First what a nice son to give you a bromeliad. The most common cause of brown tips on this houseplant is lack of water and low humidity. This tropical plant likes more water than most houseplants and on dry summer days the indoor humidity can be low enough to brown the tips of the leaves. Try moving the plant to a bathroom with a shower or near the kitchen sink so you will keep it moist. Setting the pot on a tray of pebbles and water will also increase the humidity. You are correct in that the interior or cup of this plant needs to be filled with water but some growers suggest you use distilled water as tap water could have chemicals that add to the possibility of brown leaf tips. Hope this helps and Keep Growing, Marianne Binetti