Hot Tub Shock – What’s the big deal and why do I need it?

Most hot tub water quality issues can be resolved by shocking the water. The different products and types can leave your head spinning, so it’s time to clear the air, or water rather.

What is Shock Treatment?

Shock is a compound that breaks down organic waste and contaminants that cause stinky and/or cloudy water. Most times, fully restoring water quality and clarity is as simple as shocking.

There are 3 main functions of shock:

1. Removing organic contaminants – things like sweat, cosmetics, dead skin cells, bits of poo, and anything your body brings into the tub.
2. Killing bacteria – Hot tubs are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, both innocuous and really bad stuff like Pseudomonas and Legionnaires to name just a couple.
3. Removal of bromamines and chloramines – These are what make spas smell very strongly of chlorine or bromine.

By preforming these 3 functions, your main sanitizer can perform at peak efficiency.

Non-Chlorine Shock

MPS, or monopersulfate (potassium peroxymonosulfate to be precise) compound, like Oxy Spa Non-Chlorine Shock, is an oxygen-based shock. Many prefer this formula due to its odor-free nature, but it’s important to note it’s not a sanitizer.

Oxy-Spa breaks down oils, perspiration, lotion, cosmetic residues, and inanimate organic contaminants for clear, clean water.

When using Bromine as your sanitizer, the MPS compound in OxySpa also activates the bromide ion to become bromine. It then rapidly becomes the active sanitizer: hypobromous acid, in spa water. Upon reaction with contaminants, hypobromous acid converts to bromide, ready to reactivate with the next dose of Oxy Spa shock.

Our OxySpa non-chlorine shock is 100% compatible with chlorine, bromine, Cleanwater Blue, Nature2, Frog products, and dichlor shock. It is the ideal primary shock to use with these products regularly.

Dichlor Shock

Also known as chlorine, sodium dichlor, or Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione dihydrate (let’s just stick with dichlor, yeah?) is the main ingredient in most brands of hot tub shock. Dichlor is both a sanitizer and a shock, but due to its granular form, we do not recommend using it as a primary sanitizer.

Shocking with dichlor is a fast, easy way to clear up many problems like musty odor, cloudiness, and slimy water.

Dichlor is 100% compatible with bromine, Cleanwater Blue, Nature2 and Frog products, as well as non-chlorine shock. We recommend it as a startup shock with these products, and for quick water problem correction.

When to Shock

It’s good practice to shock with dichlor when you refill your spa. This ensures all that freshwater is starting life sanitized. Beyond that, regular shock maintenance with non-chlorine shock is acceptable.

Other times for shock treatment include before or after heavy use, or after a period of neglect. Whenever a dose of non-chlorine shock needs an extra boost, dichlor will usually provide it and clear up problems.

Get in the habit of shocking the spa after each use, or once a week if you’re not using it.