Nature2 SPA Stick Mineral Sanitizer for Hot Tubs & Spas, Destroys Algae & Bacteria, 1 Pack

This system actually works quite well, and it makes the spa water much more pleasant than any of the other alternatives.In a previous life, I was a chemist and am an expert on water chemistry. It seems that this material is creating a superoxide, similar to your ozone generator on your tub. That is a very safe and effective way of controlling bacteria and other unwanted biological growths. It is very effective on simple organisms, but our bodies have catalase, which protects us from the biocidal properties of hydrogen peroxide.The system does require more rigorous habits than a chlorine or bromine system. You do need to add a shock before every use. Also, I filter the water when I fill the tub, so you do need to add minerals back to the water. This system does tend to foam more than when I had chlorine or bromine.Another tendency is that the pH tends to go high, not low. Buy some pH down if you convert. This is actually a big plus, since the tendency for the system to raise pH tends to be better for you.I have had to use more materials to control oils and soap in the system. Do your tub, body, washing machine, and dryer a favor and cut back the amount laundry detergent you use by half. The active ingrediants in soaps and detergents are call surfactants. They have bizarre chemistries, and are much less effective at cleaning and tend to build up on machinery when you use too much. This is even more important if you use an he machine. Even with controlling the amount of soap, you will need to control this buildup. I have found that LeisureTime Spa Bright and Clear works well.The spa bright and clear works well on congealing the soaps and oils permitting them to be removed, but they tend to build up in two places. One is on the side of the tub above the waterline and inside the filter box. This is easy to deal with. Just wipe the surfaces clean with a soft cloth. The congealed material is mostly soap, so it cleans as you wipe. The second place the soap and oil deposits build up is on the filters. Enough builds up that you will probably need to clean your filters more often. I've tried a couple of the filer cleaning solutions, but I have found using Cascade in the dishwasher w/o any additional additives works best. Stuff for sheeting action is great to reduce spots but is not good when it is coating your filters. The one exception would be if your tub's water is very hard. There are acids in the filter cleaning solutions that would remove scale, which Cascade will not be so good at.When it comes to soap and oil buildup in your tub. These materials can have a greenish tinge. This can be mistaken for algae buildup. If you are unsure, I have found adding a cup of Clorox bleach to the tub, waiting 24 hrs, and checking. If the green goes away, you had algae and you should check your chemical balance. If it is just as green, then you may have oil buildup and you need to treat your tub with more bright and clear then clean as above.With care, we have found that our tub is a lot more pleasant and healthy than when using either chlorine or bromine.

My spa guy was out to replace our ozonator and cover and I told him I was really frustrated trying to keep my spa water clean; and was considering selling it (we've had it for 7 years). He suggested trying Nature2 before giving up. So I drained and cleaned my spa as usual and then refilled it. Simply added the Nature2 stick into our filter compartment (won't fit inside our filters) and added the recommended amount of Dichlor to activate it. After each use I add 3/4 ounce MPS non-chlorine shock and once per week I add 1 1/2 teaspoons of Dichlor (very small amount). That is it! Before I was messing with a half dozen chemicals and clarifiers and had horrible results (having tried Bromine and a liquid copper system as well). No more cloudy water, musty smells, tub rings or strong chemical fumes that would cause breathing distress. Now nothing but crystal clear and fresh smelling water day after day. It is extremely simple to use and costs MUCH less than my previous methods. I am once again enjoying my spa and will never use any other sanitizer. I've also noticed the alkalinity and pH rarely need adjusting, whereas before I was dealing with wild fluctuations.As a side note: the ozonator is a must have as far as I'm concerned -- it works really well with the Nature2 stick, minimizing the use of Dichlor which some have noted that they don't use at all. Also, make sure your spa cover is clean and not water-logged. If it is it can cross contaminate your water if it is harboring mold and bacteria. A new spa cover is expensive but a smart idea if you want to maintain clean water and thermal effectiveness. And keep your filters clean!! Clean them at least once per month.

This is the best purchase for our hot tub, and we use our tub every day. I started getting an allergic reaction to the bromide tablets we were using and thought my hot tub days were over. This product not only works better then the bromide tablets but it is much easier to use. Very simply and without a chemistry lesson, here is how use set up and use this. First drain your tub, clean and then refill. Once refilled, balance the water. Get the Ph, Alkalinity and hardness in check. Once that is done insert the stick into the supply/intake tube that the filter fits onto. I needed to use the supplied extension legs to make sure the stick did not block the bottom of the supply/intake tube. Now simply add the required amount of Dichlor, (chlorinating granuals) to the tub. Read the bottle to determine how much you need. I have a 2 person tub and I need .84 Tbsp, so I added 1 Tbsp of the granuals. This activates the stick. When your chlorine reading comes down after your first shock you are ready to go. After each use I add the correct amount (based on your tub size) of MPS. This is also 1 Tbsp for me. I use the 2 pack of Oxy-Spa, (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVYTYS4?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00). Once a week or so I will hit it with a Tbsp of the chlorine shock for peace of mind. By the way, the chlorine is gone in a few hours. I now have a tub with zero chlorine odor or the accompanying dry skin. It has stayed perfectly clear and looks as if I just refilled and once again, ZERO odor or side affects. Lastly, I am not sure if the Nature2 test strips are really necessary, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002IT5JT8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00. I only put the MPS in after I use. The MPS is between zero and very low when I use the tub so that it is really like going into a fresh filled tub.

This replacement spa product came on time but the product box was open. However this filter was not damaged and it is now in use.