sharkman009

AND studies have shown that plain soap is just as effective as the antibacterial variety (although I am sure there are some on here that will now demand to see such studies. To you I say...google is your friend!) Thats what I thought.

I would be interested in seeing some information supporting the theory that chlorine and ozone will destroy each other. Ozone is nothing more than a oxygen molecule with a third atom and does not destroy bromine or chlorine. Bromate are created when the bromine molecule comes into contact with a living bacteria this does not happen when it comes into contact with another oxidizer. Ozone can be toxic in high levels so is chlorine and bromine. These oxidizers have to be by theyre very nature as they are meant to kill a living organism. Used properly they do an excellent job of killing bacteria in a warm water environment. My number one priority for my customers is that theyre spas are safe for theyre families to use and anything such as an ozonator that can help insure that is a good thing in my opinion. We arent talking about a system that is costing the customer $2000 as they did in the begining and for what they sell for they are well worth theyre price. The theory that properly installed ozone systems are very rare is not true you are always going to have junk being peddled in any industry but there are many more good manufacturers out there than there are bad. I just want to take a moment and point out, this conversation is a perfect example of why customers are sometimes so confused. Here we have several dealers completely disagreeing with another- who is the customer to believe when the professionals can't even agree? The amount of misinformation in the industry shouldn't exist on something that's been in the wild so long. I think it's because we're all going on personal observation, marketing material info, with a bit of pseudo science, where a little information can be a dangerous thing. I'd love to see a peer reviewed study of O3 use in spa's. Take care, ~Ben PS- Waterbear, about off gassing- I have some doozies to tell back in the 80's. There is plenty of hard facts available to anyone who wants to do the homework. The Center for Disease control has a lot of information on ozone as a disinfectant being used on everything from pools to hospital tools. The World Health Organization also has plenty of info on this. I could go on with other sources. I dont go off of marketing material or pseudo science and of course each one of us will use personal observation. Some of the arguments being against ozone just arent correct. I was trying to be diplomatic I sense that you're learning quite a bit in this thread. ~Ben I understand you were trying to be diplomatic, is this a forum where opinions and ideas are discussed or is it a site for opinions that are not to be questioned? If I see information being givin that I dont agree with is it wrong to ask for the facts after all we should all be here to learn. I've givin plenty of reading for facts that are not my opinion but the findings of scientists. And as of yet there has only been one post leading to any information on chlorine being couteractive to ozone( I have not read this article yet). And absolutely zero backup for the claim of Bromites being produced by ozone. I have gone through every chemical formula for reactions between bromine and ozone and can find nothing. And as I see from Waterbears last post he doesnt to show any proof of this HARD FACT.

There is truth in what you say. However ozone, AS IT IS IMPLEMENTED IN MANY SPAS, is nothing more than a marketing feature and it does not really achieve what it claims to. Hard fact, ozone does destroy chlorine and vice versa so it can actually increase chlorine demand. Hard fact, ozone does reactive bromide reserves into active bromine sanitizer but also over oxidizes bromides into non renewable bromates. Hard fact, UV ozone systems are not effective. CD ozone systems requires drying tubs and reaction chambers for optimum results and these are often eliminated to save money. Hard fact, ozone is toxic and the level in the water that bathers are in should be 0 ppm. Hard fact, ozone has no residual effect so it does not eliminate the need for a fast acting residual sanitizer and it does not always lower sanitizer demand but can actually cause it to rise. There is some truth in what you say also. However you stated that a properly installed ozonator is rare and I dont agree with that. I do agree with the statement you just made about some spas implementing ozone as a marketing strategy. As far as your claim that ozone destroys chlorine and over oxidizes bromine, show me where to find this information so I can learn from this as I have never heard of ozone creating Bromates. What is your basis for UV systems not being effective? True they are higher maintainance and nowhere near as effective as CD or VUV ozone but they do produce ozone and if the bulbs are changed yearly they will continue to produce ozone. Your statement about CD systems is somewhat misleading. The key word in your statement is optimum. There are many ways to increase the productivity of an Ozone system. Air dryers are used to reduce nitric acid and increase ozone production. Sometimes we use oxygen concentrators to help increase ozone production. A mixing chamber does nothing but allow the oxidation to occur and allow for of gasing. In a spa or pool (depending on how it is plumbed) The plumbing or the body of water itself is a mixing chamber. Taking all these things into consideration an ozonator is still benefitial IMHO even if it doesnt have these things. I know that there is not an accptable level of ozone that should be inhaled and if the ozonator is installed properly there wont be. How can ozone be strong enough to destroy chlorine and yet not effective at killing bacteria? Also I might point out that the CDC has determined that you can not prevent swimmers lung in a pool or spa that is PROPERLY maintained with chlorine, which is exactly why they are turning to ozone as a secondary sanitizer.

That is a reliable heater it just depends on how well it was maintained. It is able to handle heating a pool that size and a propane conversion kit is available for that. Most kits require you to change the gas valve and orifices/ If your pretty mechanical you may be able to find a conversion kit that you just change the daighram in the valve and the orifices. Id price the parts out before you invest in a used heater.

Have you treated the water this morning and what are your readings? Some of the cheaper shocks out on the market will do what your describing but it could also do that if you had a high bacteria count. Keep the pump circulating and make sure the filter is kept clean to keep your turnover up. If you have some water clairifier add only the amount instructed the bottle.

What brand of pump is on this system and is the leaf strainer basket cracked or have holes in it? Debris will sometimes get past the basket and plug the impellar and restrict the pump. How old is the equipment? Has the sand filter been backwashed? What condition is the sand in the filter in?

I would be interested in seeing some information supporting the theory that chlorine and ozone will destroy each other. Ozone is nothing more than a oxygen molecule with a third atom and does not destroy bromine or chlorine. Bromate are created when the bromine molecule comes into contact with a living bacteria this does not happen when it comes into contact with another oxidizer. Ozone can be toxic in high levels so is chlorine and bromine. These oxidizers have to be by theyre very nature as they are meant to kill a living organism. Used properly they do an excellent job of killing bacteria in a warm water environment. My number one priority for my customers is that theyre spas are safe for theyre families to use and anything such as an ozonator that can help insure that is a good thing in my opinion. We arent talking about a system that is costing the customer $2000 as they did in the begining and for what they sell for they are well worth theyre price. The theory that properly installed ozone systems are very rare is not true you are always going to have junk being peddled in any industry but there are many more good manufacturers out there than there are bad. I just want to take a moment and point out, this conversation is a perfect example of why customers are sometimes so confused. Here we have several dealers completely disagreeing with another- who is the customer to believe when the professionals can't even agree? The amount of misinformation in the industry shouldn't exist on something that's been in the wild so long. I think it's because we're all going on personal observation, marketing material info, with a bit of pseudo science, where a little information can be a dangerous thing. I'd love to see a peer reviewed study of O3 use in spa's. Take care, ~Ben PS- Waterbear, about off gassing- I have some doozies to tell back in the 80's. There is plenty of hard facts available to anyone who wants to do the homework. The Center for Disease control has a lot of information on ozone as a disinfectant being used on everything from pools to hospital tools. The World Health Organization also has plenty of info on this. I could go on with other sources. I dont go off of marketing material or pseudo science and of course each one of us will use personal observation. Some of the arguments being against ozone just arent correct.

I would be interested in seeing some information supporting the theory that chlorine and ozone will destroy each other. Ozone is nothing more than a oxygen molecule with a third atom and does not destroy bromine or chlorine. Bromate are created when the bromine molecule comes into contact with a living bacteria this does not happen when it comes into contact with another oxidizer. Ozone can be toxic in high levels so is chlorine and bromine. These oxidizers have to be by theyre very nature as they are meant to kill a living organism. Used properly they do an excellent job of killing bacteria in a warm water environment. My number one priority for my customers is that theyre spas are safe for theyre families to use and anything such as an ozonator that can help insure that is a good thing in my opinion. We arent talking about a system that is costing the customer $2000 as they did in the begining and for what they sell for they are well worth theyre price. The theory that properly installed ozone systems are very rare is not true you are always going to have junk being peddled in any industry but there are many more good manufacturers out there than there are bad.

Please tell me you have one, I'd love to read it. My observations are just that, observations. Granted, I've made over 40,000 observations over the last 20+ years. Back to the original question... Is ozone necessary? Not at all. As I said it isnt necessary but it is beneficial. Asking if ozone has any effect on a spa is like asking if chlorine or bromine has an effect on a spa. It is an oxidizer just as bothe chlorine and bromine are. I think there's a bit more to it that that. There must be a threshold it must meet to be effective. But while eliminating a few bacteria might be "beneficial," if you eliminate a few hundred out of a few hundred thousand, how much are you really helping? Remember, Ozone is also breaking down the sanitizer in the spa as well as oxidizing bacteria. Ozone is doing nothing for approx 20 hours a day in the spa he's considering. It's my opinion, that in the four out of twenty four hours, the ozone won't do enough to make you realize if you have one or not. Chemically speaking, you'll be doing exactly the same routine, with or without it. If you have an ozonator in a spa that uses a two-speed pump to pull it in, I'd suggest unplugging the ozonator for a few day's, and see if you notice any difference. I never have. Neither has any customer ever mentioned they'd noticed a difference upon disocering their ozonator is broken. That's all I have as "proof" of the effectiveness of ozone in spa's that hardly use them. Conversely, in spa's that use a 24hour circ pump, I have several customers that have been able to detect when their ozonators broke, despite the fact they were still seeing air-bubbles. There is more to it than that it just depends on how deep you want to get into water chemistry and as I would explain to any customer that wants to use ozone the more you circulate a spa or pool the more you will benefit from it. One benefit you get from ozone is the kill time of ozone over other sanitizers. Ozone kills crypto and other waterborne bacteria on contact where the kill times for chlorine in high levels is more than 10 hours and at acceptable levels of up to 24 hours. This is why many health departments are requiring ozone to be installed on public pools to prevent crypto outbreaks.

Please tell me you have one, I'd love to read it. My observations are just that, observations. Granted, I've made over 40,000 observations over the last 20+ years. Back to the original question... Is ozone necessary? Not at all. As I said it isnt necessary but it is beneficial. Asking if ozone has any effect on a spa is like asking if chlorine or bromine has an effect on a spa. It is an oxidizer just as bothe chlorine and bromine are.

Are you priming the hose before you connect it to the skimmer? You prime the hose by dropping the vac with the hose and pole attached into the pool and then grab the hose above the water line and begin pushing the hose below the water line to fill the hose with water and force all air out of it. If done properly when you get to the end of the hose water should be coming out. Then plug the hose into the skimmer. If you lose suction you may have a hole in the hose or an obstruction in the hose.

Is it your opinion that ozone doesnt?

Ive never been a big fan of Jacuzzi but their quality has suffered the last 10 years. Even when they built their cabinets from wood slats they would brad nail them to a sheet of plastice that wrapped the spa and every time you removed it youd spend an hour just reattaching slats that would fall off. I havent seen any of their newer spas with anything other than a balboa control but I can check for you. Im a Jacuzzi warranty center. Can you get me a serial number off the tub or the chip code off the board?

I disagree. During times of non use as long as you sanitize properly after each use, an ozonator will reduce inbetween use additions of sanitizer. In other words when your away for a few days and not able to add sanitizer an ozonator will help keep your water crisper and cleaner than not having one. I would have to agree with spa guru. An ozonator is beneficial on any spa as long as it is used with a bromine or chlorine. The ozonator will allow you to reduce your sanitizer levels and you will use less. The ozonator isnt a neccesity, you can operate any spa with chemicals.

This is another example of why it is so critical that homeowners test their spa regularly. It insures that your spa is sanitized properly and all of the alternatives that are pushed are a waste of money. I would like to say however to itchy and scratchy you have had a bad experience with a local dealer and that is something that I hate to hear it hurts all of us in the pool and spa business when we have dealers who are giving bad info out. I would still not rule out finding a reputable shop in your area. the information you can get from a knowledgable shop with a water analysis lab is invaluable. most of these types of stores can also give you a printout of instructions based on your water condition. Im glad to hear that you got it cleared up and your wife should not have any reason to be concerned as long as you maintain a sanitizer rezidual.