The chemicals you will need to start your hot tub include a pH increaser, pH decreaser, calcium hardness, a metal removal (if using water from rainwater tanks or bore) and a sanitiser.
While you could use a hot tub without chemicals, you could not soak safely. Water needs to be circulating and treated in order for it to be good for soaking. When you don't use chemicals in your hot tub or use too little, you are creating the perfect environment for algae, bacteria, and other contaminants to thrive.
Health Benefits
The heat widens blood vessels, which sends nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. Warm water also brings down swelling and loosens tight muscles. And the water's buoyancy takes weight off painful joints. A dip in the hot tub might also help your mental state.
One option is Bromine. Bromine is from the same 'family' as chlorine however it is slightly slower reacting, slighty softer on your skin and works better at higher temperatures so it has a lot of appeal for many hot tub users. Bromine comes in tablet form and is available as infused granules too.
Chemicals in your hot tub water can be a delicate balance. So it's crucial to maintain the levels of pH, Alkalinity, and Chlorine or Bromine, also known as sanitizers. You should wait 12 hours before entering the hot tub when you've added either chlorine or bromine to allow it to take effect properly.
It is a good practice to shock with dichlor when you refill your spa. After that, regular maintenance can normally be accomplished with non-chlorine shock. Other times for shock treatment include before or after heavy use and when the spa has been neglected.
When a hot tub has been refilled, it is important to give the water a high dose of sanitiser. This can be done by adding 60g of chlorine granules per 1,500 litres of water to start the sanitation process and allow the level to drop to 3-5mg/l before using the hot tub.
You should put chlorine in your hot tub at least once a week. However, some people prefer to add a small amount after each use. Finding the best water care routine will depend on how often and how many people use it. Chlorine levels should be between 1.5 and 3.0 ppm.
Bromine is more stable than chlorine, especially in warm water, making it more commonly used in spas, whereas chlorine is more often used in pools. The exception to this is ultraviolet (UV) light, which destroys both chemicals, but bromine breaks down more quickly.
It is essential to shock the hot tub frequently – at least once every week. It is important to use Chlorine shocks as well as non-Chlorine shocks.
A shock treatment takes care of this problem by oxidizing the organics in the water before they can feed the bacteria. It also helps get rid of sanitizer residue that remains after the sanitizer has done its job. Generally it is recommended that you shock your hot tub once a week – more often if it's seeing heavy use.
Shocking your hot tub is the easiest way you can ensure that the water is safe and free from all contaminates. Whenever you open your hot tub, or after a period of inactivity or even heavy use, it is a good idea to shock it before you begin using it.
DO NOT mix chlorine and bromine together in either a dry state or within the water as this can cause a dangerous reaction. If you are considering switching from one sanitiser to another you should always clean and drain your hot tub including a line flush.
Causes of cloudy hot tub water. When it comes to cloudy water, it's likely one of a few culprits — high pH, high alkalinity, and low sanitizer. Dirty filters, body care products, and old water can also be responsible for cloudy water.
While shocking and adding algaecide is effective in getting rid of algae, it should not be done together. This is because when you mix chlorine and algaecide together, it renders both of them useless. Hence, you should first shock the pool and wait for the chlorine levels to fall below 5 PPM.
If your hot tub smells funky, there may be some bacteria lurking in the water—even if it looks clear and clean. Trust your nose and use your test strips to diagnose the problem. If your hot tub has a musty odor, this is a sign that there isn't enough sanitizer in the water.
Is Spa Shock the same as Chlorine? Sodium dichlor shock is a form of chlorine and can act as both sanitiser and shock treatment. If you're using a chlorine-free shock product like MPS (potassium peroxy-monosulphate), then this will not have any chlorine in it.
This revolting stench is caused by high levels of sulfur bacteria within your spa system. Under warm temperatures, this reacts to form Hydrogen Sulfide, a gas with similar odours to out of date eggs.
How Long Can a Hot Tub Go Untreated? A hot tub can typically go untreated between 2 and 3 weeks before the water becomes unsafe to soak in. Untreated water typically means no sanitizer, pH balancer, or other added chemicals.
When you add bromine to a chlorine pool, on the other hand, the bromine does not go away but builds up over time, creating a chlorine demand. Therefore, when you shock the pool with chlorine, the residual bromine will convert the chlorine into, you guessed it, bromine.
Both chlorine and bromine are sanitizers that work in different ways to keep your water free of contaminants. Regular use of either chlorine or bromine will help keep your hot tub clean. The way they do it is different, but the results are similar.
Can you switch from chlorine to bromine? You can switch from chlorine to bromine sanitizer in a hot tub. In fact, it is actually easier to go from chlorine to bromine than the other way around.
If you have a spa, bromine has a lot of advantages over using chlorine. It may cost a little bit more, but it lasts longer and does a much better job than chlorine at killing bacteria, especially at high temperatures and high pH levels.