Ozone - Chlorine – Bromine, they are all used to sanitize the spa. Ozone is the only one that does not contribute to the TDS accumulation. I will not suggest or recommend the virtues of one over the other, but chlorine and bromine both contribute and accumulate in the TDS. They alone, however do not make a "chemical soup". You have to stir in some pH adjusters along with alkalinity increaser, some stain and scale, more chlorine, and or bromine, accompanied by some anti-foam, water clarifier, and the list can go on. Add to this, some perspiration, body waste materials, dead skin, shampoo and hair and Cover it to simmer at 102°. This is what I would call a “chemical stew” and a good reason for us to change our water 3 to 4 times a year, if not more often, as needed.
On the other hand, some of us may not be all too familiar with such a “chemical stew”. While we still may use chlorine or bromine, some of us regularly, some of us occasionally, but nevertheless, as needed, accompanied by ozone. Ozone does a terrific job of keeping clean water and not needing a lot of those “unnecessary” chemicals that blend together to create a “chemical stew”.
On service, I have seen a lot of bad water that would qualify as “chemical stew”. People seem to think it’s normal, but it would gag others. The first thing I check is the Ozonator and sure enough, it’s dead. We put a new ozonator on, change the filter, add new water and the customer continues to be amazed with water clarity a month later.
The point is, we don’t need to contend with “chemical soup” or “chemical stew”, but more often than not, IF you have “chemical stew”, you don’t have ozone, or one that works.