© 2010 Watkins Manufacturing Corporation
IMPORTANT
• Always read & refer to the owner’s manual for complete information.
• Test your water with a test strip once a week, or each time the spa is used. This step takes less than 1 minute!
• The ACE system requires feedback/input; it is not a “set it & forget it” system.
• Use the hot tub only when the chlorine level is between 1- 5 ppm. Boost or manually add chlorine as needed.
• Low/No Use: For vacations, or if the spa is used once a week or less, decrease the Use Level to 1.
• For extended vacations or periods of non-use, shock the spa water and set the Spa Size to 2 and the Use
Level to 1. If you are unsure about your settings, contact your Hot Spring dealer for direction.
• It is the s
a owner’s res
onsibilit
to ad
ust the Use Level to
revent over or under chlorination.
SYSTEM START-UP
Approximately 2 times per year
1. Fill your spa using the CleanScreen™ pre-filter. Begin heating
the water to at least 100 °F (40 °C).
2. Test your water with a FreshWater
®
5-way test strip and balance
according to the spa water guidelines. Water outside the
guidelines may cause improper ACE system function and/or
damage to spa components.
Parameter Target Min – “OK” Range – Max
pH
7.4 7.2 7.6
Alkalinity
80ppm 40ppm 120ppm
Hardness
50ppm 25ppm 75ppm
Chlorine
3ppm 1ppm 5ppm
• Adjust pH/Alkalinity levels as needed.
• Use Vanishing Act™ calcium remover as needed.
3. Add 50% of the recommended salt, per the ACE owner’s
manual, as salt levels in tap water can vary.
4. Shock the water with bottled chlorine to 5 ppm.
5. Set Spa Size and Use Level, per the ACE owner’s manual.
WHEN STARTING UP FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME,
THE ACE CELL TAKES ABOUT 24 HOURS TO STABILIZE.
After 24 hours have passed:
6. Confirm the water is at least 100 °F (40 °C), then verify the ACE
system status message.
• “Water Care System Functioning” - go to step 7.
• “Low Salt/Clean Cell” - add 1 cup of salt and run the jets for
5 minutes then retest. Repeat until salt is in the OK range.
7. Test the water with a FreshWater 5-way test strip.
• Add pH down and/or bottled chlorine as needed.
• Use additional Vanishing Act calcium removers as needed.
• Adjust Use Level up if chlorine level is below 1 ppm, or down
if chlorine level is above 5 ppm.
ONGOING REQUIREMENTS
Weekly
Test the water with a FreshWater 5-
way test strip.
This step takes less
than 1 minute!
• The pH level may increase
during the first few weeks after
start-up. Add pH down if
needed.
• Adjust the Use Level, if needed,
to maintain 1-3 ppm chlorine.
Monthly
Test the water with a FreshWater 5-
way test strip. This step takes less
than 1 minute!
• Ensure water is balanced and
re-confirm Use Level via the
control panel. Make adjustments
if needed.
• Shock the water with bottled
chlorine to 5 ppm.
Quarterly
Inspect the ACE cell for calcium and
clean as needed. This step takes less
than 15 minutes!
• Lower hardness of water with
the Vanishing Act calcium
remover, if needed.
Check with your Hot Spring dealer
to determine if water in your region
has unique qualities – such as
high metal or mineral content – that
should be addressed.
ACE™ Salt Water Sanitizing System
Operation Guide
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