Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: matthewc on December 27, 2004, 09:06:48 am
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Hi Guys
I need your help!
I went in my tub last night with the wife and kids and all was well. However today I have gone outside to do my weekly shock and clean down and to my horror my water is green. The Bromine levels are a little low but everything else is fine. What can cause my water to turn green overnight?
Please help.
Matt
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Matt,
Use the search tool and do a search on "Green"......
It should show you some threads with your exact problem...
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Thanks, I will give it a go.
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I have read a few threads but am still a bit confused. Am right that the green water is as a result of my Bromine level being low, and that if I shock and add more Bromine it will be OK? Or do I have to change the water?
#Matt
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I would test and adjust pH and TA first, then shock with Dichlor if you have it. Put in a couple of dry ounces.
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Chas
I don't have Dichlor, will non chlorine shock do the same job?
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It may - try a couple of ounces, and run the jets with the cover open for ten minutes or so. Then look to see if the green is gone. If not, I would plan a trip to the spa store today...
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Chas
I live in the UK and have never seen Dichlor before. What exactly is it? In the UK we seem to just have Chlorine and Non Chlorine shock.
Matt
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I would say that you need to add granular chlorine right away. My bet is that your water has turned green because of insufficient sanitizer. Dichlor is simply a stabalized granular chlorine. I would put 2 capfulls in your spa while running the jets with the cover at least half off for 1/2 an hour. In a couple of hours test your water. If your chlorine/bromine level is not reading at least 5 add another cap.
BTW... it is not uncommon for spa water to go terrible overnight if you use the spa with insufficient sanitizer. Remember when you and your family get into the water your bodies are releasing bacteria and lots of other stuff. If your sanitizer level is low, it will not keep up with the introduction of these materials. I recommend that you shock your spa with either a granular chlorine or non-chlorine shock after you have a bather load of three or more people.
Hope that helps. If you have any other questions, send me a note and I will be glad to help.
James
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Chas
I live in the UK and have never seen Dichlor before. What exactly is it? In the UK we seem to just have Chlorine and Non Chlorine shock.
Matt
Dichlor is simply the abbreviated term we use for spa chlorine (trichlor is for pools).
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Thanks Guys
I didn't think i was able to add granular Chlorine if I am using Bromine tablets in a floater. Am i correct?
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You can. No problem. Just don't ever mix them together in their dry form.
The bromine in the spa will quickly convert the granular chlorine into bromine anyway.
Granular chlorine will introduce sanitizer instantly though, and that is what you need right now.
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You can add them together, BUT why add another sanitizer when you are already using Bromine as your sanitizer????? Make sure your floater is filled, and open it up more to relase more bromine into the spa, then shock with about 2-4 onces of non-chlorine shock to ACTIVATE the bromine and oxidize off any contaminants in the spa. Why spend money on something that is redundant. Stay with the system/routine you are on. Just remember to shock after heavy periods of use.
Ok, here's a rant: Why as professionals must we feel the need to alter someones spa care routine when it has worked fine for them other then one or two select instances???? Sometimes I feel we forget that keeping things simple is better. I can see where customers can get more confused by listening to us. "You're on bromine??? and you shock with non chlor???? it's green, you say???? shock with dichlor!!!!" yeah that makes A LOT of sense people!!!!
Why have someone go out and buy a product they don't need, when they have what they need right at their home already??? Why have them purchase more products then they need, this will ultimately lead them to more confusion over how to care for their spa. Unfortunately this is a downside to our industry. I've seen it happen far too often where a competitor is quick to criticize how someone cares for their spa instead of sitting back and LISTENING to the customer and how they currently care for their spa and what exactly the problems they are having are. And also what products they currently have at home, and how they at present care for their spa.
I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is when I see a customer bring in their bucket of supplies they purchased elsewhere. Only to find: a nature 2 stick, a bucket of bromine tabs, dichlor, spa metal out, chlorine test strips, spa down, defoamer, etc..... And I'm not frustrated with the customer, it's the illadvised people they bought the stuff from. It's truly amazing how much business you gain when you properly educate your customers on how to care for their pool/spa, instead of just trying to sell them a bunch of crap they don't need.
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The bromine routine that I learned was to shock weekly with non chlorine shock and to add dichlor if there is a heavy bather load or the bromine levels get down to zero. IMO, Chas recommendation was correct.
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Matt,
Your getting pretty sound advice here however I do have a question. You had posted earlier that you were thinking about changing water.... Did you do that? Did this happen right after the water change?
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Hi Stuart
No I didn't do the water change, based on the advice from you guys. The only thing I have done different is to do my weekly shock a few days later than normal and let my Bromine level slip a bit. I think that coupled with a heavy bather the night before it turned green is probably the answer. I have to say that although some of the advice varies slightly, it is great to have you guys at another computer ready to help.
I have shocked today and made sure that my Bromine level is good and adjusted my PH and TA levels to be spot on. I will now wait till day light and see if things have improved. If not I will try a second shock.
Matt#
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The bromine routine that I learned was to shock weekly with non chlorine shock and to add dichlor if there is a heavy bather load or the bromine levels get down to zero. IMO, Chas recommendation was correct.
I third that motion. That is what I direct all Bromine users to do as needed. I'm admittedly not a fan of bromine systems in general but as long as dichlor is used as a crutch it works fine and users are always surprised to learn this helpful hint.
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Depending on the brand you are using... usually there is chlorine in the bromine. Look at the %'s of ingredients chlorine is labeled as sodium dichlor...
Some bromines (Brilliance) doesn't contain dichlor and usually has less odor. Has anyone else noticed this.
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I have now shoched twice and added Chlorine granuals, but my water is still green. I guess this means I need to change the water? I supose I have learn't the hard way that you need to keep on top of things.
Matt
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I have now shoched twice and added Chlorine granuals, but my water is still green. I guess this means I need to change the water? I supose I have learn't the hard way that you need to keep on top of things.
Matt
Add more chlorine, leave the cover open and run the jets for about an hour. It will clear up...
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Stuart
I know I shouldn't be suprised, but you were right. I went out to turn the temperature down to save on Electricity until I could drain the tub, and to my delight the water is crystal clear. I guess the last blast of Chlorine your suggested did the trick.
Thanks for all of your help.
Matt
P.S. I think I will change the water soon anyway, after reading a few threads about the pleasures of fresh water it seems like a good idea.
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Now that I have shocked twice and added loads of Chlorine my PH level has gone through the roof. I normally have to add PH minus due to the local water, but I have never seen the pad on the test strip this dark before. Is this normal? MY Bromine level is also very high at the moment, but I expected this.
Matt
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Run the jets again with the cover open and the air system on. This will help drop some of the bromine, your PH is reading askew because of the high bromine content.
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Yes, this is totally normal. It will come down.
BTW, the exact same thing happened to me, and continued to happen until I switched to Chlorine from Bromine. As Chas and others have mentioned on this board, Bromine is just a way for the dealer to get you to spend more. Chlorine, in my experience, is just as, if not a better sanitizer, you use less of it, and it costs a lot less.
You may continue to get the green water thingy happening, so I'd switch to chlorine on your next water change.