You can switch to using chlorine to reactivate your bromine any time. But to truly switch to a chlorine pool you need to do a complete water replacement. With a fairly small above ground pool that is practical to do, especially if you take down the pool anyway over the winter.
You will have to drain as adding chlorine to your current tub will just convert the bromide back to bromine. The bromide will dissipate eventually but take an extremely long time to do so, so a water change now is the only way to quickly convert from bromine to chlorine.
Whether you choose chlorine or bromine, DO NOT: mix them together in the water. This can also cause a dangerous chemical reaction. If you're going to switch from one to the other, you'll need to drain and clean your hot tub, and do a line flush.
If you switch from chlorine tablets to bromine tablets and, you will need to purchase a new brominator because mixing chlorine and bromine can cause a dangerous chemical reaction. Pool Bromine also does not dissolve quickly enough to use a floating chlorinator, use a bromine feeder.
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.
Choosing between chlorine and bromine for your hot tub
But how do you pick between chlorine and bromine? You should pick the product that works best with the filtration system. For While bromine can be a suitable alternative for those with sensitive skin, chlorine is best for Master Spas owners.
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.
Chemicals in your hot tub water can be a delicate balance. So it's crucial to maintain the levels of pH, Alkalinity, and Chlorine or Bromine, also known as sanitizers. You should wait 12 hours before entering the hot tub when you've added either chlorine or bromine to allow it to take effect properly.
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. Spa Selections Bromine is a two-part system, including Spa Selections Brominating Tablets and Spa Selections Brom-Start.
The best way to reduce bromine concentration is to allow the bromine to outgas, or evaporate, naturally over time. If, however, you want to lower the level more quickly, you can dilute it by draining some water from the spa or removing a few gallons using a bucket, and then replacing it with fresh water.
DO NOT mix chlorine and bromine together in either a dry state or within the water as this can cause a dangerous reaction. If you are considering switching from one sanitiser to another you should always clean and drain your hot tub including a line flush.
The bottom line is that over-shocking is possible, but being responsible with your chemicals and timing will help you to avoid it as often as possible!
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.
Bromine. Use chlorine shock. But, just as with chlorine, you can also use non-chlorine shock for all the same reasons. Again, we recommend sticking with chlorine shock if you have a high bather load.
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 many bromine tablets should you put in your spa? Some bromine dispensers can hold up to 6 tablets, but in most cases you should start with just 1-2 to avoid your bromine levels climbing too high.
Chlorine – The most popular hot tub sanitiser, chlorine is fast acting and effective at killing bacteria. Our chlorine hot tub maintenance guide explains more about how chlorine works. Bromine – Ideal for those with sensitive skin, bromine reacts slower than chlorine and is effective at killing bacteria.
Regular hot tub shocking is inevitable to keep your water clean and safe for use. Dead skin and other elements like hair may end up dropping in the hot tub, leaving the tub in a mess. It is essential to shock the hot tub frequently – at least once every week.
Due to the body oils and other contaminants constantly put into a swimming pool, the water requires regular sanitation from specialized chemicals. Bromine acts as a sanitizer in pool water, killing bacteria, body oils and other forms of contaminants. A bromine level that is too high, though, is not desirable.
4. Can I use a Bromine comparator to test a Chlorine pool? Yes, DPD and OTO undergo the same reaction with bromine as with chlorine, but the color intensities produced are different. To convert from bromine to chlorine, simply divide the value on the bromine comparator by 2.25.
A safe level is between 2.5 and 4.0 parts per million (ppm). Because it is a bleach-like chemical, higher concentrations of bromine can cause the above-mentioned skin and respiratory reactions.
A shock treatment takes care of this problem by oxidizing the organics in the water before they can feed the bacteria. It also helps get rid of sanitizer residue that remains after the sanitizer has done its job. Generally it is recommended that you shock your hot tub once a week – more often if it's seeing heavy use.
The primary culprit of foam is failing to sanitize your hot tub water weekly or after heavy use, such as a hot tub party. Lotions, cleansers, makeup and even laundry detergent leave our bodies and swimsuits when we soak in water. Foam will appear if the pH balance of your hot tub water is off.
Use fresh, high quality test strips. Excessively high bromine or chlorine levels can result in false pH and TA readings.