What is Free chlorine?

[Summitman]

According to Brilliance book, the reading you need to be concerned with is the "Brilliance Sanitizer" which is total bromine.  Maintain a level of 2-4 parts per million.  

You can ignore the free chlorine test on the strip.

you have to get a free chlorine reading, along with the proper reading on the total bromine pad to be doing it properly.  The free chlorineis increased by adding the "mps" or Oxidizer which its called under the brilliance label.

[hottubdan]

You will get the "free chlorine" reading after adding the MPS.  Just to be clear though, it is actually not reading free chlorine.  The litmus paper is reacting to the MPS so you are getting a reading.  You will get the reading immediately after adding the MPS.  What I don't know is how long you will get a reading.  If you test after several hours will you still get a reading?

[Summitman]

yes, you should always get a reading if you are adding enough mps at enough frequent times.  Without adding mps the water wont be properly sanitized and will become cloudy after uses.

[hottubdan]

yes, you should always get a reading if you are adding enough mps at enough frequent times.  Without adding mps the water wont be properly sanitized and will become cloudy after uses.

Absolutely correct.  MPS needed to activate bromine.

[t6texan]

Ok i reshocked the spa today with oxidizer.  Ran it for a good hour and rechecked chems with the test strip.

Total Bromine Read 10+ or high
freechlorine read 5 high ok range
total akalinity read 80 low ok range
ph red 7.8 high end of ok range
calcium hardness read250 low ok range

Now what do i do ? The bromine is super high!  I think i need to add about 5 gallons of water to the spa or should i just start over with new fresh water?

[hottubdan]

How old is the water?  Take dispenser out or turn it down.  It won't hurt you.

[t6texan]

How old is the water?  Take dispenser out or turn it down.  It won't hurt you.

Im not sure as to how old the water is id guess 2 months going on three.