Salt water vs cholorine

[DnG]

We recently bought a hot springs pulse that has not been delivered yet. The promotion running was a feee salt water system. The reps we talked to (who were very low pressure) did not recommend the system. They said they had only sold a handful in the past couple years.

We ended up going with chlorine with the ozonator and silver ion. We got a good deal in lieu of the salt water system. Now I’m wondering if we made a mistake.

What are your thoughts on salt water systems?

[Marco P]

Ive heard they can be really nice, but iirc you have to do slightly more water balancing.

[Tman122]

We recently bought a hot springs pulse that has not been delivered yet. The promotion running was a feee salt water system. The reps we talked to (who were very low pressure) did not recommend the system. They said they had only sold a handful in the past couple years.

We ended up going with chlorine with the ozonator and silver ion. We got a good deal in lieu of the salt water system. Now I’m wondering if we made a mistake.

What are your thoughts on salt water systems?

In a salt generator tub, salt is used to create chlorine.

[Marco P]

which then sanitizes the water. it's a bit misleading as it still uses chlorine. it produces it by i believe electrolysing the salt water.

[TemptingDestiny]

The Ace Salt Water system CAN be absolutely amazing if you are taught well on how it works and how to use it.
It does create chlorine. Which saves you (depending on usage) of having to manually dose the water. Water stays cleaner, longer- because you aren't dumping all the shelf stable product in.
However, you still have to learn what setting is right for you.

On a positive note, you can always upgrade to the Ace System. You aren't required to have one or the other for the lifetime of the tub.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

   Salt systems do not play well with hard water either. 

[Marco P]

yeah. mineral deposits will clog it faster than you can say mineral deposits
which will mean a new cell or cleaning it out delicatly.

[DnG]

Thanks for the feedback!

[Chas]

You must run ACE in soft water only. There are many ways to accomplish that.

If your source water is soft, you're set.
You can buy a water softener - like the small tank-type many folks use for an RV. Easy to use, 'recharge' manually, not very often.
You can use the "Vanishing Act" product which is available through HS dealers. You set it on the return fitting at the bottom of the spa, and take it out 24 hours later. Longer if your water hardness is extreme.

Keep the water soft, and balanced, and you'll get three or four years out of a cell. If you don't keep the water just right, you'll get a couple of years out of the cell - and they are around $700 to buy, DIY install is easy.

HTH