Bromine or Chlorine? Which is best for YOUR hot tub?
March 14/2020 There are two different types of sanitizers that are used on a regular basis. Which one is best for your hot tub? Here we will show you the differences between the two so you can make the best decision for you and your family!
Chlorine - the most used system
Chlorine is in the form of a granular powder which gets added each time after use. This type of sanitizer is probably the most widely used throughout the world. It is very easy to dose in a few teaspoons behind you when you are finished using the hot tub each time. It’s important to test your hot tub every couple of days to insure that you chlorine is in the proper range as well as your pH and adjust as needed. The other items that you will need to use with a chlorine system are: non-chlorine shock (1 time per week), water clarifier (1 time per week), metal protectant (each time you refill the hot tub), pH up and pH down (as needed) and you will always need to have test strips on hand.
Myths about chlorine – One of the biggest myths is that it’s very smelly and that it bleaches out your swimsuits and hair. This, however, is only the case if you are not properly maintaining your chlorine level and keeping in an excessive range. When a hot tub is properly sanitized with chlorine, there will be very little evidence of any chlorine smell.
Bromine - the next best thing
Bromine is another type of sanitizer that comes in two different forms; tablets or liquid. In order to use the bromine tablets, you will need to have a bromine feeder that floats in the water at all times. This floater can be adjusted as needed to allow additional bromine to be dissolved at a faster rate. The feeder is nice to have if you go out of town, but you will still need to add a non-chlorine shock in order to keep the bromine level where it should be. Several ounces of non-chlorine shock will need to be added per person after you are finished using the spa, to re-activate the bromine that is in the water. When testing for your bromine level and getting a very low or non-existent level, you will need to shock the hot tub in order to make the sanitizer level increase. You must always keep the bromine floater in the water as well. Most people who have skin reactions or are sensitive to chlorine would then move to bromine as their primary sanitizer.
Myths about bromine tabs – One of the biggest misconceptions about bromine is that you can leave it alone and “not touch it” for a longer period of time. Although this may happen on occasion, it is not traditionally how bromine works. If the shock is not added to “re-activate” the bromine after each use or several times a week, you will end up with a white test strip, indicating there is no bromine in the water. Just because the tablets are dissolving, doesn’t mean that it is giving you the bromine count we are looking for if the bromine has not be “activated” by the non-chlorine shock to work.
Liquid bromine can be added in place of having a floater in the water at all times with the tablets in them. This product will still need to be added several times a week and sometimes after each use, along with a non-chlorine shock, to keep your bromine level at a constant range.
On bromine, you will still need to use all the other same chemicals you would use on a chlorine system including a non-chlorine shock (after each use or several times a week), water clarifier (1 time per week), metal protectant (each time you refill the hot tub), pH up and pH down (as needed) and you will always need to have test strips on hand.
Chlorine is in the form of a granular powder which gets added each time after use. This type of sanitizer is probably the most widely used throughout the world. It is very easy to dose in a few teaspoons behind you when you are finished using the hot tub each time. It’s important to test your hot tub every couple of days to insure that you chlorine is in the proper range as well as your pH and adjust as needed. The other items that you will need to use with a chlorine system are: non-chlorine shock (1 time per week), water clarifier (1 time per week), metal protectant (each time you refill the hot tub), pH up and pH down (as needed) and you will always need to have test strips on hand.
Myths about chlorine – One of the biggest myths is that it’s very smelly and that it bleaches out your swimsuits and hair. This, however, is only the case if you are not properly maintaining your chlorine level and keeping in an excessive range. When a hot tub is properly sanitized with chlorine, there will be very little evidence of any chlorine smell.
Bromine - the next best thing
Bromine is another type of sanitizer that comes in two different forms; tablets or liquid. In order to use the bromine tablets, you will need to have a bromine feeder that floats in the water at all times. This floater can be adjusted as needed to allow additional bromine to be dissolved at a faster rate. The feeder is nice to have if you go out of town, but you will still need to add a non-chlorine shock in order to keep the bromine level where it should be. Several ounces of non-chlorine shock will need to be added per person after you are finished using the spa, to re-activate the bromine that is in the water. When testing for your bromine level and getting a very low or non-existent level, you will need to shock the hot tub in order to make the sanitizer level increase. You must always keep the bromine floater in the water as well. Most people who have skin reactions or are sensitive to chlorine would then move to bromine as their primary sanitizer.
Myths about bromine tabs – One of the biggest misconceptions about bromine is that you can leave it alone and “not touch it” for a longer period of time. Although this may happen on occasion, it is not traditionally how bromine works. If the shock is not added to “re-activate” the bromine after each use or several times a week, you will end up with a white test strip, indicating there is no bromine in the water. Just because the tablets are dissolving, doesn’t mean that it is giving you the bromine count we are looking for if the bromine has not be “activated” by the non-chlorine shock to work.
Liquid bromine can be added in place of having a floater in the water at all times with the tablets in them. This product will still need to be added several times a week and sometimes after each use, along with a non-chlorine shock, to keep your bromine level at a constant range.
On bromine, you will still need to use all the other same chemicals you would use on a chlorine system including a non-chlorine shock (after each use or several times a week), water clarifier (1 time per week), metal protectant (each time you refill the hot tub), pH up and pH down (as needed) and you will always need to have test strips on hand.
What to think about
Unfortunately there are no sanitization systems out on the market today that require no chemicals. Regardless of which system you are using, there will still need to be chemicals used to maintain the proper chemical balance which will prohibit bacteria from forming. If you don’t want the floater in the water at all times, it would be best to stay away from bromine tablets and use either liquid bromine or chlorine. Keep in mind that we NEVER want to mix bromine and chlorine together at the same time. This could cause a bad chemical reaction and the water will more than likely need to be drained. Bromine levels are kept at slightly higher levels than chlorine and usually will have a more definite smell compared to chlorine. Once you have found the perfect sanitizer for you and your family, you will be ready to enjoy countless evenings in your sparkly clean hot tub!
Unfortunately there are no sanitization systems out on the market today that require no chemicals. Regardless of which system you are using, there will still need to be chemicals used to maintain the proper chemical balance which will prohibit bacteria from forming. If you don’t want the floater in the water at all times, it would be best to stay away from bromine tablets and use either liquid bromine or chlorine. Keep in mind that we NEVER want to mix bromine and chlorine together at the same time. This could cause a bad chemical reaction and the water will more than likely need to be drained. Bromine levels are kept at slightly higher levels than chlorine and usually will have a more definite smell compared to chlorine. Once you have found the perfect sanitizer for you and your family, you will be ready to enjoy countless evenings in your sparkly clean hot tub!
Call Aqua Palace Today (712) 329-4180!
Want more information? Contact us Aqua Palace is family owned and operated, offering above ground and in ground pools, hot tubs, spas and saunas specializing in pool design, installation and repair to local (Omaha and Council Bluffs) and long distance residents (within the US). We are the only Marquis dealer in the Omaha Metro Area with the largest showroom east of the continental divide. Not located in Omaha? No worries, check out our online storefor pool and spa chemicals, supplies and accessories.
Want more information? Contact us Aqua Palace is family owned and operated, offering above ground and in ground pools, hot tubs, spas and saunas specializing in pool design, installation and repair to local (Omaha and Council Bluffs) and long distance residents (within the US). We are the only Marquis dealer in the Omaha Metro Area with the largest showroom east of the continental divide. Not located in Omaha? No worries, check out our online storefor pool and spa chemicals, supplies and accessories.
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