Are all Chlorine products the same?

No. There are primarily three common types of chlorine sold within the pool and spa industry; Dichlor, Trichlor, and Calcium Hypochlorite (aka CalHypo). Unfortunately, all three are sold for hot tubs. The only one recommended by industry professionals is Dichlor. Trichlor and CalHypo are excellent products for the larger volume of water in swimming pools and because of the types of equipment used on pools.

Trichlor usually comes in a tablet and has a very low pH (2.8 to 3.5) which can cause damage to your spa components. The low pH 3 of Trichlor is very acidic and can rapidly destroy the heating coils commonly found on hot tubs.

CalHypo comes in either a granular or a liquid and has a very high pH (8.5 to 11.8) and includes no stabilizer. This is fine and very effective for large or commercial swimming pools but should not be used in hot tubs. This very high pH in hot tubs often causes cloudy water, scaling, and excessive eye irritation in hot tubs.

“SpaEase Chlorine” is a Sodium Dichlor granular compound that is perfect for hot tubs for three reasons:

1. It is the fastest dissolving sanitizer available which has two benefits; it instantly cleans and sanitizes the water in your hot tub and it quickly reaches the required ppm level so there is little time required to wait if retesting is needed.

2. It has nearly a perfect pH of 6.7 so there is little fluctuation in balancing your water and virtually safe in protecting your spa components.

3. It is considered the least expensive sanitizer annually to use to safely keep your water clean and healthy.

Are there any negatives to using “SpaEase Chlorine” Dichlor?

The downsides to using any Chlorine is that it requires you always maintain a 3 to 5 ppm level of chlorine which means you need to add a small amount every other day. If not properly maintained it could give off a scent that is not favorable to many bathers.

If “SpaEase Chlorine” is your sanitizer choice it is recommended to always shock your water with 2 oz. of “SpaEase Spa Activator” each time you get out of your hot tub. This will assist the chlorine in being more effective and also is excellent at for activating any Chloramines. Chloramines are the chemical compounds suspended in spa and pool water that is most often caused by improperly treated water. Chloramines are often the root cause of the unwanted chlorine scent in the water.

Why do most people choose Bromine?

SpaEase Bromine Tablets may be slightly more expensive to use annually than SpaEase Chlorine Granules but it is number one choice of most hot tub owners for a variety of reasons.

1. It’s easier to use, simply fill a bromine floater with a few SpaEase Bromine Tablets, set the feeder accordingly to use, and refill once a week.

2. Bromine is more effective over a wider pH range, so if your pH is fluctuating your sanitizer is still working. Bromine is also more effective in hot water environments, where Chlorine is more effective in cool water environments.

3. There is no Chlorine scent in using SpaEase Bromine Tablets, though there can be a slight bromide scent, which is not as bothersome to most versus the chlorine.

The downside to Bromine is that it is a slow activating sanitizer (2 to 3 days) compared to Chlorine that activates instantly.

To instantly reach a proper bromine ppm level we strongly recommend to add 2 oz. of SpaEase Brom Bank and 2 oz. of SpaEase Activator to the water when first add Bromine Tablets or whenever you allow you ppm bromine level to drop to “0”. This will provide you an immediate bromide sanitizer level and the SpaEase Tablets will then slowly activate and keep you there. The combination of Brom Bank and Activator create pure bromine with no chlorine scent whatsoever. To constantly maintain a good ppm level of bromine add a small amount of SpaEase Brom Bank and SpaEase Activator after each use of your hot tub. This will also allow you to lessen the opening on you Bromine Feeder, extending the life of your SpaEase Bromine Tablets.

Do Bromine Tablets have Chlorine in them?

All Bromine Tablets have Chlorine in them to assist in providing some immediate sanitization to the slow dissolving tablets. SpaEase Bromine Tablets are pressed with pH neutral chlorine that dissolves rapidly to begin the sanitizing process. This assist process happens instantly preventing any chlorine scent in the water.

Can I use the skimmer basket to feed the Bromine Tablets?

The answer is yes, the skimmer basket will work but there are inherent problems in using it. Bromine Tablets are not pH neutral, they have a pH level of 4. The slow activating tablets in a bromine feeder are raised to a neutral, safe level in the water. In a skimmer basket they are in the direct flow path of the heater coils which are easily damaged by a low pH acidic level. A primary cause of failure of heating coils is spa users that feed Bromine Tablets via there skimmer. Another problem with skimmers is that there is no adjustment such as found in a bromine feeder, so you will go through more Bromine Tablets than necessary and often have too high of a bromine reading.

What are the primary differences between Chlorine and Bromine?

SpaEase Chlorine is pH neutral and dissolves rapidly to begin sanitizing almost immediately. It is a good sanitizer at lower pH levels. Bromine tablets are slow dissolving and take several days to leave a residual in the water. Bromine is a better sanitizer over a wider pH spectrum and is especially effective in hot water systems.

Why is “SpaEase Activator” recommended to be used with all sanitizers?

“SpaEase Activator” acts as a shock treatment by oxidizing organic matter and contaminants. It is best product for activating any Chloramines suspended in the water that are often the root cause of unwanted water scent. Highly recommended to be used with all sanitizers; Bromine Tablets, Mineral Cartridges and Chlorine. Recommended dosage in a 300 to 400 gallon spa is simply add 2 ounces (for 1 to 2 people and an additional ½ ounce for each additional user) each time after you use the spa and 2 ounces each week when spa is not in use.

Can I just use “SpaEase Activator” in place of Chlorine or Bromine?

No, “SpaEase Spa Activator” oxidizes organic material but requires a certain level of chlorine or bromine to disinfect (kill bacteria and viruses) in your water.