What is Ozone ? Ozone is a gas (like the ozone layer around the earth) that is
produced by oxygen being exposed to ultraviolet light. When ozone gas is injected into
your spas water, it acts as a very powerful sanitizer and will kill off muchof the
bacteria present. Ozonated spa water remains clearer longer than by just using bromine or
chlorine as the primary sanitizer.
Ozone is 3000 times fasterl than ordinary water sanitizers (bromine or chlorine)
at killing bacteria. It does not give off that "chemical smell" normally found
in pools and spas and tends to produce less skin, eye and nose irritation. An
ozonated spa can usually go longer between water changes than a spa using other sanitizer
chemicals.
The ozone generator in a spa contains an ultraviolet
light bulb. The unit sucks in air and exposes it to this light source. The oxygen in the
air is transformed into ozone which is "O-3" gas. This gas is then sucked into
the jet piping of the spa by the "venturi effect" which creates a suction that
shoots the gas into the spa water through either a water jet or a special ozone fitting
located near the bottom of your spa.
The O-3 gas then goes to work attacking any bacteria
present in the water. Two of the oxygen molecules are used up during the chemical reaction
and the third oxygen molecule is released back into the air. That molecule accounts for
the "fresh" or "sweet" scent that is often noticed coming from an
ozonated spa.
In a gas form ozone has a half-life of two hours,
once injected into the spa water, its half-life is only about 20 minutes. This means that
in a relitivly short time, your spa will have NO SANITIZER in it ! For this reason it is
recommended that a sanitizer such as chlorine or bromine still be used, although much
lesser amounts are needed.
Even when using an ozonater you should still check and adjust your Total
Alkalinity and PH levels once per week. You may still need a Demineralizer, Defoamer and a
Water Clarifier. Even with an ozonator, you still need to add some form of regular
sanitizer to your spa.
You can do this in one of two ways: You can add 2 caps of Spa Shock to the spa
twice a week or you can keep 1 or 2 Bromine Tablets in a chemical Floater and leave the
Floater in the spa at all times except when you are using it. Either of these methods will
provide you with a minimum level of sanitizer in the spa even when the ozonator is off and
neither will be enough to produce a bad "chemical smell" or any of the other
negative side effects of regular sanitizers.
Maintenance wise, the ultraviolet light bulb in the unit will eventually burn out
and need replacing. The bulbs are rated in hours of usage and mose bulbs are rated for
10,000 hours. Bulbs usually last approximately 5 years under normal use and are relatively
easy to replace.
