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.

Bromine may be used with our FROG Serene^® 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.

• A hot tub using FROG @ease does not test the same way as a hot tub using dichlor
• FROG @ease uses a unique chlorine, SmartChlor Technology, plus minerals to maintain a consistent low chlorine level and keep your hot tub water Cleaner, Clearer and Softer
• FROG @ease Test Strips were designed especially with an Out Indicator, a one-color match that designates when the SmartChlor Cartridge is empty. They also measure Total Alkalinity, pH, and Total Hardness levels for proper water balance
• When the FROG @ease Test Strip is lighter than the Out Indicator color block, located on the test strip bottle, it’s time to replace the SmartChlor Cartridge
• FROG Test Strips do not measure Free Chlorine
• Why? Since the Free Chlorine remains consistently at 0.5–1.0 ppm there is no need to test for it
• SmartChlor creates a reserve that converts to Free Chlorine when it senses the demand, it’s self-regulating. The reserve will start high and slowly deplete over the life of the cartridge as it converts to Free Chlorine when needed – no action required
• With standard chlorine, like dichlor, you must maintain a Free Chlorine level of 2.0 – 4.0 pm, much higher than FROG @ease, and you need to shock when the Total Chlorine level is higher than the Free Chlorine.
• With SmartChlor, Total Chlorine will always be higher than Free Chlorine until the Cartridge is empty. Total chlorine is represented by the SmartChlor reserve that is slowly used up over the life of the cartridge

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 from total), then you need to shock the water.

Silver and limestone. The silver destroys bacteria and the limestone absorbs acids from chemicals like chlorine to help maintain a neutral pH.

Minerals have been used for centuries. The Romans put silver coins in urns to help maintain water clarity longer. In more recent times, minerals are used every day in the medical industry with tremendous results. Some of these same minerals, like silver, are found in the FROG products.

For pools, FROG minerals last six months or one pool season whichever is shorter. Once removed from the water, the minerals may not be reused the following season. For spas, FROG minerals last 4 months. Simply replace every four months or whenever you drain and fill your spa.

No, until the minerals are wetted, they will not expire; store in a dry location.

The minerals enter the water as it passes through the mineral medium. A low parts per billion level is dispensed through a controlled release system that prevents overdosing.

Yes, for pools, chlorine use can be reduced to 0.5 to 1.0 ppm and for spas both chlorine or bromine use can be reduced to 1.0 to 2.0 ppm. That is typically up to 50%* less than standard pool and spa water care.

• *Compared to the minimum EPA recommended chlorine level of 1.0 ppm for a stabilized swimming pool and the minimum ANSI recommendation of 2.0 ppm for a spa.

The limited two year warranty can be extended to ten years if the warranty card is received within 60 days of installation. Click here to register your product online. For full warranty details, see instruction manual.

pH is the abbreviation for “potential hydrogen” and the reading indicates the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water. Basically, it is the measure of how acidic or basic (alkaline) the water is. Total alkalinity is the measure of how stable the pH is. It measures the water’s buffering capacity to resist pH changes. Without control of the total alkalinity, the pH will rise and fall abruptly.

Calcium Hardness (or Total Hardness) refers to the amount of calcium and other minerals that make the water hard. Swimming pools require a hardness level of 150 to 400 ppm. Less than 150 and the water will be corrosive, more than 400 and the water will be scale forming.

There are several test methods available through your local pool dealer. These include drop tests or strips. Either method is fine as long as it measures the following four parameters: pH, total alkalinity, total chlorine (or bromine) and free chlorine (or bromine).

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.)

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.

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.

Everything that enters your spa has a pH that can raise or lower your pool or spa’s total pH. Check the following:

• Tap water, depending on the area of the country, can either have a low or high pH.
• Overestimating the amount of pH Decreaser or pH Increaser needed is often the problem.
• Using Bromine or Trichlor tends to lower pH over time while using shocks like Calcium Hypochlorite or Lithium Hypochlorite may raise the pH over time.
• High bather loads will tend to lower pH.
• Swimmer wastes, such as perspiration, urine, saliva and other body oils will lower pH.
• A high alkalinity reading will raise the pH.
• Dirt, debris or leaves that blow into the pool as well as rain that is often acidic will lower pH.
• Salt chlorine generators will raise the pH over time.

Test kits are susceptible to bleaching in high concentrations of chlorine such as after shocking. Wait 24 hours after shocking and test again. Check the test strip expiration date and only use fresh strips.

• Your sanitizer level could be low.
• The pH could be high.
• Your filter might be dirty.
• You may need to increase your circulation time.

The biggest culprit is detergent residue on swimming suits, but foaming can also be caused by cosmetics, sun tan lotion, body oils or other organic materials. Some tile and vinyl cleaners may also cause foaming. High pH is another cause. Use a defoamer.

Call our Customer Service Department at 800-222-0169 or your local dealer.

For pools, ANSI standards call for at least 1 turn over per day. Determine your water volume and the flow rate of your pump in gallons per minute. Then calculate the minimum pump run time for your pool. Installing a timer is recommended.

For spas, follow the manufacturers directions for operation as this can vary from spa to spa.

Always drain and refill spa at least every 4 months. Clean and replace filter cartridges when dirty (Follow manufacturer’s instructions). Balance water. (See spa water balance guidelines). Heat water to recommended temperature. Establish an initial residual of 1.0 to 2.0 ppm bromine or chlorine with a granular Brominating Concentrate or a chlorine shock. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. FROG Serene users can then set their mineral cartridge to 6 and their bromine cartridge to 3 and insert into the In-Line or Floating System. Then adjust setting accordingly to maintain 1.0 to 2.0 ppm of bromine.

The industry standard is every 3 months. When using FROG minerals, you can save water by draining every four months when you replace your mineral cartridge.

There are several test methods available through your local pool and spa dealer. These include drop tests or strips. Either method is fine as long as it measures the following four parameters; pH, total alkalinity, total chlorine and free chlorine or bromine. Most test kits will state that 0.5 ppm chlorine or 1.0 ppm bromine is too low but it is the ideal range when used with FROG minerals. (See FROG Test Strips) Bring a water sample to your dealer occasionally to ensure water balance.

Water supplies contain different levels of natural minerals like iron, copper or magnesium. These minerals must be removed from the water with a Metal Out or Sequestering Agent (see your dealer) to ensure easier balancing and proper sanitation. If using our FROG Mineral products, make sure you remove the natural water minerals at start up only and wait 24 hours to clean the filter before using the FROG minerals.

Call our Customer Service Department at 800-222-0169 or your local dealer.