At the sight of green water, you would probably think it was the reflection of light playing a little mind game on you because the hot tub water is still clear. You had to confirm it again, and you have now seen that it is actually a real issue of green water.
Your pool has been infested with algae or dissolved metals. But don’t worry because it can be easily removed, albeit laboriously. You just have to follow a few precautions and steps to get your hot tub back to normal.
But first, you must understand what caused the hot tub to turn green because, aside from algae, there are several factors that contribute to this. These are:
- Your sanitizer level has dropped, and you do not add it often enough or in the right quantity.
- Your hot tub was left uncovered and UV rays from the sun have tampered with the chlorine or bromine level, especially if it was left outside.
- Your swimsuit or accessories were used in another body of water that was infected by algae and is still used in your hot tub.
- Mineral and metal compounds in your water have just become excessive and reactive.
Knowing the cause is a step closer to figuring out the solutions and preventive measures to green water in the hot tub. You can follow these to prevent and cure green water.
- Always cover the hot tub when not in use, even when it is placed inside.
- Always test the water at least twice every week and add the required sanitizer to your hot tub every time it’s level drops.
- Make sure you wash your swimsuits thoroughly after using them in another body of water before using them in your own spa.
- Check your filters, pumps, and equipment. Make sure that lurking algae and bacteria are always cleaned off.
Those are the easy steps to prevent green water in the hot tub, but first you would have to deal with the present situation by:
- Deep cleaning of the hot tub
- Washing the filters or replacing them if necessary
- Using diluted bleach or vinegar to clean
- Refilling the hot tub with fresh water
- Cleaning the cover
- Shocking the hot tub
- Testing and balancing the water
What color should the water be in a hot tub?
Generally, there are two major colors of hot tub water: green and blue. The main thing is to know the color you want your spa water to be.
One of the determinants of water color is the dye you use in the finish. Use a green, tan, or brown finish if you want a green water. Add a white, blue, or gray finish for a blue water.
Some other factors that influence the color of the water in your hot tub are as follows:
- Exposure to sunlight: this makes the shadow of solid structures change the water’s color to a darker shade.
- Water quality: Algal bloom and metal levels can both affect the color of your water.
- Hot tub structure and environment
- The color of the background you choose.
In any case, regardless of the color you choose to keep, the water should always be crystal clear. You also do not want your hot tub to look very uninviting by keeping it in a location that affects the color of the water.
Why is my hot tub green but the chemicals are balanced?
The sight of green water in your hot tub can be exasperating, especially when you do not know the cause and have spent many hours trying to clean and figure out the reason for the change in color after checking all possible causes.
After testing and confirming that the water is balanced, you should also check your filter and other plumbing to be sure that there is no algae trying to thrive.
Another thing to look for is the presence of metals and minerals in the hot tub, such as copper, which can be introduced into your hot tub via your water source, such as a well or even your plumbing equipment. However, the comforting news is that it is even easier to fix when compared to an algae bloom. Just add some liquid metal remover to the tub and use a clarifier.
Is it safe to use a hot tub when the water is green?
Your hot tub water must have been affected by copper impurities, or most likely algae, to have turned green. Why would you want to jump into a green hot tub? There are other ways of relaxing than intentionally entering contaminated water.
You are putting yourself at risk and vulnerable to skin rashes and lesions, sore throats, ear infections, and redness of the eyes. Most of the time, they do not affect you immediately, but your health is in great danger if you consider swimming in a green spa.
Logically, a green pool is considered dirty and should not even invite you, especially if your immune system is very weak to fight diseases when the water gets into your nose, ear, or mouth. First of all, test the water and get rid of the problem before swimming.
Why is there copper in my hot tub?
You must have noticed green hair or stained swimming suits after swimming. Many people think it is caused by too much chlorine, but chlorine can not be the cause because, after all, it is a bleach meant to change the color of water to normal. The main cause is copper.
Although copper is found in most water sources like the tap and well, it is usually in small quantities. Even after topping the hot tub after water loss due to evaporation, copper is still added, and since it is non-biodegradable or able to go off on its own, it begins to build up in the hot tub.
Another way copper enters your pool is through algaecide. This is usually made with a special ingredient called a chelating agent, which prevents people and the hot tub vessels from getting stained.
The copper algaecide that contains these ingredients is said to have been chelated. However, sunlight and high levels of chlorine or bromine can affect this copper-based algaecide and make it become oxidized, increasing the copper in the hot tub.
When the pH of your water is low, the copper metals in plumbing such as the heater sinks and headers, bronze and brass areas of the pump begin to go through a process known as corrosion, dissolving the copper metal from the equipment and mixing it with the water in the hot tub.
What do you do when your hot tub water turns green but clear?
This is one of the most confusing parts of being a hot tub owner when you try to figure out the problem with your hot tub by testing and using past experience but do not seem to find any solution.
Firstly, you should note that if your water is green and still clear, it does not mean that algae is not blooming in it. Check the chemical level of the water and balance it.
However, most of the time, your water might turn green because of metal compounds in the hot tub. You can treat the water by either draining completely, washing, replacing if necessary, and super cleaning the equipment and components of the hot tub.
How do I test my hot tub for metals?
Many test strips produced do not test for metals directly when compared to the chlorine, pH, and alkalinity testers.
To test for metals, you just have to get a sample of the water from the hot tub into a clean container and take it to your local hot tub dealer to test for you.
How do you get metals out of spa water?
If you have stubborn and consistent high metal in your hot tub even after treating, check your water source or ask your hot tub dealer or maintenance to help you with an alternative or water treatment.
Follow these simple steps to get rid of the metals in your hot tub.
- Drain the water completely.
- Wash the hot tub and its components with bleach or sanitizer.
- Change rusted plumbing components used for the hot tub.
- Use a metal remover to treat the fresh water if the metal comes from your water source.
To get metals out of spa water, you would also have to first test and know the level it is at, and then remove some of the water in the tub and replace it with fresh water, although this method is done only if the cause is not from your water source.
Can I use iron-out in my spa?
Most of the major problems regarding metals in the hot tub are caused by rusted or corroded components of the hot tub like the heater sink and head, filter brass and other metal plumbing.
Iron out is recommended to remove stubborn rust and stains, reducing the need for scrubbing, especially in areas of the tub where the hands cannot reach.
So, if you have problems with rust stains, which are totally inevitable for objects in constant contact with air and water, you can use metal-out to prevent or solve them.
Does filtration remove heavy metals?
Heavy metals like cadmium, arsenic, chromium, lead, and so many others are considered a very big treat for hot tubs and contribute majorly to their damage. So, if you notice rusted or broken hoses, pipes, or components in your tub, you should know that it was most likely caused by the presence of heavy metals.
There are so many methods of removing heavy metals from the hot tub or pool, and filtration is one of them. especially for filters that contain active ceramics.
Reverse osmosis, kinetic degradation fluxion, and ion exchange resin are some of the other methods.
Does high alkalinity cause green water?
The reason why your pool or hot tub water is green is because of the presence of algae. These algae tend to do well in an environment that has high alkalinity.
High alkalinity affects your water’s chlorine or bromine sanitization power by increasing the pH of the water, and when the pH of the water is increased, chlorine or bromine begins to decrease.
In summary, high alkalinity indirectly makes your water green by providing a suitable environment for algal bloom.
How do I keep my hot tub water crystal clear?
Every hot tub owner’s goal is to always have clear and clean water without having to go through much stress. The key is constant maintenance.
- Always test the water at least twice a week.
- Do not hesitate to balance the water once you notice any changes.
- Use the recommended quantity and quality of chemicals for the hot tub.
- Avoid using detergents in the hot tubs and, instead of washing swimsuits with soap, just rinse to avoid foam in the hot tub.
- Have a cleaning routine.
Achieving crystal clear water is not as hard as it sounds. You just need to set some standards in the hot tub, like no eating or drinking, showering before entering, and other strict but helpful rules.
