As the summer pool season approaches pool owners look for new alternatives to everyone’s number one concern when it comes to swimming pool chemicals and that’s Chlorine even though a sanitizer like Bromine has been around for a while questions about its use and control remain. How to Raise Bromine Level in Pool?
- Shock the pool if the bromine level falls below 2.0 ppm
- Increase the dial setting on Brominators
- Add pucks to floaters
- Open bleeders on pool floaters
- Increase amount of pucks in skimmers
- Lengthen pool’s pump run time
- Keep chemical water balance in check
- Check and adjust stabilizer or conditioner level
When the bromine level is too low, it will become ineffective, exposing swimmers to skin irritation and disease. It will be essential to raise the level in this situation. The standard level to increase pool water bromine is between 2 and 5 ppm.
How to Raise Bromine Level in Pool
Bromine is a natural chemical close relative to chlorine. A benefit of good shock treatment is that it will regenerate the bromine levels. Chlorine does not share these same attributes. Bromine is very susceptible to sunlight, so maintaining a proper bromine level in an outdoor pool may prove more difficult than using chlorine products.
You can shock a bromine pool with non-chlorine shock or chlorine shock. Shocking a bromine pool oxidizes contaminants and creates bromamines, which aren’t harmful.
Maintaining a bromine level of 3 to 5 parts per million is similar to chlorine in that a floating dispenser or automatic bromine feeder can be used to add bromine. Adding shock after heavy use or rain, along with making it a weekly maintenance scheduled task will keep a clean, clear, and inviting swimming pool for the entire summer season.
After shocking your pools, always wait at least eight hours before you go back in the pool just as you would after super-chlorinating or shocking with chlorine. Leave the pool uncovered after you shock it or there could be dangerous fumes released by the shock chemicals that will get trapped under the pool cover.
The First Step- is to measure the chemical level in your pool. To do this, get a test kit–there is one designed specifically for bromine (others may include test strips and kits capable of changing a water sample color). Use the bromine test kit as instructed by the manufacturer.
What are the differences between Chlorine vs Bromide?
- Chlorine(Cl) works faster to kill contaminants but for a shorter period of time, as it dissipates faster.
- Bromine(Br) a more stable chemical kills contaminants more slowly but for a longer period of time & can help keep H2O chemistry more balanced due ……………………………… Read more
The Second step is adding the chemical to the swimming pool. You should do this if the test result shows that the bromine level falls under 2 ppm. Try always to remember that the standard level of bromine for your pool ranges from 2 to 4 ppm. To properly use bromine, add its tablet form to a floater.
The Third and Final step is observing the right time to shock the pool. You should do this weekly or every two weeks in sunny and hot weather. Bromine is never a good oxidizer, though it’s a great disinfectant. Therefore, you should ensure that the pool is shocked to get rid of ammonia and exterminate any algae that can interfere with bromine in the pool.
Bromine will reduce the pH level of your swimming pool, making it more acidic, the effect is only a small difference from that when using chlorine, still, it’s easier to make adjustments. As a result, you can achieve the ideal pH balance .……………………………………. Read more
Steps for Raising Bromine Levels in Pool
1. Shock the pool if the bromine level is below 2.0 ppm
2. Check your dial setting on Brominators or Floater
If using Brominators (plastic floating devices that hold bromine tablets) there is a dial that can be turned up. To help find the correct setting that will maintain the desired chlorine or bromine level (typically 1-3 ppm), adjust only one setting per day testing the water after 24 hours to see the effect.
3. Increase the amount of Bromine being used.
If using a floater, or brominator, then fill it to the top and see if there are any bleed valves that would allow more water inside to wet the chemical. The more bromine that is soaked in the pool, the greater the output. If hand-feeding pucks in the skimmer or liquid, you may need to increase the amount added or the frequency.
4. Make sure your pool water is chemically balanced.
Water balance is critical to proper sanitization. If the pH is off it makes the sanitizer ineffective even if there is enough in the water. Also, if the stabilizer or conditioner level is too low, the sun may burn bromine off too quickly.
5. Lengthen your pump run time
If your chemical is added by an inline system then simply run the pump longer
How Much Bromine Do You Put in a Hot Tub?
Hot Tub bromine levels should always be between 3-5 ppm (parts per million). How frequently you need to add bromine will depend on your usage & bathing habits. It could be daily, every two to three days, or weekly for 3mg/l add 12g per 1500 liters. Usually ……………………………………………… Read more
JimGalloway Author/Editor
