Here We Go Again: Bromine vs. Dichlor

[NE-Phil]

INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW!  

Yes, I know, I've been asking questions about this a lot in the past week but I want to make sure I know what the choices are.
Below is a (partial) list of reasons why some of you use bromine while others use dichlor.

Many of you are using dichlor because it's
1. Cheaper
2. Has no smell (since chlorine breaks down easily)
3. PH stays in balance better
4. Does not leave a residual in the water
Drawbacks
1. Put a teaspoon (more or less) in at the end of your soak.
2. Requires more water maintenance

Others are using bromine because its
1. Part of an inline system so we don't have to think about it
2. Might be a slightly better sanitizer
3. Requires less water maintenance
Drawbacks appear to be
1. More expensive than dichlor
2. Chemical smell
3. Tends to have more problems with PH
4. Is always in the water so bathers are in contact with it

I have an inline frog system and so my dealer set me up with bromine but I'm not convinced its the best way for me. Especially if moving to dichlor means getting rid of the chemical smell and its cheaper than bromine.

Do I have that right? I would appreciate feedback from both camps.

Phil

[bulmer4nc]

I can't speak for all but regarding your point about more/less maintenance we have seen our maintenance get much easier and lot less effort with dichlor.  I don't know if maybe I was not doing things the right way with bromine but with dichlor it seems that I almost never have to adjust ph/alk and adding a tsp or two after every soak is not as big a deal as I thought it would be.

[CalicoskiesNC]

I've not used bromine, but I can say that using dichlor involves very minimal water maintenance.  I spend maybe 15min total a week doing stuff to the water.  Adding a tsp after soaking is not any trouble, we bring it outside when we go.  

I agree w/Bulmer about the water stability, we've never had trouble with ups and downs.  Regular use of dichlor will drag your pH down a bit, so we check that weekly and usually add 1TBL pH UP.  Other than a wkly shock, thats all we do.

[Brewman]

Is it not true that with dichlor, you need to run the spa with the cover up for a period of time after you add it?
Thought I read that if you don't, the underside of you cover can get attacked, shortening the covers life.
I use chlorine free bromine, and just have to keep an eye on the ph and alk, as it tends to drift lower.  
I fill a floater twice a month, add shock and adjust ph maybe once a week.  True, you do contact bromine, but that doesn't bother me, nor does the smell.  
Brewman

[orlandoguy]

I run my pump 20 mins or so after adding the teaspoon of bromine each night so i hope the cover isn't getting attacked.

I have a garden box with the bromine and other chemicals next to the spa and it's not a big deal to scoop a teaspoon in each night.

[Brewman]

From what I've heard, running the spa like you do is supposed to keep the chlorine from attacking the cover, or at least reduce the effect.  

The bromine I use doesn't have chlorine in it, and it dispenses with a floater.  One thing I have noticed since switching to bromine (recovering Baqua sufferrer) is the tendency for certain parts in the spa, and the floater to get stained a light tan color.  This comes off fairly easily with a scrubby pad and some cleaner.
Must be a side effect of bromine contact?

Brewman

[drewstar]

  NE Phil Why not on your next water change switch to Dichlor and see for yourself?  I'd be very interested in learning if it worked out for you and what your experinces where.  

It would be a good case study.

Maybe, your dealer might even give you a sample Dichlor start up kit so you don't have to invest a lot of $$?

Question: if someone is going to switch over from one system to another,  is there anything else that needs to be done other than a water change and a filter clean?

[Spatech_tuo]

Why not experiment. Start with a straightforward dichlor method for 4 weeks then switch to a bromine method for 4 weeks. Then YOU will see/experience the difference and decide which is best for you.

BTW, you can switch from chlorine to bromine in an instant without changing the water but if you have bromine you cannot switch over to chlorine without first draining.

[Vinny]

Is it not true that with dichlor, you need to run the spa with the cover up for a period of time after you add it?
 Thought I read that if you don't, the underside of you cover can get attacked, shortening the covers life.
 

I use dichlor and I believe it's only when shocking with dichlor you don't want to close the cover right away and I believe 20 minutes is OK when shocking. Also, any unused ozone that off gasses will eat away the cover too, apparently at higher rate than the chlorine, from what I've read and been told.

[Chas]

I recommend leaving the cover open with the jets on for at least five minutes any time you add Dichlor or oxidizer. It lets the chlorine gas cloud escape, and adds years to the life of your cover.

In fact, that is the very reason I like Dichlor over Bromine - the bromine tabs which most people use contain chlorine. That chlorine never gets to escape since it is in a floating feeder or a built-in feeder at all times. As a result, people who use bromine tabs in a feeder tend to pay me twice: once when they buy the more-expensive bromine, and again when they buy a new cover.

I recommend "Brilliance" to my customers who use bromine. It is chlorine-free. You have to shock once a week, or after a party, but you can leave the lid open as above for longer cover life, and you don't the heavy bromine smell either.

Leisure Time also offers "Reserve" which is a Chlorine-free bromine system using a liquid bromine.

[HotTubMan]

Chas, If you sell Brilliance, I have to beleive the manufacturer has provided you with some sort of safety information that would disclose its chemical composition. In Ontario, this is referred to as a M.S.D.S (Material Safety Data Sheet).

If you have this information, would be so kind as to share it with us? I would love to understand what chemicals make this product. I beleive you when you say it contains no chlorine. I find i hard to beleive it is pure unadulterated bromine.

Take chlorine for example, the only way it comes in a pure form is as a gas in a tank.

[empolgation]

How is it that using dichlor is cheaper?

I was using bromine for almost a year and was spending under $3 a month for bromine. I've recently switched to dichlor for a trial and it seems like I am going through the dichlor fast... a teaspoon or 2 a day is adding up quickly.

I understand that pound for pound bromine may cost more but it appears as though I am using a lot more dichlor

[Brewman]

I use Brilliance, and maybe that's why I'm not so bothered by the smell.  It really is pretty subtle.  Plus as Chas said, it's just adding shock once a week, and keeping pH balanced.  
Per the company that make it is 100% chlorine free.  But I don't know what all the ingredients are.  They are probably listed on the label, which I'll read tomorrow when I do my water checking.
I'm sure that it's more expensive than other forms of bromine, but I was using Baqua before.
That was expensive compared to Brilliance.  I don't really keep track too much, but I'm thinking I spend less than $100 per year on Brillinance Sanitizer, shock, and metal control.  
Brewman

[Backpains]

Ok..I don't use Bromine for actually only one of your reasons.. and that's the fact it only takes minimal care as far as that goes the main reason I won't switch is because I feel if it's not broke don't fix it..it;s working for me so I'm not going to change just because someone says Dichlor is a better product or cheaper or whatever

[Bill_Stevenson]

Key differences are that bromine is more stable in hot water, dichlor breaks down after just a few hours.  Bromine is broken down in direct sunlight, whereas dichlor is stable in sunlight.  Bromine is acidic, although products that are a mix of some bromine with mostly dichlor are pH neutral.  Dichlor is mostly pH neutral.  Chlorine is far and away more effective as a sanitizer than is bromine although both are halogens (maybe 10x more powerful than bromine).  

If you use the Vermonter's strategy (rhtubs.com) you will soak in chlorine free water as he advocates adding dichlor after your soak.  Several hours later the dichlor is gone but so are the bugs.  The Vermonter's approach makes dichlor much nicer for those of us with sensitive skin.

Regards,

Bill