What chemicals should I put in my hot tub for the first time?

Wilford Faaita asked, updated on January 12th, 2023; Topic: hot tub chemicals
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This all-in-one kit includes all the essential items you will need to start up your hot tub, including:

  • AquaChek 6in1 Test Strips (50 Strips)
  • Granular pH Minus (2 lbs.)
  • Granular pH Plus (1.5 lbs.)
  • Granular Non-Chlorine Shock (2 lbs.)
  • Liquid Prevent II (16 oz.)
  • Granular Chlor-Aid (2 lbs.)

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In addition to that, what chemicals should I put in my hot tub water?

To dose your hot tub ready for bather use, we advise using chlorine or bromine granules rather than tablets, which should be added only when your Hot Tubs pump is running. It is important to ensure your spa water is at a normal level of 3-5 parts per million (ppm) for free chlorine and 4-6 PPM for bromine before use.

Futhermore, is bromine the same as chlorine? What is Bromine? Bromine is the number one alternative to chlorine. This chemical is known to be a sanitizer, oxidizer, and algaecide for swimming pools. ... Bromine and chlorine are very similar in the fact that they both sanitize, but possess differences when it comes to the chemical breakdown.

Besides, how often do you put chlorine in a hot tub?

A chlorine level of between 3-5mg/l must be maintained in your hot tub at all times. The addition of chlorine will depend upon usage and bathing habits. It could be daily or every 2-3 days (for 1mg/l add 2g per 1000 litres).

Which is better for hot tubs bromine or chlorine?

Bromine works better at higher temperatures than chlorine. Above 75°F, bromine remains stable, whereas chlorine is more effective in temperatures as low as 65°F. This makes bromine a better choice for hot tubs and spas, and an unheated pool will be better served by the use of chlorine.

23 Related Questions Answered

What chemicals to put in Spa after filling?

There are two primary types of sanitizers chlorine, which we have here, and bromine. Sodium-dichlor, chlorine granules are what we, at Master Spas specifically recommend for sanitation. They offer the best results with the features of your hot tub; such as the EcoPur and the ozone systems.

Should I use a floating chlorine dispenser in hot tub?

A floater is really the worst way to take care of sanitizing your tub—about the most “dinosaur” method still used. It's difficult to regulate the amount of sanitizer being dissolved into the body of water. ... Tri-chlor is meant for use in concrete pools and designed to work on bacteria that can thrive in cooler water.

Which is safer chlorine or bromine?

Bromine: Is gentler on your skin than chlorine, but can be a bit more difficult to wash off after a long soak. If you or anyone who uses your hot tub on a regular basis has sensitive skin or any kind of upper respiratory difficulties, bromine will likely be the better choice.

Can I mix chlorine and bromine?

You can add chlorine to a bromine tub. Heck, bromine tabs contain chlorine. Before non chlorine shock, all they had was chlorine to shock. Adding chlorine (dichlor) to a bromine tub will reactivate your bromine.

Is bromine better for hot tub?

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.

How often should you change the water in a hot tub?

We recommend customers to change their hot tub water every 3 to 4 months. The reason we recommend this is that as your continue to add more chlorine, it will start to dissolve slower and slower until the chlorine doesn't dissolve in your hot tub anymore.

Can pool chemicals be used for hot tubs?

Water Temperature Most hot tubs run around 40 degrees centigrade, while swimming pools usually range between 25 and 30 degrees. ... By using highly concentrated swimming pool chemicals in a hot tub you may end up with chemical reactions that radically alter the water chemistry and make it hard to properly control.

Can I switch from chlorine to bromine in hot tub?

For spas and hot tubs you can use either, but bromine is king in hot water. ... Those with very sensitive skin or nose may prefer bromine. If you switch from chlorine tablets to bromine tablets and, you will need to purchase a new brominator because mixing chlorine and bromine can cause a dangerous chemical reaction.

Is bromine in a hot tub bad for you?

Bromine is just as effective as chlorine at eliminating harmful, illness-causing germs in spa water when used in the correct amounts. However, it can be less irritating to the body than chlorine. ... As a result, as conditions in your hot tub fluctuate, bromine will last longer as an effective sanitizer.

Should I shock my hot tub when I first fill it up?

Shock (Optional) Circulate the hot tub for at least 30 minutes. Do not put the hot tub cover on, as shock needs to oxidize or time to release gases. Do not turn on the jets while shocking, as the product will oxidize too fast.

When should I add shock to my hot tub?

Generally it is recommended that you shock your hot tub once a week – more often if it's seeing heavy use. If your levels are all good, but the water is a bit cloudy or doesn't quite smell right, it's time for a shock. You should also shock the tub if you haven't used it for an extended period of time.

Should I Shock hot tub after filling?

After filling the hot tub with fresh water, or if the tub has heavy usage, you will want to use a chlorine shock. Shock is a sanitizer that kills living organisms, bacteria and other water contaminants. The downside to using chlorine is that you must wait at least eight hours before using the hot tub.

Can you just use chlorine tablets in a hot tub?

There are two main sizes of chlorine tablet on the market. ... Due to the water capacity, we do not reccomend using large 200g swimming pool tablets in a hot tub as they will lead to high levels of chlorine which could cause damage to components. Use 20g chlorine tablets only in hot tubs.

What happens if you have too much chlorine in your hot tub?

If theres too much chlorine it will vaporise and form gas that floats just above the surface of the water. If this vapor is inhaled it can inflame airways and exacerbate certain breathing conditions. Read more What Temperature Should My Spa Pool be at and Why?

What's the best chlorine for a hot tub?

Sodium dichlor is the only chlorine product recommended for hot tubs because it has a neutral pH and doesn't need to be stabilized.

Do you need chlorine and bromine in a hot tub?

Remember, you need either Chlorine or Bromine - just using shock, or some other system, such as an ionizer or an ozonator alone, will NOT continually sanitize your hot tub.

How often should I add bromine to my hot tub?

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).

Do you need to shock a bromine spa?

If you are sanitizing your spa with bromine, you should shock your spa with Spa Selections Non-Chlorine Shock Oxidizer on a regular basis to oxidize the waste out of the water and reduce foaming.

How do you shock a hot tub?

What happens when you mix bromine and chlorine in a hot tub?

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.

Why is my bromine hot tub cloudy?

Low Sanitizer Chlorine or bromine are added to hot tub water to prevent bacteria growth and kill other things that you don't want in your water. ... When your sanitizer is low, it can cause cloudy water.

How often should you put chemicals in your hot tub?

That's basically it for maintaining quality hot tub water on a daily and weekly basis. To limit your use of chemicals, you should be cleaning your filters at least once per month and then every six months completely drain your spa and refill it with fresh clean water and replace the Ecopur filter element.

Why does my hot tub go slimy?

What causes hot tub slime? Slime can be caused by a build-up of bacteria and microorganisms, known as biofilm. This can sometimes be seen and felt on your hot tub interior or can build up undetected in plumbing. If you are suffering from cloudy water or water odour, you may have slime in your pipes.