Ozone, should I and if so...

[thefu]

Why not use one of these spa ozone generators that put out 20-30mg/hr?

If all you have is a small 110g system (like me) and don't want to overdose it, this seems to me like a logical solution to pipe into your skimmer input venturi. For ~$60 it seems almost too good to be true. If I want/need more output, there are models in the $80-$100 range that do that... and, if I needed to regulate it, why not use my reefkeeper to turn it off/on at intervals of whatever makes sense?

I look forward to your comments and experience.

 

[ameares8]

That is funny that you ask that. I have posted one of these for sale. I work in the hot tub industry and we use these on our tubs. I decided to hook one up to my Red Sea Max through the venturi on my skimmer. It worked rather well for 6 months until I tore the tank down. I am no longer using it on my 55 so I am selling it. It is that exact unit, so if you find one ( or want mine) I would highly suggest using it. I never had a problem from it and they don't require controlers. I thought about putting mine on a timer for the day, but never really needed to. I hope this helps.

 

[carlso63]

Hey Fu -


I may have an even better solution:




Just $40 including shipping... ordered and paypal'ed last Wednesday afternoon, it was in my mailbox Saturday... but I haven't hooked it up yet. Built in timer, all digital, 4 ozone level settings (25-50-75-100%), seperate air pump, all tubing, etc.

Only reason I haven't hooked it up yet is nowhere in the manual or on the website does it give a "mg/hr" output on the ozonizer - so, right now, I don't know what 100% actually equals in output... if I had to guess I'd say 100% is probably 200 - 300 mg. Which would mean 25% = 50 - 75 mg/hr, 50% = 100 - 150 mg / hr, etc.... But I don't want to guess on something like that, especially since I don't have an ORP controller...

SO, I emailed the company (siptechnologies.com) yesterday to ask what the max (100%) O3 output was... just waiting for their answer to figure out where I want to set it to use on my 225.

Otherwise, looks like a great deal (well built, timer programming looks easy, has a plug in remote LED that lights up when the O3 is on so you could tell just at a glance, etc...

SO, somethink to think about.

- Bob

P.S - See you over at the WMAS!

 

[tufacody]

I have owned a few hot tubs, and these ozone units burn out fast. I've never had one last more than a year. In addition ozone w/o a dryer, especially in a hot tub environment, and given the small sizes of these units, would likely be very inneffective. Frankly I think they are just a gimmick for hot tubs and an add-on sale to jack the price a little.

 

[carlso63]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14536685#post14536685 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tufacody
I have owned a few hot tubs, and these ozone units burn out fast. I've never had one last more than a year. In addition ozone w/o a dryer, especially in a hot tub environment, and given the small sizes of these units, would likely be very inneffective. Frankly I think they are just a gimmick for hot tubs and an add-on sale to jack the price a little.

I don't disagree with that, tufacody- especially with the warm humid enviroment around a hot tub.

The one I got is not from a hot tub- it is meant for use in disinfecting water cooler reserviors... also, "Fu" & I both live in a rather dry climate (Utah) so air dryers are not as much of a neccessity out here - several local Club members run their O3 units (Red Sea, Ozotechs & eBay types alike) without one and still get decent performance.

Of course, you could always add one, too...

 

[ameares8]

Ozone generators do work very well in spas. They reduce the amount of chemicals you have to use in your spa by a very large margin. Some models do require you to replace the chip every year, but some people do not tell you that. We now use a model by a company called Balboa nd they are a bit more efficient for what we need them to do. It is jsut like everything else...you get what you pay for.

 

[tufacody]

A "chip" replacement for a burnt out ozone? I don't think so. I've owned Catalina, Hot Springs and Sundance, and at least two were balboa.

I did test this last summer with my ORP probe. Absolutely no differance when the ozone was on. I liked to think that it resulted in less chemicals as well, but it just doesn't. Its just one more thing they can charge you for, one reason to feel better about the fact that you are bathing in less chlorine (when you really aren't) and one more thing they can charge you for when it breaks.

Maybe the dry air in Utah makes a differance, but certainly not here in Minnesota, even in the winter.

 

[carlso63]

I have family in MN

and have been there in the winter

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ameares8]

Maybe your ozone was "burnt out", but some people are not aware that there is a chip in there on some models that does need to be replaced. I work at Four Winds so I can't tell you what Catalina and the rest of them use. I know for a fact that two people that installed them on there tubs have not used much chemicals at all compared to what they were before. Also, do not use chlorine. We use bromine with our applications and that may make a difference. Chlorine is the worst kind of chemical you could use in my opinion.

By the way sorry to hijack your thread. I didn't mean to turn this into a hot tub forum.

 

[tufacody]

Corona discharge units by their very function will not last forever. That's one of the nice things about the Ozotech - you can replace the electrode. These other units are throw aways.

Personally I prefer chlorine. I find it lasts longer and I use less than I would bromine.

 

[ameares8]

To each his own. If you know how to balance your chemicals (most reefers do) than you can use chlorine, but I have a lot of people call me and complain they have burnt up their pillows or cover due to screwed up chemicals. Bromine is just a little more dummy friendly I guess you could say. You can still misuse it, don't get me wrong. I just think it is not as harsh.