Bromine is more stable than chlorine, especially in warm water, making it more commonly used in spas, whereas chlorine is more often used in pools. The exception to this is ultraviolet (UV) light, which destroys both chemicals, but bromine breaks down more quickly.
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.
Bromine is much better for people with sensitivities because it is much less irritating to both skin and eyes. However, if an allergy to chlorine is an issue, bromine will not work either because it is also chlorine-based. The only options left are a peroxide-based system or silver or copper-based ion generators.
Can you switch from chlorine to bromine? You can switch from chlorine to bromine sanitizer in a hot tub. In fact, it is actually easier to go from chlorine to bromine than the other way around.
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.
As long as you follow the manufacturer's instructions for both the hot tub and the bromine, you can use bromine regularly for treating and sanitizing your spa. However, it may be wise to use bromine granules instead of bromine tablets. This will lessen your direct interaction with the chemicals.
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.
Even with the fact that you need less, bromine is still a much more expensive way to sanitize your pool than chlorine is. When considering the difference between bromine and chlorine, just remember that hot tub smell and the way bromine lingers clearly shows the difference between the two.
Bromine is a chemical disinfectant that can be used in swimming pools instead of chlorine. It is also commonly used in hot tubs and spas, because it can better tolerate the heat than chlorine.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Chlorine shock or non-chlorine shock can be used. An interesting thing happens when you shock a bromine pool. The addition of hypochlorous acid reactivates bromide ions, converting them into 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.
The reason why trichlor tablets are so expensive and why they are sold out at many pool supply stores is because of the national trichlor supply shortage.
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. The way they do it is different, but the results are similar.
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.
Di-chlor is the best kind of chlorine for use in spas although it's a little pricier than other options. It is nearly pH neutral and doesn't need added stabilizer such as cyanuric acid.
Chlorine tablets are very cost effective and arguably the cheapest way to kill bacteria in a hot tub. Tablets offer a good solution for those who don't use a hot tub for period as they ensure chlorine is dispensed slowly over time.
Hot tubs and spas are a popular stand-alone addition to a home or as part of a swimming pool upgrade. But maintaining clean water in a hot tub isn't entirely the same as in a pool. You have two main ways of killing bacteria and maintaining ph levels in your hot tub water. You can use chlorine or bromine tablets.
Spa & Hot Tub Directions
Introduce 3 tablets per 300 gallons of spa water with the use of a floating tablet feeder or automatic brominator installed on the spa equipment. Adjust tablet feeder or brominator to obtain an active bromine residual of at least 2 ppm.
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.
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.
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.