Wasted money, IMHO. Ozone is a great oxidizer. Most undesired organics that come into contact with it are rendered either inert or dead. That being said, it can ONLY augment some of what chlorine does. It is useless against algae and any biologicals that are stuck to the walls. It is only effective near the point of injection and a short distance there after. Chlorine will do the same thing, just in some cases slower because of the concentrations used. In many cases, chlorine is faster. Chlorine is still needed at the same level in the pool. Ozone doesn't last long enough to leave a residual in the pool. It can't be tested for. Ozone only works when the pump is on. A properly chlorinated pool has enough chlorine to keep sanitizing the water when the pump is off. Ozone systems need periodic servicing. Bulbs, hoses, valves, all need periodic replacement. This is on top of the initial and additional cost of adding them. Just my $0.02 worth. Scott

I also have an in-floor cleaning system, the Paramount PCC2000, and like Michelle's post above my pool is always clean without any hoses in the way. Seems like if you go into any pool store you see all kinds of robotic cleaners on the shelf and all kinds of parts for these systems so I assume they must breakdown frequently or wear out which would be expected with anything mechanical. They probably do a decent job but I don't think they can clean steps, benches, or spas like an infloor system does. I have an ozone system on my pool and it works great. It converts oxygen into ozone using a UV lamp. It runs when the pump is running. You do need a "residual" amount of chlorine in the pool because it is important to have a little sanitizer in the water to help when the equipment is not operating. So I just use a little floating chlorine tablet dispenser. With the ozone system handing the bulk of the oxidizing (like 70 to 80% of it) I go through tablets very slowly. A nice thing about ozone is that is reverts to oxygen quickly if not used so it is very ecological friendly if that is important to you.

Minerals don't kill as fast as chlorine. Minerals don't kill everything. Minerals don't oxidize. This is one of chlorine's biggest tasks. Nothing reduces the amount of chlorine needed to sanitize pool water. Mineral packs cost significant money every few months for little or nothing gained, IMHO. Previous N2 packs have caused mineral staining. It isn't frequent but it has happened. Other brands have sad similar issues. Some pools are better off not using a cell to generate free chlorine. Sometimes its the age of the pool and other times its the materials used. Since yours would be a new pool, it would depend on the construction materials used as construction codes are in place to help reduce corrosion by electrolysis. You have several choices when it come to how you will be meeting a pool's chlorine demands. Reading TFP's Pool School section on How To Chlorinate Your Pool will help answer some of those questions and then some. It's evident you have no wish to reinvent the wheel. Scott

O.K., Well an amateur weighing in on this subject. We have a DelOzone system as well, but it is in combination with a SWCG. Our water is crystal clear as well, and with the SWCG we maintain chlorine levels at or near 1ppm with little to no effort. I just re-read your post and realize that you do have an chlorine source in conjunction with the ozone system, so as to why you are not maintaining chlorine, I do not have a good answer. I would start by verifying your numbers through a different test kit and/or your local pool store. It doesn't make sense that with your CYA level you are not maintaining chlorine in your pool. By the way, we have an 10 - 11 thousand gallon pool which has a raised 7' spa and our pool depth ranges from 3 1/2 - 5 feet. For sanitation we use the SWCG in combination with the Ozone system. My SWCG is currently (Summer Setting) at 40%, and I run my pump for 6 hours a day, 3 in the morning and another 3 in the late afternoon. Good luck with your problem and let us know what you find. Regards, Mike