Table of Contents
Chlorine works faster to kill contaminants but for a shorter period of time, as it dissipates faster. Bromine kills contaminants more slowly but for a longer period of time; plus, it can help keep water chemistry more balanced due to its low pH, meaning less chemical adjusting is needed.
Which is better bromine or chlorine?
If you have a spa, bromine has a lot of advantages over using chlorine. It may cost a little bit more, but it lasts longer and does a much better job than chlorine at killing bacteria, especially at high temperatures and high pH levels.
Why is bromine better than chlorine?
Bromine: Is a very reactive element, though not as reactive as chlorine, so it kills more slowly than chlorine. Bromine also has a lower pH than chlorine, so it can help keep your overall water chemistry more balanced, which means less adjusting and finagling for you.
Can I switch from chlorine to bromine?
Switching from Chlorine to Bromine? To switch from chlorine to bromine, one simply needs to stop using chlorine tablets and begin using bromine tablets. If you use a tablet feeder or chlorinator, it should be replaced, so that chlorine residue does not come into contact with bromine, which could be dangerous.
Can you just use bromine in a hot tub?
Is bromine OK for a hot tub? An alternative chlorine, bromine can be used to keep hot tub water clean. However, bromine works differently than chlorine and is not the best choice for use with mineral systems. Bromine breaks up the particles in the water by ionizing the water.
Is chlorine better than bromine in hot tubs?
Bromine works better at higher temperatures than chlorine. Above 75°F, bromine remains stable, whereas chlorine is more effective in temperatures as low as 65°F. This makes bromine a better choice for hot tubs and spas, and an unheated pool will be better served by the use of chlorine.
What happens if you mix chlorine and bromine?
When you add bromine to a chlorine pool, on the other hand, the bromine does not go away but builds up over time, creating a chlorine demand. Therefore, when you shock the pool with chlorine, the residual bromine will convert the chlorine into, you guessed it, bromine.
Can you use chlorine shock in a bromine hot tub?
You can still use a chlorine shock even if you use a bromine sanitiser, however, you should never mix chemicals dry. Add the chlorine shock after a water change or heavy use and wait for the chlorine level to reduce before adding your bromine.
How long does bromine last in hot tub?
How Much Bromine to Put in A Hot Tub. You should ensure that your hot tub bromine level is always between 3-5ppm (parts per million. The addition of bromine will depend upon usage and bathing habits. It could be daily or every 2-3 days (for 3ppm add 12g per 1500 litres).
What are the side effects of bromine?
Breathing bromine gas could cause you to cough, have trouble breathing, get a headache, have irritation of your mucous membranes (inside your mouth, nose, etc.), be dizzy, or have watery eyes. Getting bromine liquid or gas on your skin could cause skin irritation and burns.
Can you switch from chlorine to bromine without changing the water?
You simply balance your water levels and start adding bromine instead of chlorine. Because chlorine activates bromine, you’ll need to periodically shock your pool with household bleach to rejuvenate your bromine and keep it at the right levels.
Do you need to shock a bromine spa?
If you are sanitizing your spa with bromine, you should shock your spa with Spa Selections Non-Chlorine Shock Oxidizer on a regular basis to oxidize the waste out of the water and reduce foaming.
How often do you put bromine tablets in hot tub?
Spa & Hot Tub Directions Adjust tablet feeder or brominator to obtain an active bromine residual of at least 2 ppm. Maintain spa by adding 3 tablets per 300 gallons every 5 – 7 days or as needed to maintain an active bromine residual of 2 ppm at all times.
Does bromine lower pH?
Does Bromine affect pH level? Bromine has a low pH of around 4, and using bromine tablets will slowly lower pH and alkalinity over time, requiring additions of a base chemical to raise pH and alkalinity. The same can be said for chlorine tablets, which have a pH even lower, around 3.
What happens if you put too much bromine in a hot tub?
When they are too high in a hot tub this can be uncomfortable for hot tub owners to sit in. High bromine/chlorine levels can be very irritating on a person’s skin, eyes and respiratory system. It can cause red itchy skin, red itchy eyes, and effect the lungs in a negative way.
How do you maintain a bromine hot tub?
Add sodium bromide to your spa, following the label instructions, each time you drain and refill. Use spa shock after building your bromide bank, and weekly thereafter, to activate bromine. Use bromine tablets in a small floater, to help maintain bromide and bromine levels.
Why did Canada ban bromine?
In its most recent reevaluation (all pesticides in Canada are regularly reevaluated for safety), the government deemed the risk to human health from the misuse of sodium bromide by consumers too dangerous to continue to have it available to individual Canadians.
Do you need both chlorine and bromine in a hot tub?
Summary. Both chlorine and bromine are sanitizers that work in different ways to keep your water free of contaminants. Regular use of either chlorine or bromine will help keep your hot tub clean. Either way, you will need to shock your water every now and then to keep your water clean and clear.
Does bromine show up on chlorine test strips?
Strips that only test free bromine can falsely show the need to add bromine. Often, there is plenty of combined bromine still present in the water. Chlorine Testing – Chlorine testing is a different story. Only free chlorine (the form of chlorine you add to the water) is a good sanitizer.
