How to Shock a Hot Tub with Bromine

Looking for how to shock a hot tub with bromine?. Great. Then you’ve come to the right place. In this article, you can expect to learn the following:

• What is bromine in a hot tub?
• How does bromine work?
• How much bromine to put in a hot tub
• How to test bromine in a hot tub
• How long to wait after adding bromine to a hot tub
• And more…

The majority of water problems we hear can easily be solved with a shocking compound.  This means applying a dose of chlorine or bromine to the water.

The main purpose of this treatment is to break down organic waste contaminants which cause odor and cloudy water. After this treatment, the water quality and clarity are often completely restored.

Today, we will be looking at shocking your hot tub with bromine.

What is Bromine in a Hot Tub and How Does It Work?

Bromine is a popular alternative hot tub sanitizer to chlorine for those with sensitive skin, it also offers a less harsh odor than chlorine.

Bromine breaks up the particles in the water by ionizing the water. Bromine slowly dissolves in the water and effectively kills bacteria. It has a lower PH than chlorine and therefore can be easier to keep the water balanced.

The chemical process produces a product called bromamines. The bromine keeps the water in the hot tub clean.

Many people use bromine in their hot tub because they have sensitive skin, bromine is less irritating on the skin. However, bromine takes longer to dissolve and can “stick” to swimwear.

If you are using bromine in your hot tub, you will need to rinse of your body and the swimwear after getting out.

While bromine is more expensive than chlorine, its ability to remain effective at higher temperatures means that you need less bromine to keep the hot tub sanitized than chlorine.

Also Read:

What is oxidizer for hot tub: What you need to know

How to Shock a Hot Tub with Bromine

When shocking your hot tub with bromine, you need to let it build up so you can have a “bromine reserve”. This reserve is essential for proper sanitation.

You should ensure that your hot tub bromine level is always between 3-5ppm (parts per million. The addition of bromine will depend upon usage and bathing habits. It could be daily or every 2-3 days (for 3ppm add 12g per 1500 litres).

Note: 10ml = approx. 10g

Safety Note: DO NOT mix chlorine and bromine together in either a dry state or within the water as it will cause a dangerous reaction.

If you are considering switching from one sanitizer to another you should always clean and drain your hot tub including a line flush. You should not use the same dispensers even if you have cleaned them thoroughly.

How to Test Bromine in a Hot Tub?

When testing for bromine in hot tub, you need to get the bromine test strips and follow the instructions that are on the packaging.

The recommended bromine level should be 3-5mg/l. If the bromine level is underdosed, then you need to add more bromine.

Check to ensure that the PH level is between 7.0 and 7.4 using testing strips, many bromine test strips also test for total alkalinity and PH.

If you notice that the level is outside the range, then you need t use a PH increaser(PH+) or PH reducer (PH-) to balance your water.

How Long to Wait After Adding Bromine to the Hot Tub?

If you’re wondering hot tub shock how long to wait, you need to wait at least 20 minutes after adding the bromine sanitizer to your hot tub and you also need to test the water to make sure that the bromine levels are correct.

Also, check your manufacturer’s guidelines to make sure it is safe to enter the water after adding the bromine.

Bromine Hot Tub Danger: Overdosed Bromine in Hot Tub

If after testing for the bromine levels in the hot tub, you realized that there is too much bromine more than the recommended levels, you will have to wait for the bromine levels to fall naturally and correct itself before you start using the hot tub.

But if you don’t have the patience to wait for so long, then you will have to dilute the water with fresh water. You do this by removing some of the hot tub water and filling it with fresh water. Then allow the water to circulate before testing again.

This is because overexposure to bromine can cause hypothyroidism. High levels of bromine can result in bromine toxicity. Symptoms include skin rashes, severe acne, loss of appetite, abdominal pain fatigue, cardiac arrhythmia, and a metallic taste in the mouth.

Bromine Hot Tub Maintenance Weekly

Maintaining a hot tub is part of the deal of owning one. Keeping it clean and well service will prolong its lifespan. That is why is good to do daily, weekly, and quarterly maintenance on it.

Here are the steps to take to maintain a bromine hot tub.

1). Remove and clean the hot tub filters by rinsing them with a hosepipe and leave them to dry. To remove build-up grease, you need to purchase a filter cleaner spray and also get a spare filter to allow you to rotate the filters. This will make the filter last long.

2). Next, check the pH level with the test strip to make sure the pH is between 7.0 and 7.4. If the level is outside this range, you will need a pH increaser or pH reducer to balance the water.

3). Test for the bromine level with bromine test strips to make sure there is the right amount of it between 3-5mg/l and if it’s below this number, add bromine to get it to the recommended level. If it overdoses, let it naturally balance or dilute it with fresh water.

4). Add 17g of non-chlorine shock per 1500 litres of water to ensure the jets are switched on and leave the hot tub uncovered for at least 20 minutes.

5). Finally add 23ml of no scale per 1500 liters to help prevent scale build-up, especially in hard water areas.