Alternative Sanitizers - EcoSmarte Pool System Manual

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Alternative Sanitizers

Chemicals

Chlorine is the dominant form of pool sanitiation, but Bromine, Bacquacil, and

Sodium Tetraborate sanitation have a statistical presence.

Those pools using an alternative form of chemical sanitation will most likely be

required to drain the pool to convert it back to chlorine, OR install an alternative sani-

tizing device. The number of alternative chemical pools is falling dramatically while the

percentage of pools with a sanitizing device is increasing.

Bromine

Bromine users will operate the pool by testing free bromine, total bromine, pH, calcium hardness,

and totally alkalinity - all just as critical as chlorine.

Bromine users will typically use non-chlorine shock to respond to cloudy water and often need

weekly agaecide treatment.

Bromine salts themselves typically cloud water. Movement to a copper sanitizing device will require

draining the pool to avoid copper salts which can be toxic and can cloud the water.

Bromine has better microbe kill rates than chlorine on hot water. While bromine has become the

dominant sanitizer for spas, very few pool companies have the larger packaging of bromine to sup-

port a swimming pool or employ the expertise to operate a bromine spa or pool.

Bacquacil (and private label bioguanides)

By far, the dominant chemical other than chlorine in swimming pools is bacquacil. The sanitation

chemical itself (and the shock) is considerably less irritating than chlorine, but it is more expensive,

and requires regular algaecide supplement and annual filter media change out. It also provides

some economics on getting the alkalinity up and increasing the calcium hardness. Bacquacil is

much less corrosive than chlorine or bromine, though some evidence shows that the more years

that the water is in the pool, the more sanitation chemical are required, regardless of weather. Bac-

quacil users should consider draining and refilling the pool and changing out the filter media every 3

to 5 years (instead of the 7 to 10 year window with chlorine).

Sodium Tetraborate Pools: PROTEAM

The manufacturer of this patented system, The John Girvan Company, should be contacted directly

for assistance in operating these pools and updating proprietary test kits. Materials are generally

shipped from Florida.

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