Why Poppits Disappears Quickly From Your Spa
Poppits is becoming a more common spa sanitiser and for good reason. This hydrogen peroxide-based sanitiser is designed to sanitise spa water by using oxidising agents. Some benefits of Poppits compared to chlorine or bromine sanitisers include:
- It’s noticeably gentler on skin, eyes and swimwear
- It has reduced chemical odours
- It minimises environmental impact as it breaks down into water and oxygen
- It is endorsed by the National Asthma Council of Australia
In our store, we often find that customers using Poppits use specific testing strips which provide a recommended dosage to maintain their sanitiser levels. What we also see is the customers surprise when their levels are already below the recommended range despite having added the recommended dose very recently. Here is the reason why.
1. It’s inherently unstable in water
Hydrogen peroxide is a reactive oxidiser. Once in the water, it naturally breaks down into water and oxygen:
- H₂O₂ → H₂O + O₂
It’s a continuous breakdown, so even without any contaminants present, levels will steadily fall.
2. It is consumed rapidly doing its job
Peroxide doesn’t remain in the water as a long-lasting residual. It reacts quickly with:
- Organic contaminants (body oils, sweat, sunscreen)
- Algae spores
- Bacteria
Hydrogen peroxide works by oxidising these contaminants, effectively breaking them down and removing them from the water.
Each time it oxidises something, the sanitiser is consumed and removed from the water. In an environment where contaminants are constantly being introduced through regular use, this demand can be quite high. Even after a single use, a noticeable portion of the peroxide can be depleted, which is why levels often drop faster than expected.
3. It doesn’t provide a strong residual sanitiser
Hydrogen peroxide is primarily an oxidiser, not a persistent sanitiser. This means it reacts quickly and then it’s gone, leaving little to no ongoing protection unless regularly re-dosed.
- To help address this limitation, some hydrogen peroxide-based sanitisers such as Peroxsil 395 incorporate silver ions. These provide a secondary sanitising effect, helping to control bacteria between doses and offering a more stable level of protection compared to peroxide alone.
Recommended Poppits Dosage
We know that the benefits of hydrogen-peroxide based sanitisers don’t come without a cost. To reduce costs an effective approach is to follow a structured dosing routine based on how often your spa is being used. This helps maintain more stable conditions while also improving efficiency and reducing waste. Below are Poppits’ recommended weekly dosing guidelines for standard Poppits Sanitiser per 1,000 litres based on usage:
- HIGH USAGE (2-4 people everyday): 750mls weekly
- AVERAGE USE (2-4 people, 2-3/ week): 500mls weekly
- LOW OR NO USE (1-2 people, 1-2/ week): 350mls weekly
It is also important to note that every two weeks, the dose should be increased to 750 mL per 1,000 litres, regardless of usage. This higher periodic dose helps support ongoing water quality and maintain the effectiveness of the sanitiser program over time.
Poppits recommend following a weekly routine to ensure your spa stays clean and healthy.
- Add a weekly dose of Quick Fix for burning off organic contaminants thereby reducing some of the load on the sanitiser. Add 30g per 1,000 litres once a week and leave the system running with the lid off for 4 hours before adding any other chemicals.
- Check the water balance: pH, Alkalinity & Calcium Hardness. This will also reduce sanitiser usage especially the pH as your sanitiser is more effective at the correct pH levels. Check once per week, you will notice that overtime the alkalinity & calcium will normally reduce but the pH is usually inflated. Adjust the alkalinity & calcium first (if required) then the pH. Retest after 1/2 hour to ensure the pH has reduced to correct levels.
- Now you are ready to add your regular dose of Poppit Sanitiser
https://www.poolpoppits.com.au/poolpoppits.com.au/faq/9/poppits-maintenance-program.pdf
Final Thoughts
Poppits can be a great option for spa owners who value comfort and a low-odour experience, but success comes down to understanding how it behaves and adjusting your routine accordingly. With the right approach to testing and dosing it can work very well, but it can require a little more attention than traditional systems.
If you’re not getting consistent results, or you’d like a second opinion on your spa setup, bring a water sample into My Pool Shop Melbourne and we’ll guide you through it. Our team can help you fine-tune your dosing or explore alternative options if needed so you can keep your spa simple, effective and stress-free, “Because everybody deserves a safe and healthy pool”.
