Spa Care & Maintainance

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1. Why do micron filters work better?

There a number of reasons for this. Microns work off of Depth filtration instead of Surface filtration. In Depth filtration there is far more surface area, in most cases, 20-60 times more. As water reaches the filter, it doesn´t pass straight through. Water can enter 1 point and exit the opposite side of filter. This allows for superior filtration. The longer the water can keep contact with the filter the cleaner your water will be.

2. What is the difference between depth and surface filtration?

Surface filtration is the process in which all particles retained by the filter Come to lie on the surface of the filter. When surface type filters are exposed to the flow containing the contaminants, two things occur immediately.

1. The effective pore size of the filter is gradually reduced as some of the pores become blocked by build up of smaller particles. These deformable particles are generally of a semi-solid nature and are present in the form of a slime or gel like material. If the concentration of these particles is high enough then the element can be "blinded off" which prevents flow. When these filters are washed they only retain approximately 10% of their total filtration value. This is why a lot of chemicals are needed. The average life is two months.

2. A cake of trapped particles starts to build up on the surface of the media. After the first layer of particles builds on the surface, the cake becomes the filtering media. As these layers build up the flow becomes more restricted, plugging the filter.

3. What is a micron?

A micron is a unit of measure for filtration. To give you perspective 40 micron is the smallest thing the human eye can see.

4. What is filter efficiency?

Efficiency is rated by how much particulate a filter will catch and what it doesn´t catch. Example: A filter that is 40 micron at 50% efficiency will stop 50% of the particulate at 40 micron. Anything smaller passes right through.

MicroPure Micron Filters are 94% efficient at 1 micron.

5. My spa water is clear, is it clean?

Yes & No. Your water looks clear so you may automatically believe it to be clean. Your water is as clean as your filter will allow. But your water may have microscopic contaminents. You have to think of what your soaking in, when using a pleated filter you will need to use a lot more chemicals. Chemicals that your body will absorb through the skin.

6. What chemicals should I be using?

With a micron filter you can cut down on chemicals needed and usage. Because our filters are made with polypropylene and the way they are designed, they replace many chemicals needed by pleated filters. Example: because of surface filtrations low efficiency rate, the spa industry came out with clarifiers. This chemical is designed to clump small particles together so they get caught by the filter instead of panning through. Because micron filters filter so efficiently there is no need for such chemicals.

Comparative list of chemicals needed for both styles of filters
	Micron Sanitizer Shock PH Alkalinity	Pleated Sanitizer Shock PH Alkalinity Stain and Scale Clarifier Defoamer Filter Cleaner Muriatic acid Swirl away Descummer

7. My water is cloudy, what should I do?

The industry tells us to add clarifier. Not so. Cloudy water is the biggest problem in water chemistry. 99.9% of the time all you need to do is boost your sanitizer level and boost your filtration for the next 24 to 48 hours. If this doesn´t work it may be time to change your water and filter. It is important to remember that it is always more cost effective to drain and start with fresh water and filter.

7. Should I still pre-filter my water in the city?

Yes. Don´t rely on the city to clean your water perfectly. There is a reason that bottled water sales are so high. There is always "stuff" in your water weather it got picked up down the pipes or the garden hose is dirty. It is important to remember that the cleaner your water is off the start, the easier it will be to balance chemicals, you will use fewer chemicals, you will see a longer filter life, and its easier on spa equipment.

9. Why should I pre-filter my water when filling my spa?

Pre-filtering is beneficial in many ways.

There is no need to haul in expensive water
Easier to balance chemicals
Less water fluctuations
You will use less chemicals
Spa components will last longer
Water is less abrasive on your suit and skin
Water will last longer, better for the environment
You will spend less time maintaining your spa

10. Is it ok to use de-foamer in my spa?

It is a waist of money. Defoamer doesn´t stop foam, it haults it for about 30 min. Here are a few tips:
What color is the foam?

Brown

Oil Based > Drain and start over

White

When you shut off your pump does the foam disappear in a few minutes or does it stay for over 15 minutes?

11. How can I tell if my Micropure filter needs changing?

Micropure filters are generally full once the dirt and debris reaches the inner core, this will depend on useage and water quality and is generally between 3-5 months.

12. Will using a Micropure filter affect my spas pumps or damage my spa?

Using MicroPure filters can reduce the amount of chemicals in your spa and could protect against damage to your pumps and heaters. MicroPure filters also allow for standard water flow in your spa for the life of the filter when spa chemistry is properly maintained.

13. What if the diameter of my old filter is larger?

MicroPure filters use a different kind of filtration and are able to effectively filter far better than the pleated filters that they replace. Using a MicroPure filter you will be able to catch particle down to one micron in size, which is far smaller than the capabilities of a pleated filter.

14. Can I use enzymes or alternative sanitizers in conjunction with MicroPure filters?

MicroPure filter have been tested and work well with chemical systems such as BaquaSpa, Nature2 and other spa water maintenance systems. With BaquaSpa, using a Micropure filter lowers the amount of clarifier needed. MicroPure does not support or troubleshoot any chemical systems.

Pleated Filter vs. Micron Filter

Filter Type	Pleated	Micron
Micron Rating:	30-80	1
Media/Depth:	paper thin	> 1"
Absorbtion:	to low to measure	very high
Sq. Footage:	25-75	900'
Chemicals Needed:	Clarifiers, Coagulants, Defoamers, Descummers, in conjunction with core sanitizers	Only core sanitizers
Maintanence:	Clean filter every 2 weeks which lowers the micron rating to 80+ with only 10% efficiency	Replace the filter every 3-5 months

Expensive Pleated Filters = 30 micron @ 50% efficiency
MicroPure Micron Filters = 1 micron @ 90% efficiency
MicroPure CBF-Prefilter = 0.5 micron @ 95% efficiency

3098 I-70 Business Loop # B - Grand Junction, CO 81504
Phone: 970-434-9199 - Fax: 970-434-7172