Chlorine has made its name known in the pool industry as king of all sanitizers due to it’s ability to fight algae and bacteria and due to its stability. Bromine can’t be stabilized the way chlorine can be with cyanuric acid. In an outdoor pool bromine can be easily degraded from the sun, and it is more commonly used in hot tubs, as it is better suited for the higher temperatures.
Chlorine is convenient because it can easily added to the pool with chlorine tablets. The tablets can be placed in the chlrorine feeder and released in a controlled rate. Bromine can be dispensed in tablet form as well but it dissolves very slowly.
Chlorine can be either a slow-dissolving or a quick-dissolving sanitizer whereas bromine is typically always a slow-dissolving substance.
The largest obstacle people find to using bromine in your pool as a sanitizer is experience. It requires knowledge and consistency. It is definitely just as effective as chlorine when it comes to killing bacteria but pool professionals debate which one is better. Many people are drawn to bromine because they feel it is not as harsh of a chemical as chlorine, though bromine does contain chlorine.
Not sure which path to take? Discuss your options with your pool builder or local pool service company.
*based on an article first brought to you by AQUA Magazine.