Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use bromine with your systems?
- How often should I shock my pool or spa?
- What are the benefits of bromine over chlorine for spas?
- What other chemicals or products should I use?
- What pool equipment affects my sanitizer product?
- What products are not compatible with Frog?
- What should my bromine or chlorine reading be?
- What type of shock should I use?
- What's the difference between "total" chlorine and "free" chlorine?
- When should I use a clarifier?
- Why does my pool or spa have a strong chlorine smell?
- Can I use bromine with your systems?
- Bromine may be used with our SPA FROG Mineral Systems as this sanitizer works well with minerals in a hot water environment. It may also be used in our Perform-Max bulk feeders for swimming pools. Currently, we are not recommending the use of bromine with our POOL FROG Mineral Systems.
- How often should I shock my pool or spa?
- Weekly shocking is typically recommended for pools or spas with more frequent shocking when the pool or spa is used often such as the heat of the pool season or abnormally heavy spa use.
- What are the benefits of bromine over chlorine for spas?
- Bromine is an effective spa sanitizer because it dissolves slower in hot water; is less odorous and less corrosive than chlorine and regenerates itself every time you shock the spa.
- What other chemicals or products should I use?
- For pools, add a stabilizer or conditioner if the level is below 20 ppm. Follow the manufacturer’s directions. Algaecides are also helpful (See FROG BAM). For spas, clarifiers can be helpful for occasional cloudy water.
- What pool equipment affects my sanitizer product?
- The pump: Ideal gallons per minute is 20-60 gpm. Pools over 80 gpm should use a special installation. The filter: If it is clogged, circulation through the sanitizer product will be poor. Return fittings: If back pressure is not within 4-8 psi, over or under chlorination will occur. Change the return jet eyeball size to correct this. An in-floor cleaner: These cause pressure spikes in the plumbing that could result in cap cracks or over-chlorination. Special installations are required for this.
- What products are not compatible with Frog?
- Ionizers due to the duplication of minerals and biguinides like Baquacil that are not compatible with chlorine or bromine.
- What should my bromine or chlorine reading be?
- Industry standards for chlorine in pools is 1.0 to 3.0 ppm. For spas, bromine should be 2.0 to 4.0 ppm and chlorine 3.0 to 5.0 ppm. When using FROG minerals, chlorine use is reduced to 0.5 ppm for pools and chlorine or bromine can be reduced to 1.0 ppm in spas.
- What type of shock should I use?
- Use a chlorine shock at start-up. Using a non-chlorine shock with FROG minerals will keep the chlorine level down in the pool or spa. However chlorine shock is ok to use as well. Follow the manufacturer’s directions for use.
- What's the difference between "total" chlorine and "free" chlorine?
- Total chlorine is the total amount of chlorine in the water. When chlorine binds up with contaminants it forms a compound called “chloramines” that are still part of the total but no longer effective. The chlorine that is still active to remove contaminants is known as free. When the chloramine level is higher than the free chlorine level (subtract free number form total), then you need to shock the water.
- When should I use a clarifier?
- Whenever your water looks hazy or cloudy, it is full of various particles that clarifiers bind together so they are large enough to be removed by your filter. Shocking the spa can also take care of this process.
- Why does my pool or spa have a strong chlorine smell?
- Strong, smelly chlorine odor means you have chloramines, organic by products of chlorine oxidizing sweat, urine and other contaminants. Ridding the spa or pool of chloramines demands a shock treatment. (Either chlorine or non-chlorine shock.)
