Quick Answer
If your hot tub water turned brown after adding bromine, it’s because the sanitizer reacted with metals (like iron or manganese) in your water source. This reaction causes a rusty color and can make test strips read “0” even though bromine is present. The fix: add a metal sequestrant, clean your filters, and rebalance pH before adding more bromine.
Key Points
- Brown water cause – Bromine oxidized metals (iron, manganese, copper) in the water.
- Why test strips read zero – Metal interference, very high sanitizer, or expired strips.
- Quick fix – Stop adding bromine, lower pH slightly (7.0–7.2), add a metal sequestrant, and run the jets/filters.
- Next step – Once metals are bound, shock the tub, clean filters often, and retest with fresh strips or a digital reader.
- Prevention – Use a hose filter when filling, add a metal sequestrant at each refill, purge plumbing if the tub has been sitting.
- Good news – Brown water usually isn’t unsafe, just messy — and fixable.
What’s Happening in Your Hot Tub Water
When bromine is added to a hot tub filled with well water, it often reacts with naturally occurring iron, manganese, or copper. These metals oxidize, changing the water color to brown or orange.
At the same time, the reaction can interfere with test strip accuracy. Some strips even show “zero” bromine if sanitizer levels are too high, metals are interfering, or if the strips are expired. In freshly filled tubs, the bromine bank may also take time to build before readings show up correctly.
Step-by-Step: How to Fix Brown Hot Tub Water
- Stop adding more bromine or chlorine — this will only deepen the color.
- Lower the pH slightly — aim for 7.0–7.2 so metals remain in solution.
- Add a metal sequestrant — products like Metal Gon or Metal Out bind to metals and prevent further discoloration.
- Run jets and filters continuously — circulate the water well and clean filters daily until the water clears.
- Shock the tub — after metals are treated, use a non-chlorine oxidizer to activate the bromide bank and sanitize.
- Test with reliable tools — use new test strips or a digital tester to confirm bromine levels.
- Rebalance — keep pH, alkalinity, and hardness within the recommended range.
How to Prevent Brown Hot Tub Water in the Future
- Use a hose filter or pre-filter when filling from well water.
- Add a metal sequestrant every time you refill your hot tub.
- Purge plumbing lines and clean filters on a regular schedule.
- Test water chemistry often to prevent surprises.
- Replace old test strips and keep a digital reader as backup.
Quick Hot Tub Water Troubleshooting Table
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Brown or rusty water | Bromine oxidized metals | Add sequestrant, filter, clean filters |
| Test strips always show zero | Metals, high sanitizer, expired strips | Use digital reader or new strips |
| Cloudy or foamy water | Organics or dirty filters | Shock water, deep clean filters |
| Sanitizer levels swing high/low | Excess demand from metals/contaminants | Treat metals, rebalance chemistry |
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