden?
What happens if I overdose the spa with
PristineBlue?
Can I use aromatherapy products with
PristineBlue?
What_is_PristineBlue’s_shelf_life?
How can I clear up water that’s cloudy?
Can I use PristineBlue if my spa has an
ozonator?
PristineBlue is a completely different form of spa sanitiser to
Chlorine or Bromine. It sanitizes the spa water by destroying
both algae and bacteria through the use of its unique copper based
formula.
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The bactericidal
properties of copper have been known for centuries. It is one of the
reasons why, in the UK, our houses have copper water pipes and
copper hot water storage tanks. Some years ago, copper was
tried in pools to control bacteria but this failed because the
copper level could not be raised high enough to do the job without
causing heavy staining to the pool equipment. The technology
has moved on significantly since then and by blending a unique
proprietary base product (called ET3000) with copper salts, a
biologically active structure is formed in which the copper ions are
fully dissolved in the water. The result is PristineBlue.
Once added to your spa water PristineBlue provides rapid, 100%
disinfection by:
Spreading rapidly throughout the spa water and
pipe work. (For the chemically minded, this is facilitated
by the ions all being positively charged and so naturally
repelling each other.)
Killing the algae and bacteria on contact as they
absorb the copper ions. (‘Debris’ from this action removed from
the spa by the filtration system.)
This process continues until all the copper solution
is used up. Fortnightly ‘topping up’ of the PristineBlue to
the required level keeps the disinfection process continuing safely.
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PristineBlue is a complete ‘system' that comprises
four essential and unique components that must be used together to
convert and then keep your hot tub running with 100% safe and
efficient disinfection.
The PristineBlue system comprises:
PristineCheck - a hardness reducer to
remove the calcium from your water before you start.
PristineBlue - the copper based algae and
bacteria inhibitor.
PristinePower - a non-chlorine shock
treatment to remove any non-filterable organic wastes.
PristineClean - a scale formation and metal
stain inhibitor
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PristineBlue comes in two forms:
PristineBlue Starter Kit – everything you need to convert your
spa to run on PristineBlue for up to 11 months of use!
Individual bottled components to purchase as required
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PristineBlue 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 Spa Flush
before you change to Pristine blue to remove bio-film and
calcium deposits from the plumbing and equipment without the use of
harsh or toxic chemicals
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If
the spa has just been filled with water and ‘shocked’ then you can
switch to PristineBlue. For a spa that has had Chlorine or
Bromine in it for a week or more then you must drain the spa first
and refill it with fresh water before using PristineBlue.
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There are five easy steps to starting your tub on
PristineBlue:
Step 1 – Drain your spa, clean and remove the
hardness in your fresh water with PristineCheck
As with any sanitiser
system you should make sure that your water is adequately
balanced to protect your equipment and ensure that the water
remains comfortable to bathe in. When using PristineBlue
the total alkalinity should be in the range 30 – 90 ppm and the
pH should be in the range 7.0 – 7.4. If your fresh
water is outside this range you should use adjusters to first
adjust the total alkalinity and then the pH.
PristineBlue works best when the calcium hardness of
the fresh water in your spa is less than 250 ppm. If the
calcium hardness is above this level (as indeed it is in a lot of UK
tap water) you then add PristineCheck at a rate of 25ml per 1000
litres of water. Run your tub on the filtration cycle for 4 to
6 hours while PristineCheck
sequesters the calcium out of the water and into the filter.
[Note: With any disinfection system we recommend the
use of Spa Flush at every water change to remove bio-film and other
deposits from the plumbing and equipment without the use of harsh or
toxic chemicals.]
Step 2 - Apply PristinePower non chlorine shock
to remove any non-filterable organic wastes
Shock with 50g of PristinePower per 1000 litres of
water and run the tub on the filtration cycle for a further hour to
remove any non-filterable organic matter from the water.
Step 3 - Clean your filters
Step 4 – Apply an initial dose of PristineBlue
to stop the growth of algae and bacteria
The cornerstone of the PristineBlue system is the
Pristine Blue liquid itself. It is applied for control of
algae and bacteria in initial and maintenance doses. Add the
initial does at a rate of 25 ml per 1000 litres of hot tub water.
Step 5 - Get in and enjoy yourself!
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With normal use you only need to maintain your tub
once a fortnight.
Step 1 Check the water balance
Use a test kit to ensure that the total alkalinity
is still within the range 30 – 90 ppm and the pH is in the range 7.0
- 7.4
Step 2- Test and maintain the PristineBlue
concentration at the correct level
The PristineBlue concentration in the water must be
maintained at 0.9 ppm, measured using the Copper Test Kit.
With normal use, it is only necessary to test the water once per
fortnight since the liquid does not 'burn off', it stays in the
water until it is used up by the demands of the tub. The
maintenance dose of PristineBlue liquid is likely to be between 2.5
ml and 25.0 ml per 1000 litres of hot tub water, depending on the
size of your tub and the usage.
Step 3 – Apply the non-chlorine shock,
PristinePower, to remove non-filterable organic waste
Any non-filterable organic matter in your water may
cause cloudiness. In normal use add PristinePower to your
water once per fortnight at the rate of 50g per 1000 litres of
water. Leave the water to circulate for 15 minutes
before getting back into the tub.
Step 4– Apply the scale and metal stain
inhibitor, PristineClean
The PristineBlue system includes a scale formation
and metal stain inhibitor, PristineClean, which should be added at a
rate of 15 ml per 1000 litres of water.
NB.It has become evident from the experience
of some of our customers that when staring an older spa or
converting from another sanitisation system, sometimes the first
does of PristineBlue can be used up quite quickly, despite the water
being properly in balance. This may be due to biofilm in the
pipework and filter. Consequently we advise testing the copper
level want water balance (pH, TA and Calcium Hardness) daily for the
first week or so until the readings become stable.
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Yes
you should shock the water after you’ve filled the spa and removed
the hardness from the water, and before using PristineBlue, using a
non-chlorine shock. PristinePower, supplied in the starter kit, is
best. When using PristineBlue, you should also shock water
fortnightly with PristinePower to destroy organic wastes, body fats
and oils that the filter is unable to remove. This will help
to keep the water crystal clear and ensure that you use less of the
PristineBlue liquid.
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Your
filters should be cleaned every 2 to 4 weeks depending on use, as
with any other sanitizer. The
best way to clean the filters is usually in your dishwasher, on a
50oC wash cycle, with a proprietary filter cleaner poured into the
soap dispenser. If you don’t have a dishwasher then soak the
filter(s) in water in a clean bucket with the filter cleaner and
rinse off. Always dry the filters first before reinserting
them in the tub.
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Each 250 ml bottle of PristineBlue lasts 4-11 months, depending on
the size of your spa. The table below shows how long one
bottle will last in your hot tub.
|
Size of your hot tub |
1 x 250ml bottle of PristineBlue will last
approximately... |
|
750 litres / 165 gals |
11 months |
|
1000 litres / 220 gals |
8 months |
|
1250 litres / 275 gals |
7 months |
|
1500 litres / 330 gals |
6 months |
|
1750 litres / 385 gals |
5 months |
|
2000 litres / 440 gals |
4 months |
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Every 3 to 4 months, as with any other santizer system.
We recommend the use of Spa Flush at every water change to remove
bio-film and other deposits from the plumbing and equipment without
the use of harsh or toxic chemicals
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Yes,
PristineBlue is environmentally friendly so will not damage your
garden plants etc.
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The most common signs that are
occur when PristineBlue has been overdosed are consistently low or
zero readings on the Copper Test Kit, cloudy or green tinted water
and a blue colour in the filter. To prevent an overdose, do
not top up the Pristine Blue level to the measured amount more than
every two weeks. Double check your spa volume to make sure
that you are adding the correct amount of PristineBlue.
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Yes, either crystal based or
oil/liquid based will work fine.
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PristineBlue stays active
indefinitely and can be used from season to season if stored in a
closed container above 0oC. PristineClean and
PristineCheck last indefinitely regardless of temperature.
PristinePower will be most effective if used within a year of
purchase.
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Cloudy water can be caused by improper water balance, inadequate
filtration or shocking, or excess calcium. If you experience
cloudy water, check the balance, try an extra shock treatment of
PristinePower, clean the spa filters and increase the filtration
time of your spa.
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Absolutely! In fact, PristineBlue is a great
complement to ozone sanitisers. Ozone has a quick kill (and is
only working when the fitration pump is running) but has a very
short residual effect, allowing bacteria and algae to re-grow.
PristineBlue’s extremely long residual effect prevents algae and
bacteria from returning to your water.
