Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: JLB on June 08, 2006, 09:06:54 am
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I would like to switch from dichlor to bromine. I have 400 gal tub, water is about 6 weeks old could someone tell me what chemicals to use how much and how to go about this. I have bromate granules which came with tub. Thanks! :)
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Going from dichlor to bromine you don't have to change your water, unless it's time to anyway- you can just stop using dichlor and start using bromine.
Do you have a built in bromine feeder in your spa, or will you need a floater or some other method?
Generally with bromine, you need to add some sodium bromide to the water to establish an initial bromine bank. Mine was in the form of granules in a small packet- just toss in the required amount.
Then load your bromine dispenser or floater with tablets and set the floater to whatever it recommends on the packaging.
Shock with dichlor or MPS. When I was on Bromine I used MPS shock. I'm pretty sure that you could also shock with dichlor.
Then use whatever test method you choose to monitor your bromine, Ph, alk, etc.....
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I don't have a built in dispenser. Does the floater stay in the tub while your useing it? I would think it would tend to be drawn to the filter, or do you take it out?
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I pulled it out and set it aside while in the spa, and replaced when done with soak.
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Not drawn to the filter, the floater bounces around the tub when the jets are circulating. I take mine out when I am in the tub and only mess with it every 3 weeks or so when I refill the tablets. You will find it very easy to use.
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The first thing you ought to do is have your head examined. :-)
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I would like to switch from dichlor to bromine. I have 400 gal tub, water is about 6 weeks old could someone tell me what chemicals to use how much and how to go about this. I have bromate granules which came with tub. Thanks! :)
Why do you want to switch? Are you having problems?
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I think I might be sensitive to the dichlor, I've been having skin irritation since last fall. I have supper cleaned the tub useing methods I've read from this fourm, have been following the "vermonter" method, test daily for TA/PH levels, water is allways clear. My girlfriend has no problem at all, so I think I should try somthing else. A far as my head gos, I think this is the most logical approach considering eveything I've been doing.
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A few questions:
You sound like you haven't had your tub long because of the daily checking of pH/TA. Certainly you've had it since last fall as you noted. With that much attention to pH/TA, I assume you use your tub at least once, maybe twice a day, rarely missing a day.....correct? Also, I'm betting your girlfriend doesn't soak nearly as much as you....correct? What is your average soak time? Is your skin irritation over 100% of your body that is submerged when soaking or isolated to specific areas?
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I think I might be sensitive to the dichlor, I've been having skin irritation since last fall. I have supper cleaned the tub useing methods I've read from this fourm, have been following the "vermonter" method, test daily for TA/PH levels, water is allways clear. My girlfriend has no problem at all, so I think I should try somthing else. A far as my head gos, I think this is the most logical approach considering eveything I've been doing.
Good luck. Please let us know how it works for you, as many folks ask about Bromine vs Dichlor, your expereince will be of great interest.
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I had some irritation/drying on the backs of my thighs and thought it was the bromine. I had dispensor set at 3 and now it's at 1...haven't had any problem since BUT I don't use everyday either.
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It will be two years in oct. that i've had the tub. Basicly first year no porblem, then RASH supper sanitized,drain refill, wait two weeks try to use again rash, used the lysol method suggested on this forum, drain, fill, wait two weeks till rash gos away. By this time we are getting into winter, forced air furnace, dry skin. Through this whole time my girlfriend has no problem at all and she uses the tub way more than I do. So I don't use the tub all winter just about, I change my water every three months. so in March right after a change I use it and I'm fine, but after about the third time itch dry spots under arms on back, shins, waist , chin and I would not call this a rash. I have three filters that I rotate. I test alot becuse I want to rule out high or low PH as the cause. I don't know what else to try. Is it possible to develop a sensitivty to dichlor or biproducts? Heres the kicker, I have a pool and have no problem so far when I swim and didn't last summer either, and had no problem wth the hot tub last summer. I figure it can't hurt to try something different. I know this Dichlor method is easy and my water always looks good, what would you do? :-/
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JLB, I tend to believe that part of all skin issues in the tub have to do with the abrasive action of the jets and hot water. It will just pull the natural oils from your skin.
Although, we haven't had that problem (and I use Bromine), I am wondering if it would help for you to shower after using the tub to remove any residual chemicals. Use a moisturizing liquid soap like tone or something with cocoa butter and then use a moisturizer. I swear by Aveeno products, maybe it would be worth it to try to moisturize evey night.
It sounds like a pain but I would do it so not to have to give up the tub. Good luck..and I thought I didn't like bromine but now that I am used to it, it is fine. No odor and crystal clear water with little maintence. ;)
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I am also thinking of swithing to Bromine on my next water change. I am routinely gone for 3 or 4 days a week and when I come back the water is cloudy sometimes. I think Bromine would solve this issue.
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JLB,
I apologize for kidding you about what sounds like a more serious problem. While I would not rule out the use of a different water treatment method, bromine might actually be worse. Both bromine and chlorine are closely related halogens. But bromine requires a residual at all times, whereas if you are following the Vermonter's method there should be little to no residual free chlorine during your soaks.
The first thing that I would suggest is that you consider a consultation with a dermotologist. The fact that chlorine in pool water does not affect your skin may mean that something else is going on. I would definitely mention that fact to the doctor if you choose to go see one.
There is a product called Silken that you might consider trying as it is kind to the skin. This is a product that you add to your spa during a new fill. It is compatible with both dichlor and bromine. It makes the water feel softer or more silky and your skin feels that way too when you get out. Definitely rinse off after exiting the tub and use a moisturizing lotion for your dry skin.
There are also peroxide based sanitizer systems that might be worth considering. Bacqua Spa (I hope I spelled that right) is one that is readily available that might be worth considering. It is more expensive than dichlor, but it would constitute a bigger change that your bromine thought and might be the key to a solution for you.
Good luck, and please keep us informed of developments. I will try not to be a smartass in the future.
Bill
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I would try bromine. I wouldn't reccomend baqua because of it's tendency to erode plastics. A lot of manufacturers void warranties if you use baqua.
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Markee,
You are just full of misinformation. Bacqua Spa is a well tested product and to the best of my knowledge would be safe for use in any name brand spa. In addition, if you have read and understood what the person has written, your suggestion to use a halogen makes not much sense.
Bill
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Bill,
He is right about it voiding "some" warranties. I am not a fan of Baqua at all. Those who use it long term and are Happy seem to be very few and far between.
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word of caution on the Baqua products...my dealer informed me that a customer of theirs used it....and added a couple other "standard" chemicals (I forget exactly what was all added), the dealer got a call, went to look, and found what looked like mushrooms blossoming in the tub. He said it took a lot of scooping, flushing, refilling, etc to get past the problem, plus all new filters. That is NOT to say it's a lousy product, just take care on following the directions precisely, or you may also have issue (IF you go that route).
Re: changing to bromine from dichlor? I did it around a month and a half ago. My reasoning was simple enough to ME. I don't have the time or the energy to keep up with adding chemicals every day or two once work really winds up. I needed something simpler, and bromine has proven to be that for me. The floater keeps the levels pretty constant, and the water is clear even if I've managed to forget (yes, I DO forget after a rough week) that I've got spatopia sitting in the back yard for a week or so. Dichlor wasn't so forgiving of the oversight. Oops.
IMHO I say give bromine a shot, if it doesn't work for you, at least you'll know for sure. You can always do a drain/fill if it doesn't fix your problems.
Someday I hope they come up with a 'perfect' system.. *sigh*
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switch is easy.. just start using bromine. If it's the granular form, you need to use about double what you did with dichlor. If it's brom. tabs, fine, get a floater(must have a well constructed fine mesh where the flow adjustment is...don't want those brom. pieces dissloving on your spa shell and staining.) You will have to add about a tspn of ph+ per week using brom. tabs. LOOOWWW pH product.
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JLB,
Sounds like the same promblem I'm going thru. Been to the doctor and he said it is a dermititis that I have developed and heat and dryness can bring it on. I never had the itchy dry patches before either and my wife has no problems. I did the cleansing and the Vermonter method and no relief. Talked to my dealer and he had a Liesure Time product called Free. You can read about it at this link :
http://www.leisuretimespa.com/TechDataInfo.asp?authID=1104772839&ProductID=269
Anyway I made the switch and have no more problems even after 2 hour soaks! It is a simple weekly product and it makes maintenance easy which I really like. We have been using it now since April and the water is still nice and clear.
Well I tried it and I finally found the one that works for me. Good luck!
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The Leisure Time Free is a Biguanide like soft soak and baqua spa. Some like, some don't. I liked it except for the bad waterline ring I got from it.
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Do you have to drain and re-fill with Leisure time free?
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If you are switching from chlorine or bromine yes you have to drain and refill. Biguanides aren't compatible with chlorine and bromine.
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Yes you must change your water out and Double A is right it does leave a water line but it cleans up with a Mr Clean scrub pad.
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I found out the Baqua crud line went away slowly over time. Scrubbed off pretty easily with the scrungy pad and surface cleaner that came with the Baqua kit.
After a few months, no more ring around the collar.
But we had other problems and dumped Baqua within the first year.
And it did appear to eat away the plastic around the spa lite- something affetcted it, and it's not gotten worse since we switched to non baqua products.
Little slivers popped up around the outer rim of the light lens. But only that first couple months. I figured it may have been the Baqua. But Sundance is okay with the stuff, so maybe it was something else.
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I have been using the "vermonter" method and i was also having skin problems rashes and a lot of itching after soaking, so i went to the method that my owners manual said to do which was to add dichlor before soaking and that solved my skin probem you might want to try that before going to bromine.