Low Bromine Reading

[cfj]

I recently refilled my hot tub and I'm using a frogger system with the floating mineral and bromine cartridges. When checking the levels with the insta test strip (FCI, Alk, pH and TH) I'm getting a consistently low (actually 0) reading for free chlorine(bromine)on the test strip. It's been this way now for 10 days and I have the bromine cartridge turned wide open. When I used a nature 2 test strip it reads high for MPS. Both types of test strips show the ph and alk in the normal range. total hardness is also a little low on the Insta test strip. Thoughts or suggestions?

[Hillbilly Hot Tub]

I recently refilled my hot tub and I'm using a frogger system with the floating mineral and bromine cartridges. When checking the levels with the insta test strip (FCI, Alk, pH and TH) I'm getting a consistently low (actually 0) reading for free chlorine(bromine)on the test strip. It's been this way now for 10 days and I have the bromine cartridge turned wide open. When I used a nature 2 test strip it reads high for MPS. Both types of test strips show the ph and alk in the normal range. total hardness is also a little low on the Insta test strip. Thoughts or suggestions?

Shock the tub with MPS or chlorine to re-establish the used bromine. Even with the frog, you will have to shock the tub if it is used a lot. The mps(nature 2 ) test strip is testing for the oxidizing power in the tub, not the sanitizer. It is going to give you a false reading, also, with test strips, if they got damp or are out of date, they will give a bad reading.

[cfj]

I recently refilled my hot tub and I'm using a frogger system with the floating mineral and bromine cartridges. When checking the levels with the insta test strip (FCI, Alk, pH and TH) I'm getting a consistently low (actually 0) reading for free chlorine(bromine)on the test strip. It's been this way now for 10 days and I have the bromine cartridge turned wide open. When I used a nature 2 test strip it reads high for MPS. Both types of test strips show the ph and alk in the normal range. total hardness is also a little low on the Insta test strip. Thoughts or suggestions?

Shock the tub with MPS or chlorine to re-establish the used bromine. Even with the frog, you will have to shock the tub if it is used a lot. The mps(nature 2 ) test strip is testing for the oxidizing power in the tub, not the sanitizer. It is going to give you a false reading, also, with test strips, if they got damp or are out of date, they will give a bad reading.

[cfj]

I recently refilled my hot tub and I'm using a frogger system with the floating mineral and bromine cartridges. When checking the levels with the insta test strip (FCI, Alk, pH and TH) I'm getting a consistently low (actually 0) reading for free chlorine(bromine)on the test strip. It's been this way now for 10 days and I have the bromine cartridge turned wide open. When I used a nature 2 test strip it reads high for MPS. Both types of test strips show the ph and alk in the normal range. total hardness is also a little low on the Insta test strip. Thoughts or suggestions?

Shock the tub with MPS or chlorine to re-establish the used bromine. Even with the frog, you will have to shock the tub if it is used a lot. The mps(nature 2 ) test strip is testing for the oxidizing power in the tub, not the sanitizer. It is going to give you a false reading, also, with test strips, if they got damp or are out of date, they will give a bad reading.

I've tried shocking it several times but still get a reading of 0. Tub has only been used once in the past two weeks.

[waterbear]

It takes a while for enough bromide to dissolve in the water after a fresh refill until a "bromide bank" is built up in the water. Until there are enough bromide ions in the water the oxidizer, in your case MPS, has nothing to oxidize into bromine sanitizer or hypobromous acid. That is why freshly filled bromine spas need to have sodium bromide added to them on each fill (1/2 oz. per 100 gallons). That way you will have a bromine spa from the start!

If you don't know what sodium bromide is here are some examples:

http://www.leisuretimespa.com/TechDataInfo.asp?authID=886738101&ProductID=165

http://www.poolgeek.com/HTH-Spa-Brom-Start-P3887.aspx?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=HTH%20Spa%20Brom%20Start&utm_campaign=googlebase

[ProTip]

It takes a while for enough bromide to dissolve in the water after a fresh refill until a "bromide bank" is built up in the water. Until there are enough bromide ions in the water the oxidizer, in your case MPS, has nothing to oxidize into bromine sanitizer or hypobromous acid. That is why freshly filled bromine spas need to have sodium bromide added to them on each fill (1/2 oz. per 100 gallons). That way you will have a bromine spa from the start!

Before I start a new thread, I'll temporarily hijack this one...how long is "a while" and is it safe to use until the residual is established, assuming all other factors are within normal ranges? I've been working on getting stable bromine readings for two weeks.

[swagmaster]

I've had the same problem with the frog, as soon as you use sodium bromide that will build your bank, then when you shock with MPS, you should get readings.

[waterbear]

It takes a while for enough bromide to dissolve in the water after a fresh refill until a "bromide bank" is built up in the water. Until there are enough bromide ions in the water the oxidizer, in your case MPS, has nothing to oxidize into bromine sanitizer or hypobromous acid. That is why freshly filled bromine spas need to have sodium bromide added to them on each fill (1/2 oz. per 100 gallons). That way you will have a bromine spa from the start!

Before I start a new thread, I'll temporarily hijack this one...how long is "a while" and is it safe to use until the residual is established, assuming all other factors are within normal ranges? I've been working on getting stable bromine readings for two weeks.

That is why freshly filled bromine spas need to have sodium bromide added to them on each fill (1/2 oz. per 100 gallons). That way you will have a bromine spa from the start!

Hope this answers your question.