Treating & Removing Biofilms in Spas & Hot tubs...

Before treating biofilm, understand what they are and how they grow.  Click here.

Biofilms can be removed mechanically, chemically or "naturally."  Mechanical removal using scrub brushes, filter cleaners, etcetera, physically remove the biofilm from visible places.

Visible places would be the filter cartridge itself, filter tank, all spa surfaces where you sit or lie down, water line, pillows, skimmer baskets, etc. You can physically handle the object that needs to be cleaned.  This is one of the reasons why we as Spa & hot tub Professionals are so adamant about wiping the spa's surfaces on a regular basis - even every time that you use the spa.  Wiping breaks up and lifts the biofilm off from its cozy environs enabling the chlorine or sanitizer to kill it and the filter to remove it.  Be careful however to regularly clean & chemically clean the filter to remove the accumulations of "filtered" biofilms from the filter cartridge.

Keep in mind that biofilms are a direct contributor to chlorine demand, causing the spa to use significantly more chlorine, bromine or biguanides than if none were present.  Remove the biofilm, remove an important component to chlorine demand.

In hard to reach places like hot tub plumbing lines & inside heaters, biofilms need to be removed Chemically. This is where so much biofilm (and about 99% of the bacteria) accumulates and thrives.  Biofilm is typically left alone.  It has all that it needs - a surface, moisture, and nutrients floating by. Keep in mind that biofilm doesn't need sunlight - it's not an algae so sunlight is not one of biofilm's needs. Biofilm does need "warm" water - 90° F or better for optimal growth, but as long as it's not cold, the biofilm will survive and grow just fine thank you.

Tried & true products such as natural enzymes (Natural Chemistry® Spa Perfect, or SpaGuard Natural Enzyme) "eat up" much of the nutrients and other waste that contribute to biofilm growth thereby stunting it. But as biofilms become more resistant and more proliferate, a new arsenal of products must be considered & used.  Flushing products such as Spa System Flush, Swirl Away or Natural Chemistry Spa Purge have shown to be fairly effective in bio-film removal. The picture below shows a brand new spa having bio-film removed - results after 12 hours of a flush product.

Newer products such as AquaFinesse™ are added to the spa water and quite rapidly remove the biofilm from the hidden surfaces.  AquaFinesse™ products have been successfully used in the European market and in industrial applications for several years. As with the physical removal products, loosened & removed biofilm particles must be filtered out of the water then removed from the system entirely. 

After the initial application, you will notice that the water become very cloudy and the filter becomes rapidly clogged as the filter traps all of that used biofilm.  Cartridge filters must be chemically cleaned to restore the filter to a proper working condition.  If biofilm removal has never been done before, it may be necessary or even advantageous to replace the filter media - especially in older spas & hot tubs.  Chemically treating a brand new spa is often a great idea since most spas are water tested at the factory leaving wet or damp lines to accumulate biofilms for sometimes months at a time before it is delivered to your home. These products are completely compatible with all hot water care chemical systems (chlorine, bromine, biguanides, ionizers).

An even newer, "gentler" natural way to remove biofilm is using sphagnum moss.  In testing by Montana State Univ. Center for Biofilm Engineering, sphagnum moss was found to be an excellent preventive and remover of biofilm.  It was noticed in many ponds and lakes the world over that where sphagnum moss lived and thrived, water quality of those lakes and ponds was "potable" or drinkable without the need for filtering or chemical sanitizing.  New patented products such as SpaNaturally™ use eco-friendly, eco-processed sphagnum moss in disposable, consumer friendly pouches to remove biofilms and prevent biofilms.  Studies are further showing that pool water treated with sphagnum moss stays better balanced (natural buffers are present in the moss) and is "gentler" for spa users.  Learn more about sphagnum moss & SpaNaturally here. SpaNaturally™ sphagnum moss pouches are replaced on a monthly basis for optimal effect. Sphagnum moss products work with all chlorine, bromine and salt systems but are NOT compatible with biguanide products such as SpaGuard® Soft Soak® or Arch Chemicals® BaquaSpa®.

The bottom line for the hot tub owner and customer is a longer life of the spa & its equipment (filter, heater, pillow, cover, etc.) due to the removal of biofilms as well as biofilm scaling. Chemical consumption should and will show a marked decrease as chlorine, bromine & other sanitizers can concentrate on the 1% of planktonic bacteria present in the water. Easier water balance, less shocking, etc.

It is true that only time will prove the efficacy & efficiency of these new treatments, but the studies so far look extremely promising.

Biofilm removal products.

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If you still need help, here's how to reach us:

Telephone (during store hours): Stratford  203-377-0100
FAX: (24 hrs) 203-375-7787
Email: techhelp@parpool-spa.com

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