I know there are two camps on the subject of Ozone. But I want to state that for me it works !
It was like a stale, musty, dirty sock odor.
Since replacing the ozonator, it's fresh and mildly sweet.
Very pleasant now.
Tim
Thing of it was... I wasn't low on sanitizer. I had been shocking like heck to try to clear it up.
But the ozonator put it over the top. Cleared up the water and converted to a clean smell.
I have read that the ozone systems for spas have improved a great deal with the addition of the "mixing chambers" that keep the ozone in contact with the water for a longer period of time.
I never dreamed it made such a huge difference in the water quality.
Tim
OK, great news that you are happy with your ozonator. However, you say you were adding more chlorine than ever. Is that to say you were shocking the water with chlorine. See the issue there is when the water contains chloramines, adding more chlorine does not help. That is when you add potasiummonopersulfate, or other names "Activate" "Spa Shock" "Renu" etc. This product burns out excessive organics, and turns the chloramines back in to chlorine, and TA DAAAaaa no more dirty sock smell, and no ozonater needed.
You and I are in the same camp.
See the issue there is when the water contains chloramines, adding more chlorine does not help.
Not so...shocking with chlorine destroys chloramines just as well as adding MPS non-chlorine shock. Both are strong oxidizers.
Yup. Dirty sock odor. I Experienced it once when I was low on sanitizer.
To shock with chlorine you HAVE to add enough chloring to reach a FAC level 10 times higher than the combined chlorine level. IF you don't reach this FAC level you wont be breaking down any of the combined chlorine, but will be adding to it.
I know there are two camps on the subject of Ozone. But I want to state that for me it works ! ................Apparently the ozonator stopped working but I did not notice that the Ozone symbal stopped appearing on my display. For a couple of months recently, I just could not stay ahead of keeping my water crystal clean like it usually is. My wife also started complaining of the odor. I was adding more chlorine than ever and it would not clear up completely. Well, I finally discovered that the ozonator was not working and replaced it with a brand new unit. Lo and behold, perfect water again within a couple of days of installing the new unit. Smells great too !
So, say what you want, but I am now, absolutely convinced of the benefits of an ozonator in a spa.
Before anyone says it.... NO... I do NOT work for any pool or spa company and have nothing to do with selling ozonators. I'm just a poor working slob who has a hot tub.
Just wanted to tell you all "my" experience........
I like the ozonator personally because it reduces the amount of chems you will be putting in your water. Any way you look at it, the fewer chems you're putting into the water you're soaking in has to be a good thing.
-Sarge
The power of ozone is often misunderstood and poorly under rated by many in the industry. But then, why is it that manufacturers like HS are making it "standard" on their HS models at an increased cost to the dealers who do not necessarily support it or believe in it?
Ozone will be better understood and revered years in the future when consumers like yourself unknowingly will discover the truth as I have experienced it to be. ;)
I use enhanced spa shock myself about once every two weeks.
The only chemical you are adding less of (supposedly) is chlorine, ozone does nothing to stabilize pH it has no affect on ALK, it cannot prevent calcium precipitation.
I like the ozonator personally because it reduces the amount of chems you will be putting in your water. Any way you look at it, the fewer chems you're putting into the water you're soaking in has to be a good thing.
-Sarge
Exactly Wisoki......and while we all know we are swimming in a chemical "soup" in a hottub anyway, why not lessen the amount of any chemical which we must add to the water. This is a personal choice for me and each spa owner has to make choices which are right for them.
I am fortunate to add very few chemicals to my tub between water changes. My ph and Alk usually drift downward over time so I might add a few oz. of Baking soda to raise that, but other than the shock once a week, that's it.
I do like the Enhanced Shock by SpaGuard. Besides the oxidizing agents, it contains a flocculent/clarifier and a ph buffer to prevent swings. I use about 2 1/2 Tbsp a week and it does a great job.
-Sarge
Right, but in an earlier post you stated...
Which is a missleading statement. You aren't adding less chemicals plural. You are adding less chlorine. The way it was stated erlier makes it sound like ozone is some kind of miracle that allows you to not have to maintain water quality.
This is only partially correct. To shock with chlorine you HAVE to add enough chloring to reach a FAC level 10 times higher than the combined chlorine level. IF you don't reach this FAC level you wont be breaking down any of the combined chlorine, but will be adding to it.
Does the word proffits mean anything to you?
That and extraterestrial life ;)
Well if you want to really nit pick....
Ozone is a chemical. Water is too.
I do like the Enhanced Shock by SpaGuard. Besides the oxidizing agents, it contains a flocculent/clarifier and a ph buffer to prevent swings. I use about 2 1/2 Tbsp a week and it does a great job.
-Sarge
Enhanced Shock by SpaGuard is a mixture of MPS and dichlor along with other agents with dichlor making up 58.2% of the product. By shocking with Enhanced Shock, you are adding chlorine which is why the system is working.
Come on folks, let's give the ozonator a little credit here. ;)
-Sarge
Actually for a while I used a non-chlorine shock and had the same good results I am having now. The reason I switched was on advice from my dealer. They mentioned that the enhanced shock included the flocculent and the ph buffers (which the non-chlorine shock did not).
Now, with the enhanced shock, I shock on Sunday afternoon, after I get home from church usually, and by Monday the chlorine level doesn't even register and (of course) is that way for the rest of the week until I shock again. So I don't really think you can pin the success of my regimin on the 58% dichlor that is in the 2 &1/2 Tbsp of shock I put in every 7 days. Come on folks, let's give the ozonator a little credit here. ;)
-Sarge
Here's another of my $0.02 observations.
Unlike most people with 24 hour circ pumps, I can regulate my ozone for as long as I want. I choose 8 hours a day based on talking to my dealer. I believe as WSD it's not the miricle pill. Most people will say that in order for ozone to be effective it must run 24 hours.
With 8 hours a day, I have it going on for 4 hours at a time @ 12:30. This "covers" me after I go in at night and again mid day providing sanitation and oxidation.
I use chlorine, 1 teaspoon (1.5 PPM) per person after I get out and I will put in 1 teaspoon every other day or day and a half if I don't use the tub before then. I don't use N2 - My opinion is it's a waste, other say it's great.
I adjust PH whenever it's needed. My water comes out of the tap with PH of 6.8, very low calcium and I don't bother about the TA.
Now I factor in the fact that I have a foam spa blanket on the water. I would think the ozone doesn't have a chance to off gas and 90 - 100% (?) of the ozone is "working". At the end of the week, my combined chlorine ranges from around 0.2 PPM to a little over 0.5 PPM - so I know my tub is safe and the chlorine is killing something. If the chlorine is 0.5 and under I hit the tub with 6PPM chlorine to shock. If it's above 0.5, I use MPS.
My observation is that my 8 hours of ozone and foam spa blanket is equivilent to someone elses 24 hour circ and no spa blanket. I NEVER smell ozone so that tells me that it's being absorbed and used up.
I can't see using much less chemicals than that. And BTW my ozonator is a UV type. Imagine when I replace it with a CD unit in a few years! :o
I understand what you are saying Vinny, and I hope that my questions don't come off as "challlenging" what you are doing, but honestly asking. I'm trying to figure it all it all out as well.
I am considering a blanket as well and haven't really been conviced of it's abilities. Keep us updated on your observations. :D
QuoteChallanges and questions are good! Whenever one stops thinking and improving, one stagnates!
Stuart has said in the past that we (consumers) see one tub and he (dealers) see thousands. Just because something works for 1 person doesn't mean that it'll work for all.
You were listening all that time??!!
snif.....i'm so proud.... :'(