Can I Use Bromine & Chlorine in a Saltwater Pool?

Saltwater

• Saltwater pools are ideal for people who are sensitive to the harsh elements of chlorine, which can produce itchy skin and burning eyes and scalp. The water in a saltwater pool is milder than the water in traditional chlorine-based systems. The pool is hooked up to a saltwater generator that is responsible for self-producing chlorine. The water does not taste salty if the recommended amounts of salt are used.

Don't Use

• If you own and operate a saltwater pool, there's no need to even have chlorine in your house, shed or garage. The saltwater generator will turn the salt in the water into hypochlorous acid, which is the main component of standard pool chlorine. The salt never gets used up; rather, the chlorine generated is broken down again into the original salt compound. Bromine, a nonchlorinated sanitizer, shouldn't be used, either. The purpose of purchasing a saltwater filter system in the first place is eliminating the need to ever buy bromine or chlorine again.

Shock

• The only exception to this rule is super-chlorination products, also referred to as shock. Pour a dosage of chlorine shock into your chlorine-based pools, or a bromine-shock equivalent for bromine-based pools, to quickly elevate the sanitizer levels in the water. Bromine products, both as a regular sanitizer or as shock, can never be used in a saltwater pool. It will harm the overall water chemistry and hurt the chlorine generator's capabilities. Chlorine shock, on the other hand, can be added to a cloudy saltwater pool to kill excess bacteria and help clear cloudy water.

When to Add Shock

• Shock should be added on an as-needed basis. A common reason why you may need to shock a saltwater pool is to kill the bacteria that cause cloudy pool water or even algae. The onset of algae is less common in a saltwater pool because the generator controls the amount of chlorine that is produced to meet sanitizing needs. Occasionally, the water in a saltwater pool can get cloudy after a heavy rainstorm or after a heavy swimmer load.