Ozone and Spas

 What way can you keep your spa clean - WITHOUT chemicals......or at least very little? That's where an ozone generator can come in useful.  Ozone generators have been factory-installed on hot tubs for about 25 years. Have you ever thought about what’s IN your spa?Your spa contains heated water. That water needs to be treated to stay fresh. 

Hot tub manufacturers realized that installing ozone generators on their hot tubs would be helpful, especially if you want to reduce your chemical usage. Ozone will provide a powerful sanitizing component for their hot tubs as a first line of defense,  protecting you and your family from viruses and bacteria. At the same time, it makes water chemistry components much easier to deal with. Ozone does NOT eliminate the need for small quantities of back up sanitation, but it does greatly reduce the need for bromine or chlorine.Ozone is organic, biodegradable, 100% natural, AND 3,000 times FASTER than chlorine at killing anti-microbials (which is a fancy word for viruses and bacteria).

What exactly is Ozone?  Ozone is a gas made up of three oxygen atoms.  It doesn't keep the three atoms for long. Oxygen is made up of two atoms. Here is what happens - as soon as ozone finds an oxidizeable substance (virus, bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, body oils, other sticky stuff), ozone does its job and is gone. So, if the spa is dirty, ozone’s probably done it’s job in milliseconds.  If the spa is clean, ozone gets a little bored and might travel into the spa.  All spas are different. Ask your dealer if your spa contains an ozonator if you are interested. 

Just remember this - Ozone does NOT eliminate the need for chlorine or bromine. It reduces the amount which you need to put in.

What if my skin can't take chlorine?

When we talk to customers at spa shows and the subject of spa care comes up, one of the questions that occasionally gets asked is: What if my skin can't handle chlorine or bromine? 

For those of us with extra sensative skin, we encourage you to check out BAQUASpa. BAQUASpa provides powerful, long-lasting protection against bacteria. Its very easy to use, bromine-free and chlorine-free, so it's gentle on your eyes, hair and skin.  


Keeping your spa water clean & fresh shouldn't have to irritate your skin. A few minutes in the spa can soak away the aches, strains and general stress of everyday life. No wonder spa owners look for the same things from the products they use: simple, no-nonsense protection against bacteria, and water that is fresh, clear and inviting. 

Thinking About Buying a Hot Tub? Read This...

Generally speaking, the words “hot tub” and “spa” mean the same thing. If you are thinking about getting a hot tub, you'll want to consider the best value for your budget within the “portable” spa category. Portable means that your spa can be moved easily.

Here are some factors to consider in your buying process.

Size: Spa size is typically affected by the available space which you have in your desired location, and by the number of people you want your spa to hold.

Comfort: The comfort of the hot tub's seating is very important. To ensure that your comfort level is met, be sure to sit in the spa before purchasing. It's also highly recommended that you “wet test” the spa; this will give you the best indication of how comfortable it is for you and other intended users. Comfort factors include seating depth and variety, footwell space, lounge fit, access to hottub controls, ease of entry and exit, and cushioned headrests.

Hydrotherapy Performance: This area is highly subjective. Some people want a powerful hydromassage, while others only want to use their spa primarily for soaking. If you're looking to maximize your hydromassage experience, consider the types of jets and the jet placement. Don't be fooled by jet count alone. What's more important is jet variety and how the jets are positioned within the spa. A spa that provides maximum hydrotherapy will address all of the body's major muscle groups. You'll also want to consider jet flow adjustability, the features that allow you to customize your massage by regulating the amount of air and/or water supplied to the jets.

Air Jet System: Many hot tubs feature an air jet system that produces air bubbles from fittings throughout the spa to provide a very gentle soft–tissue massage. While this isn't an essential feature, many people enjoy the sensation it provides.

Reliability: Buying a hot tub that will last over time is an important consideration for most potential spa owners. Look for a spa that is well-built, uses high-quality materials and components, and is backed by a reputable dealer. Length of time in business and reputations can tell you a great deal. Finally, ask for a copy of the warranty, and determine if the dealer and hottub manufacturer are willing and prepared to support it.

Ease of Maintenance: Most likely, you're looking for a hot tub that won't require a lot of your time to keep the water clean and clear, and that will preserve its appearance over time.
To maintain good water quality, consider a Corona Discharge (CD) ozone generator. This type of ozone generator will reduce the amount of sanitizer needed, and help keep the water crisp and clean. CD systems last longer than alternative ozone systems. Also, consider the type of filtration system and square footage of filtration. Generally, “premium” spas feature small circulation pumps that continuously filter the water and provide the necessary flow to allow the heater to constantly maintain the set temperature.

Energy Efficiency: Your spa's operating cost will be primarily determined by its ability to retain heat. Ensure that the hottub has effective insulation for the shell and plumbing. Full foam insulation surrounding the shell, combined with a custom fit spa cover that forms an insulated barrier around the bar top, are essential to keeping heat in and cold out.

Clean That Filter

How long your spa filter lasts will depend on the type of water care system you are using, how well you care for the filters, as well as the type of filters you have. Here are a few tips! 

Proper filter care is very important. If filters are not cared for properly or disposed in the appropriate amount of time, not only will water clarity be difficult to maintain, but major mechanical failures can occur.

During the last several years that we have been in business, we have had over 20 different filters for our hot tub models! These filters fall into 3 main categories:

• Standard paper filters*
  
• MicroClean II filters (For 880 series Sundance spas 2005+)
  
• Tri-X filters (optional for All Hot Spring models and standard on the larger models 2006+)
  

Standard paper filters have a life expectancy of 1 ½ - 2 years if cared for properly.

• Baqua Spa: For tubs on the BaquaSpa chemical system, follow the 2x2 system. Every TWO weeks, please remove your filter and rinse with water. Every TWO months, soak your filter(s) overnight in the BaquaSpa filter cleaning solution.
  
  
• Nature II/Chlorine: For tubs on the nature II/chlorine system, the filters should be soaked in Brilliance for spas filter cleaner every time you drain your spa.

Micro-Clean 

*Please note that the small white micro clean filter for older Sundance spas and current 780 series Sundance spas MUST be replaced every 3-4 months! This cannot be cleaned!

Micro-Clean II

MicroClean II filters should last anywhere  from 6-9 months depending on hot tub use. Cleaning this product in a filter cleaning solution will cause it to disintegrate.

• Baqua Spa: For tubs on the BaquaSpa chemical system, spa performance will be greatly increased by remove the filter and rinsing with a hose on a monthly basis
  
  
• Nature II/Chlorine: For tubs on the nature II/chlorine system, the filter should not need to be rinsed.

Tri-X filters have a life expectancy of up to 5 years.

• Baqua Spa: Soak your filters in "BaquaSpa filter cleaner" over night at least every 3 months. Do not put your filters in the dishwasher
  
  
• Nature II/Chlorine: Because the filters can become clogged with body oils, they should be chemically cleaned every 3-4 months using “Brilliance Filter Cleaner”
  
  

• Dishwasher cleaning: As long as you're not using BaquaSpa, you can put the tri-x filters in the dishwasher, but we do not suggest this as the only method of cleaning them. If you choose to occasionally clean your filters this way, make sure there is no detergent in the water, no rinse agent present and that your dishwasher is not on the dry cycle.

This should give you a few tips on filters. Please write in with any other questions. 

Chlorine for your spa

To keep water clean in most soft sided hot tubs, a diluted form of chlorine should be used. (Sodium Dichlor).
There isn't nearly as much water as a pool, so you shouldn't need as much. About a tablespoon or two of granular chlorine once per week is sufficient.

Dichlor has a neutral ph and is also stabilized. It is the perfect sanitizer for hot tubs. Some people may argue that the stabilizer builds up over time, but if you drain your spa on a regular schedule it should not be an issue.

Here are a few other options.

Calcium Hypochlorite:  Cal-Hypo as we call it in the industry is loaded with calcium and has a high hH. This may help if you fill your tub with soft water, and it adds the calcium. Continuous use however will raise your pH swiftly and your calcium levels as well and could cause scaling on your hot tub walls and your equipment, mainly heater elements.  As an emergency sanitizer or one time use, it probably wont hurt.  It just shouldnt be the chlorine you use all the time.  If you do use it, you should test your water frequently and adjust for ph levels that will increase!

Sodium Hypochlorite:  Better known as "Bleach. It too can be used in emergencies but also has an extremely high pH which over time will cause scaling and possible staining.  Using Sodium Hypochlorite requires watching your pH levels closely and correction will be required.   

Tri Chlor:  Typically used in tabletized chlorine for swimming pools, tri chlor has an extremely LOW pH and a very high available chlorine content.  It will bring down your pH and Total alkalinity quickly and should not be used for hot tubs.