FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

General

The ingredients in our products are a blend of several types or classes of natural enzymes and co-enzymes that rapidly start the natural oxidation process and the self-purification of your spa, Swim Spa and pool.
It contains a non-toxic surfactant (soap) that breaks down organic waste to a smaller size. The smaller waste particles allow for a rapid, natural oxidation process to occur.
Our treatment also contains a special nutrient (food source) that sustains the healthy bacteria but will not feed any type of infectious bacteria we do not want. This ensures that the enzyme system stays alive and healthy between soaking and swimming.
This natural spa water system was invented by a leader in the natural bioremediation field, John Warberg. He has replaced traditional toxic chemicals with enzyme formulas in a multitude of industries including medical and dental, food processing, agriculture, wastewater, recreational waters and meatpacking.
This natural system has been on the market since 1996 with great results and hundreds of thousands of happy hot tub, Swim Spa and pool owners worldwide.
On average the “Start up Kit with Micron Sleeve” ($154.95) lasts at least a year. The bottle of Spa Drops can last up to 18 to 24 months. The average cost of using our products is less than $10 per month.
You will spend less time and money maintaining your hot tub, Swim Spa and pools with Clear Choice products than with any other purification system on the market, much less.
Clear Choice works very well with most water. Those with very hard or very soft water will need to be more patient as the water goes through changes to find it’s balance.
In most cases, people that have these types of water will struggle with just about any system, but Clear Choice will still be a natural chemical free experience for you and your family.
Yes, but you may need to adjust the dosages due to less robust circulation.
Absolutely! Many of our customers come to us for this reason alone and find great relief that they can now use their hot tub, Swim Spas and pools again without the side effects that chemical may cause. Our enzymes are very gentle on your skin, hair and clothing, and even soften and exfoliate your skin.
The enzyme products are non-corrosive so your hot tub and parts will have much less wear and tear than using normal chemical additives.
You can order bacteria test strips online to test your water. Most customers can tell by the quality of the water when they lift the lid. If it doesn’t look or smell inviting don’t get in.
Clear Choice has been selling their products around the world since 1996 and has never had an incident where someone was harmed or became sick from using our products.
If you have any questions about your water condition, give us a call on our toll free number 1-800-730-8582
The ingredients in our products are a blend of several types or classes of natural enzymes and co-enzymes that rapidly start the natural oxidation process and the self-purification of your spa, swim spa and pool.
It contains a non-toxic surfactant (soap) that breaks down organic waste to a smaller size. The smaller waste particles allow for a rapid, natural oxidation process to occur.
Our treatment also contains a special nutrient (food source) that sustains the healthy bacteria but will not feed any type of infectious bacteria we do not want. This ensures that the enzyme system stays alive and healthy between soaking and swimming.
Yes, many of our customers have had bad reactions to chemicals and have found Clear Choice as an alternative that works for them.
Yes, our products are safe for every age person. If you have small children that may relieved themselves accidentally in the spa, it’s a good idea to add some none chlorine shock afterwards.
Under heavy load usage, some customers may need to use an oxidizer to return the water to normal conditions quickly. We recommend a non-chlorine product called MPS (MonoPeroxySulfate) This will clear the water and is compatible with our products. You can also use Hydrogen Peroxide.
You will need something akin to a 5 gallon bucket to soak your filters once a month, some pH test strips and possibly some pH up and down, white distilled vinegar and baking soda are also good choices.
Many retail spa dealers around the world carry the Clear Choice system. Yet some retail spa dealers are unconvinced. The typical spa store applies a 100% mark up on spa chemicals and the majority of store profits come from chemical sales. This limits profits because the Clear Choice system replaces several products that are needed when using chemicals. We have the most cost-effective and completely natural, total spa system on the market today. We also have doctors, clinics, natural food stores and other retailers that sell our products.
The biggest difference is that most, if not all, the other natural enzyme products still require you to add chemicals (i.e. shock) to your water on a regular bases.

Our enzymes are so highly active that that shocking is not necessary (unless under extreme heavy usage situations).
The cost of our products are also less expensive than many of the other products on the market.

The enzymes and surfactants in our products break down organic matter in bodies of water so quickly that the food change for harmful microorganisms to live are removed purifying the water.
Once you have established a good balance in your hot tub water over time, you can begin by adding additional products slowly, watching to see how they affect the water quality and adjust accordingly.
Yes, simply add your normal weekly dose, leave the maintenance cycle on as normal and lower the temperature.
If you can put your body in it, the enzymes can also be in it.
Clear Choice has been selling their products in the US, Canada and other countries since 1996.
We hear this a lot from our existing customers that love telling their friends and family members about our products.

Ordering & Shipping

Free Canada Wide Shipping over $100 plus 5% Discount on all orders over $150

Although Clear Choice has been around since 1996, natural hot tub and pool products are just beginning to become mainstream.  If your local store isn’t carrying our products, let them know about Clear Choice as the industry leading natural alternative.

Soft & Inflatable Hot Tubs

Yes, our products are compatible with soft tubs. Your vinyl and components will enjoy a longer life span due to the noncorrosive nature of the our products.

Water Changes & Maintenance

If you keep the right balance of Spa Drops in your hot tub, you can go as long as you want between water changes. The water won’t lock up like it does with chemicals. Most customers go a full year, some six months. It is really just your personal preference.
We recommend that you rinse all of your filters and Micron Sleeve once a week and soak your filters and Micron Sleeve once a month in a 5 gallon bucket with 5 cups of distilled vinegar or ¼ cup of bleach to approximately 5 gallons of water.

Leave overnight with the vinegar solution and just two hours with the bleach solution then rinse thoroughly before reinstalling into the hot tub

Yes, as long as you rinse your filters and Micron Sleeve thoroughly before reinstalling them back into your hot tub.
You will need something akin to a 5 gallon bucket to soak your filters in once a month, some pH test strips and possibly some pH up and down (vinegar and baking soda work well).
Yes, we recommend that you do this to give your plumbing a good cleaning. Though once you start using our products you will only need to use 1/2 the bottle of Spa prep and run your spa for just 2 to 3 days prior to emptying the hot tub.
Yes, you can but be sure to sterilize and rinse them out very well before replacing them back into your hot tub. You should replace filters that are over 2 years old.
Yes, sometimes there are leftover oils, antifreeze and curing from the plastics that need to be cleaned out in order to help make the system work more easily and smoothly for you. You can run the Spa Prep for 1 day in this case.
Yes, it’s fine to leave it running longer without harming the process or your hot tub.
Yes. The dosages recommended on the bottle are for 4 to 6 usages per week, so if you are using the tub 1/2 of that amount, then cut back on your drops by 1/2. If you’re not using the hot tub at all that week, then do not add drops that week.
Only if you are experiencing a lack of water quality and then only a 10% increase at a time to see if that balances things out. Be careful not to overdose.
We recommend using dish soap that will cut through any oils and dirt that may have built up on the cover. Be sure to rinse the cover thoroughly before putting it back onto your hot tub.
You can find the amount of gallons in a hot tub, Swim Spa or swimming pool in gallons by multiplying the length by the width by the average depth in feet by 7.48. The formula to find pool volume in gallons is thus: The first part of this formula determines the volume of water in cubic feet.
Use this every time you drain your hot tub. If you have an extra-scummy or old hot tub, you may need to use it a few times initially to thoroughly clean the insides of the tub.
No, there are enough enzymes and other natural cleansers in the Spa Prep to do the job for the recommended period of flushing.
The filter has a 500 gallon capacity to successfully filter out all of the unwanted minerals and metals in the water while conditioning the water for the enzymes. It’s best to use one filter to fill the hot tub and for topping off. The next time you drain and fill the hot tub again, start over with a new pre-filter.
If you’re not getting the water quality results you should expect, we recommend first checking your pH and adjustig accordingly. Our products tend to settle between 7.5 and 8 pH.
We recommend rinsing your filters once a week and doing a deep clean with vinegar or bleach and water once a month. Non ceramic filters should be replaced every two years.

Spa Prep

We recommend rinsing your filters once a week and doing a deep clean with vinegar or bleach and water once a month. Non ceramic filters should be replaced every two years.
Our Spa Prep contains a strong dosage of enzymes, surfactants and organic soaps.
You can use your hot tub during the purge if it feels and looks inviting. If the water is dirty due to the internal cleansing of the plumbing, wait until after you refill it with fresh water and enjoy.
If there are a lot of debris in your lines, it may clog your filters, thus restricting water flow through the system. This is also a time when you are cleaning the hot tub, not the water. The filters are there to clean the water.
The only exception to this, is if you have any debris getting into your tub, like leaves, etc. In this case, leave your filters in and check them once or twice a day and clean as needed.
We recommend that you let it heat and run as normal with the usual maintenance cycle, though it is important to let your jets run a little each day to give them a chance to clean out as well.
This happens with some types of water and is normal. It should last for a few days and it can be easily scooped off with a dust pan-shaped tool.
Yes, we recommend that you do this in order to give your plumbing a good, thorough, cleaning, though you only need to use 1/2 of the bottle and run it for just 2 to 3 days.
Yes, sometimes there are leftover oils, curing and antifreeze from the plastics in the hot tub that need to be cleaned out in order to help make the system work more easily and smoothly for you. You can run the Spa Prep for 1 day in this case.
Yes, it’s fine to run it longer without harming the process or your hot tub.
Use this every time you drain your hot tub, which should be about every 6 to 12 months. If you have an extra-scummy or old hot tub, you may need to use it a few times initially to thoroughly clean the insides of the tub.
No, there are enough enzymes and other natural cleansers in the Spa Prep to do the job for the recommended period of purging.

Spa Drops

An overdose of Spa Drops can make your water cloudy and tinted, and can also create a brown build-up on and around your filters. It can also be identified by a strong, musty smell. If this occurs, stop adding drops for a week or two. Then, if the water quality has improved, reduce your drops by 1/3.
An under-dose of drops can create a build-up of scum at the waterline of your spa, cloudy water, and/or a foul, sour smell. In this case, increase your weekly Spa Drops dosage by 1/3. If you continue to experience a sour smell, immediately add a full initial dose of Spa Drops and increase your weekly dosage moving forward by about 1/3.
We guarantee the quality of our Spa Drops for one full year, but most customers get around 24-months of usage out of one bottle. You can tell if the enzymes have expired, if suddenly the water in your spa falls out of balance, after a year or more of great success.
If the Spa Drops have a foul or ammonia-like smell to them, then they have expired. If this should happen within the one-year warranty, we will quickly and happily send you a new bottle for free.
We recommend that you store your Spa Drops in a cool-to-room temperature, dry and dark place when not in use, to prolong their quality.

Micron Sleeves

The Micron Sleeve is woven of a specifically-textured material that filters out certain types of particulates that most standard filters can miss. It is also designed to function with looser micron weaving than the standard, so that it will not restrict the natural, normal flow of water.
You only need one Micron Sleeve per hot tub, but using extras in extreme water quality circumstances is fine.
For Swim Spas, place one on each filter.
Install the Micron Sleeve by tying it around your main pleated filter. It does not need to cover the entire filter for it to be effective. Cut it if needed, or fold in the edges to ensure best fit.
We recommend rinsing your filters and Micron Sleeves once a week by soaking them in a 5-gallon bucket along with 5 cups of distilled white vinegar or ¼ cup of bleach to approximately 5 gallons of water. Leave overnight and rinse thoroughly before reinstalling into your hot tub.
Depending on how it is cared for and cleaned, a Micron Sleeve could last up to 1 to 3 years, or longer.

Hose Pre-Filter

Our Hose Pre-filter is specifically designed to work with our system to filter out metals and minerals from your water while conditioning the water for the enzymes.
Yes, it’s important to use our whole system as directed to get the very best results and also to qualify for our Money Back Guarantee.
Our Hose Pre-filter is not a normal carbon water filter but specially designed to work with our products.
We recommend you use one Hose Pre-filter with each water change and topping off the hot tub in-between water changes for large hot tubs.
For smaller hot tubs around 200 gallons, you should get 2 fill ups and topping off.
Most of our customers go a full year between water changes.
On rare occasions something can clog the filter. Back-flush the filter by unscrewing the coupler from its original end and thread it into the other end. Then attach the hose and run the water for a minute in the opposite direction. Then replace the coupler and hose to their original positions.
If this doesn’t fix the problem, please give us a call.

Maintaining a Swim Spa

No, the Swim Spa Treatment is fine when used on its own. It can be helpful to employ pH test strips and pH up or down, as needed.
Yes, but if the plumbing has a lot of build up, the enzymes in the treatment will slowly dissolve these particles and cause your water to become cloudy.

Swimming Pool Maintenance

Yes, but only about 1/4 of the amount that you would normally use. Your chlorine levels need only be around .5 ppm, similar to that of city drinking water. The reason for this is that the pool water is being exposed to wind, rain and sun which could cause a potential algae bloom. This small amount of chlorine will keep that potential at bay.
You will need a 16oz bottle of pool treatment per every 10,000 gallons of water, per year.

Hot Tub Troubleshooting

Using too many Spa Drops in your spa is the most common error. Everyone’s water is different and spa usage can vary by large degrees. In some cases, you will need to adjust the dosage accordingly. The more frequently you use the spa, the more drops you need. Typically, one drop per day of usage, per person.
On the other hand, if you are not using your spa for a week or so, you will not need to add any drops at all. It’s best to start off with the recommended dosage on the bottle and adjust from there if needed.
If you notice a brown gooey substance beginning to develop in your spa, along with a strong, musty smell that doesn’t go away; this is a sign of overdose.
Skip a week or two or until your water balances and then cut your weekly dosage by 1/3.
If you detect a sour smell when you lift the cover of your hot tub, you likely have an underdose of enzymes and you should immediately add another initial dose of the Spa Drops. From here, increase your weekly dosage by 1/3 to 1/2. Wait until this smell is gone before entering the spa.
You don’t need to adjust the pH when using our system unless calcium deposits build up on the shell of your spa. If this is happens, you can use any standard pH up or down or white distilled vinegar as a pH down and baking soda as a pH up to help your water find balance.
You may need to experiment in order to determine how much you may need to use for your particular hot tub.
We suggest adjusting any pH slowly so as not to over-correct.
Adequate circulation and filtering of the water in your spa is THE most important thing in terms of enjoyment of pristine spa water. The water in your spa needs to be moving and passing through your spa’s filter for at least four hours a day. This is a healthy body of water and must be oxygenated! We cannot state enough that adequate movement and filtering of water is paramount in order for the Clear Choice system (and indeed, any spa maintenance system) to work properly.
Proper circulation and aeration of water allows Clear Choice enzymes to adequately break down organic contaminants, thus ensuring that the spa water is oxygenated, eliminating the potential growth of pathogenic organisms. Adequate filtration ensures that organic matter is broken down, trapped and removed from the water in your spa.
If your spa filters are over two years old, it’s time for new ones, unless you are using ceramic filters. We have had customers struggle to maintain clear water, astounded by the difference they see after they have invested in a new filter.
To thoroughly clean your filters, a regular garden hose attachment that has jet spray is fine; a high-pressure water cleaner is too hard on the filter fabric. As you spray the filter, try to get into each pleat and remove any build-up of hair and other visible materials.
The Clear Choice system works best with regular white-pleated filters. Filters with a very fine weave, like Microban or Sundance Micro Clean filters, may require more frequent cleaning than once a week.
These are completely all-natural products. Sometimes, it may take a few weeks for your water to go through the necessary molecular changes before experiencing the clean and crystal-clear conditions that you can expect when using our products.
If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to give us a call so that we can personally assist you in finding the right balance for your particular situation.
Once you find the right balance, you won’t find an easier or more naturally-successful product on the market today to keep your spa clean and safe.
If the water displays an obvious white cloudiness (appearing as if someone has poured a gallon of milk into it) during the first initial week of using your Spa Drops, add another full dose of Spa Drops right away. This white cloudiness is caused by your water going through molecular changes and it is in need of an extra one-time boost.
This is normal for new customers during the first-to-fourth weeks, while the natural spa water adjusts to its new normal. During this time, odors (trapped Co2 gases) should only be noticeable when you first open your spa cover, as trapped air and steam are released.
This could also be the beginning of an overdose of Spa Drops. If you suspect an overdose, skip a weekly dosage of Spa Drops and see if the musty smell diminishes. If it does, lower your weekly Spa Drops by at least 1/3.
This can be due to a number of factors.
1. Phosphates in your source water will create a green tint. This is harmless and should disappear with time.
2. Metals like copper or nickel oxidizing in the water can turn the water slightly green. Oxidizing iron will result in a brownish tint.
3. Algae growing in your spa can also cause a greenish tint. This is mainly due your spa water being exposed to excess sunlight. This occurs if you are not covering the spa with an airtight cover. If you suspect this is the case, make sure that you cover your spa at all times when not in use, and treat the water with a shock dosage of chlorine to 5ppm.
Refrain from using the spa until the chlorine level is 2ppm or less. The chlorine shock will not interfere with the Clear Choice system.
Occasionally, during the first week or two using Clear Choice, you may get some cloudiness in your water. Try to be patient as the water goes through these natural changes.
Cloudy spa water can also be due to heavy use. With enough time, and the addition of daily drops added, your spa water will return to its original, clear state. To speed things up, give your spa filter a good cleaning, and then run the spa pump for 5 -6 hours. If the water is really cloudy, you may need to rinse out your filter at least a couple of times during this process.
If the water is still cloudy, you may need to treat it with some non-chlorine shock like MPS to more quickly break down organic matter. The shock dose will dissipate from your spa water fairly rapidly; so don’t worry if you occasionally need to resort to a non-chlorine shock.
Cloudy water appearing past the first couple of weeks could be a sign of overdose. Skip a week or two of adding the Spa Drops. If this fixes the problem, reduce your weekly dosage of Spa Drops by 1/3.
This is a temporary issue due to the enzymes breaking down the manufacture’s coating on the vinyl or an overdose of Spa Drops (Not to worry, our enzymes will considerably extend the life of you vinyl!).
The slipperiness will dissipate with time either from the enzymes breaking down this coating or the lowering of your dosage. If you notice a brown gooey build up or strong musty smell then its an overdose issue.
The Spa Prep solution, during the purge, can sometimes create foam.
After the purge, and on the normal Spa Drops routine, foamy water is always caused by detergents being introduced into the water from bathing suits, etc… There is nothing in the Spa Drops that will cause foaming.
The Spa Prep solution, during the purge, can sometimes create foam.
After the purge, and on the normal Spa Drops routine, foamy water is always caused by detergents being introduced into the water from bathing suits, etc… There is nothing in the Spa Drops that will cause foaming.
High mineral content in the water can cause this. Reduce your pH using a standard pH down to the low 7s until the issue disappears. Then test your pH every few weeks and adjust accordingly. Sometimes soft or hard deposits will form on the spa shell that can be a result of some final chlorine or bromine salt deposits being flushed from your spa’s plumbing.
Normally, these deposits will break down and disappear within a week or two.
Brown flakes in the water are simply particles of non-toxic buildup from the spa’s plumbing that has been loosened by the enzymes in the Clear Choice products. Your spa’s filter will eventually remove these flakes from the water. You can rinse out your filters more often until the flakes are gone if desired.
Flakes that are whitish in appearance may be due to white mold in your spa’s plumbing. If this is the case, you will need to shock-dose your spa with chlorine to 5ppm to remove the mold from your system. The best way to test for mold is to fill a clear glass with your spa water and add a little bit of bleach. If the flakes disappear, you have white mold. If they don’t, you have mineral deposits. Lowering your pH to the low 7s until they disappear will help.
Clear Choice contains positively charged ions and your spa surface has a negative charge. Occasionally, a bond between these two charges will occur, resulting in a slight film that may develop on the spa walls.
Simply wipe the surface with your hand or a cloth to break this bond.

If you’re having issues and find that you have skipped some of our outlined steps, please back up and begin again using our tried-and-true process for a happy, healthy and naturally clean hot tub experience.