Hello,

I am about to purchase my first hot tub and have a few questions. Getting right to the point…

My local store now offers a “salt water” system for the hot tub. Seeing that this type of system is still new I could not find much info in regards to pros and cons. My main concern are the cons, in regards to how the salt will react to the internal parts.

The second question is about the ozone. If it is decided that the salt water system is ok and I decide to purchase my tub with such a unit, should I still purchase the ozonator? Or does the ozonator only work with “non” salt water type systems?

Thanks!
Cheers!

Yes you can use ozone with a salt generator. You could use an Ionizer also. I haven't seen any new spa's with these systems standard yet but I'm sure they are out there. As long as you can keep consistent balance and disinfectant levels correct you shouldn't have a problem. Your equipment will wear normally. The salts systems can cause a higher TDS " total dissolved solids" so you may want to drain and refill a little more often. If an inline generator or ozone breaks you will have the expense of service and replacement. If for some reason you don't like the salt system you could always change to Bromine while still using the ozone.

Pork*

Great thanks... I wanted to go with a salt water system after being in a friend's pool which was running the salt system. But have read some notes on the "net" indicating that in a hot tub you could expect it to wear out your equipment faster.

I just question some of those accusations seeing that stores are now selling salt water tubs…

SensFan, I'm assuming you are in Ottawa? If so, what are you planning on buying and from where?

Will PM you.

Pork;

Would you say the ozone is recommended? I’m stuck if I should purchase the ozone seeing that I am going with a salt water system. I have read that I would not need an ozone with such a system.

To ozone or not to ozone...

Personally If it were my spa I would drop the salt generator. I would install a uv ozone instead of cd type and use a Bromine system. I have never seen a salt system on a hot tub but that doesn't mean it won't work. They are quite popular on swimming pools in my area and seem to be working out pretty good for most who have them. Most of my spa customers are on bromine/ozone. Seems to be the most stable cost effective way to treat your water. With out going into great depth in the many ways to treat water you should just keep it simple......

Send me a link to what your reading on the salt systems please. I would like to see what your looking at. Where are you from? and what kind of spa are you considering buying?

Thanks

Pork

my 2 cents worth...
have not seen a spa yet thats fitted with a salt water chlorinator that hasn't had significant damage done. Why - its not always the chlorinators fault, but many are oversized producing excessive chlorine and in some cases unable to be regulated. the concept is that you can set and forget - little chemical care required. these issues combined with complacence that the system is self maintaining result in severe damage to jet bearings, heater elements and all other parts, just as they do when using any auto dosing system. additionally chlorine gas produced with chlorinators is an inefficient sanitizer in water over 26 degrees celcius.
if, however it generates correct levels, is constantly monitored and corrected and not seen as maintenance free, it may well work OK.
for my money - ozone is the best method - ozone is pH neutral and does not cause acidic or alkaline levels which damage parts, it is 3000 times more powerful than chlorine, odour free, and when set up on a 24hr circulation pump system, quite simply WORKS. there are limitations, however - to be at its most effective, you need to shower first (as you should regardless of system), don't introduce extra products to the spa that the ozone may spend its time consuming rather than its real job, use small (and i mean small) doses of granular chlorine, and your normal balancing and it will work great. initial heavy usage will require additional chlorine, but that can be lowered with lessening use and experimentation.

Wow... thanks for all the info. I think. I went ahead and ordered a system with salt water BUT I also had an ozonator installed. From what I have been told and I trust the people I have been dealing with. Well then again isn’t that the achilles heal “trust”… Is that I can remove the salt water system if I decide to and revert back to bromine.

On a side note I am very meticulous about water quality. When I owned a pool I was one to test the water more regular then the recommended testing.

Now that you have all said you are not sure about the salt water systems I am somewhat concerned.

So tell us ...what kind of spa did you buy?