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What is better bromine or chlorine?

By Matthew Underwood
While chlorine may work more quickly, bromine is more stable than chlorine, especially in warm water. Chlorine: Dissipates more quickly than bromine, and therefore needs to be replaced more often. Bromine: Kills bacteria in your spa for a longer period of time than chlorine.

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Consequently, what is better for a hot tub bromine or chlorine?

High Temperatures. 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.

Furthermore, is it safe to swim in a pool with high bromine? Safe Levels of Bromine 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.

Also, why is chlorine more effective than bromine?

Bromine is most commonly used to sanitize spas/hot tubs because it is more stable than chlorine in the warmer temperatures. Although bromine produces less of a chemical odor than chlorine, it is harder to wash away the chemical smell from your skin after bathing in a bromine pool or spa.

Can I use chlorine and bromine together?

you can mix them in very small quantities, but there is absolutely 0 reason to do so stick with Bromine, chlorine in it's natural form (liquid) is great for pools but Bromine is much more stable in a hot water/hot tub environment. Good Luck!

Related Question Answers

Why is bromine dangerous?

Bromine is corrosive to human tissue in a liquid state and its vapors irritate eyes and throat. Bromine vapors are very toxic with inhalation. Humans can absorb organic bromines through the skin, with food and during breathing. These bromines can damage the nervous system and the thyroid gland.

How often should I shock my hot tub?

Shock dosing your hot tub water is a term usually applied to the process of adding a higher than normal dose of oxidiser chemical to the hot tub water, this process can also be called oxidising. We advise customers to shock dose their water once a week to control bacteria growth and destroy bather impurities.

Can you use a hot tub without chemicals?

But seriously, the real answer is YES! You can run your spa without chlorine OR bromine, and still have a safe and sanitary spa. It requires using some modified methods to make sure that pathogens don't thrive, but it can be successfully done. Here's how.

How often do you put bromine in hot tub?

Daily hot tub use: A bromine level of between 3-5ppm (parts per million) must be maintained in your hot tub at all times. 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 is the best chemical for hot tubs?

Here are the 10 Best Hot Tub Chemicals which are available to deliver a 'clean' spa experience:
  1. Leisure Time Spa Sanitizer Spa 56.
  2. Clorox Pool&Spa 23006CLXCA Xtra Blue.
  3. SpaChoice 472-3-5081 Chlorine Granules.
  4. Kem-Tek 177 1-Inch Chlorinating Tablets for Pool and Spa.
  5. Leisure Time Spa Disinfectant Brom Tabs.

Is too much bromine in a hot tub bad?

And no, you can't just crank up your water supply's chlorine and bromine disinfectant levels. Too much of those can lead to respiratory issues too, Rose adds. More bad news: Mycobacteria aren't your only unwelcome bathing buddies.

How do you kill bacteria in a hot tub?

Chlorine is added to the water to kill germs. But it does not work right away. If used properly, free chlorine* can kill most germs within a few minutes. CDC recommends pH 7.2–7.8 and a free chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm in pools and at least 3 ppm in hot tubs/spas.

Will bromine bleach clothes?

Will Bromine bleach swimsuits or clothes? Yes, but probably not to the same degree as chlorine. Bromine is less active than chlorine, and even though the levels of bromine may be higher, the bleaching effect on swimsuits and skin irritation is generally less.

Can bromine kill you?

Bromine is corrosive to human tissue in a liquid state and its vapors irritate eyes and throat. Bromine vapors are very toxic with inhalation. Humans can absorb organic bromines through the skin, with food and during breathing. Organic bromines are widely used as sprays to kill insects and other unwanted pests.

How long does bromine take to work?

It can take several weeks for enough bromine tablets to dissolve, to build an effective level of bromides in the spa – so that bromine can be created. Each time you drain the spa, the bromide level drops to zero.

How do you maintain a bromine pool?

How to Use Bromine in Your Pool
  1. Step 1 - Basics for a Bromine Pool. Do not reuse your chlorine erosion feeders for bromine tablets.
  2. Step 2 - Test the pH of Your Pool - Adjust if Needed.
  3. Step 3 - Add Bromine to Your Pool Water.
  4. Step 4 - Maintain Your Pool's Bromine Level from Spring to Fall.

Does bromine kill algae?

Bromine itself is a sanitizer and disinfectant for water; it contains a medium in order to oxidize water. By sanitizing, bromine will kill all bacteria, living organisms, and other pollutants (dirt, debris, and algae spores) that are found in water.

How long after adding chlorine can you use hot tub?

You need to check that the chlorine levels are at a safe 2 to 4 parts per million level and wait until the chlorine has dissipated to this before you get into the hot tub this could take anywhere up to 24 hours.

What is the color of bromine water?

Bromine water is an orange solution of bromine. It becomes colourless when it is shaken with an alkene. Alkenes can decolourise bromine water, but alkanes cannot.

What is bromine used for in everyday life?

It is toxic. Bromine is used in many areas such as agricultural chemicals, dyestuffs, insecticides, pharmaceuticals and chemical intermediates. Some uses are being phased out for environmental reasons, but new uses continue to be found. Bromine compounds can be used as flame retardants.

What type of bond is chlorine and bromine?

From the number of covalent bonds formed by an atom, one can tell how many unpaired valence electrons the atom has in a particular molecule. For example, a halogen (ie, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, iodine) has 1 unpaired electron. Therefore, a halogen atom can form a maximum of 1 covalent bond with another atom.

What is bromine used for in hot tubs?

These two chemicals are very similar in the way they kill bacteria but react differently in warm water. Bromine is more stable in warmer water compared to chlorine, so in the world of spas and hot tubs, bromine is the common choice for disinfecting a hot tub or spa.

What happens when you mix chlorine and bromine together?

Whether you choose chlorine or bromine, DO NOT: mix them together in the water. This can also cause a dangerous chemical reaction. Even if you think you've cleaned it well enough, some of the chemical remnants can react with each other.

What happens if bromine is too high in pool?

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. Dropping the bromine level of pool water requires the halting of all bromine application to the pool, as well as partial draining of the pool water.