It is important to monitor your alkalinity when you own a spa or hot tub.  Unbalanced alkaline levels and pH can decrease the life expectancy of your spa or hot tub and lead to costly issues down the road.  Here are a few tips when you notice your alkalinity levels are too low or too high:

Low alkalinity is the more serious of the two extremes.  It can cause rapid fluctuations in pH, because the water can't as easily counteract the effects of acids, like acid rain or naturally occurring minerals.  

High alkalinity can result in green water.  It can reduce the effects of chlorine, which keeps algae under control.  Your water can become more cloudy or cause scaling, a hard crusty mineral build-up.

Ideally, the total alkalinity should be kept in the 80-100 ppm range then adjust the pH to the 7.2 - 7.8 range.

Visit the Spa Guy Hawaii website to find all of your water maintenance needs and keep your spa and hot tub at good alkaline levels.