GENESIS FAQ'S
GENESIS Bromine Generators
Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will the GENESIS save me money on chemicals?
A: On average, spa owners spend several hundred dollars a year on chemicals.
GENESIS owners can easily spend less than $130 per year (5-6 bottles sodium
bromide, pH up/down, alkalinity, test kit = $130).
Q: What other advantages are there to equipping my tub with the GENESIS?
A: Metered water users will save money by changing water annually instead
of quarterly. You will also save on hydro because you don’t have
to heat cold water during quarterly changeovers. GENESIS is also a time
saver – you will make fewer trips to the store for chemicals, you
only need to empty and fill the spa once a year and there is significantly
less daily maintenance.
Q: Why won’t I have to drain my spa every
three months like I’ve done in the past?
A: The main reason you need to drain your spa every three months is because
the total dissolved solids (TDS) in your water increase every time you
add chemicals, and when TDS gets too high, your chemicals do not work
effectively. With the Genesis Generator, there is no more buildup of tablet
by-products (like the glues and binders used to hold bromine & chlorine
tablets together) because the Genesis generates pure bromine.
Q: Why use bromine and not chlorine for spa
sanitizing?
A: Chlorine is an extremely corrosive chemical and may damage spa equipment.
Chlorine also readily evaporates at about 97 degrees (most spas are heated
above 100). For these reasons, bromine is more popular for hot tubs and
spas.
Q: Do I still have to test my water for sanitizer
level, etc?
A: Yes. It remains important to monitor how much bromine is in your water
- that is how you will be able to determine the correct setting for your
GENESIS. (The recommended level of free bromine in your spa is 3-5ppm).
Q: Do I still need a bromine generator if I
have an ozonator?
A: All hot tubs and spas are required to use a sanitizer, and while ozone
is an effective oxidizer, it is not a recognized sanitizer. The GENESIS
can be used in conjunction with an ozonator.
Q: How long has GENESIS been available?
A: Available to the US public since March 2001, it received registration
for sale in Canada December 2004. The technology was several years in
R&D prior to its release.
Q: After my GENESIS is installed, do I still
have to check my hot tub's chemistry?
A: Yes. When it comes to water quality, chemistry is KEY! Maintain proper
pH and total alkalinity (pH has a direct relationship to the effectiveness
of bromine to sanitize water).
Q: Will there be less or no bromine odor with
the GENESIS?
A: Yes. The electronic field around the bromine-generating cell destroys
“bromamines”. Bromamines are the culprits when it comes to
a strong objectionable odor, not the bromine itself. GENESIS manufactures
100% bromine.
Q: How many hours a day will I have to operate
my spa's pump once I install GENESIS?
A: Most GENESIS -equipped spas operate at 4 hours of water circulation
per day, but if you find that your “INCREASE/DECREASE” dial
is at a high setting, but your bromine level is lower than desired, you
might want to run the pump for up to 8 hours per day. Remember that all
spas are unique (different bather loads, etc.). Within a short time, you
will be able to determine the right circulation cycle for your particular
spa.
Q: How can I be absolutely sure that my GENESIS
is working?
A: A bromine test strip or a standard liquid reagent (available at Ashton
Pools) will show the actual bromine level in the spa's water, assuring
a safe, clean environment. Bromine is a recognized chemical sanitizer.
GENESIS produces bromine using a bromide salt conversion process. The
bromine created by GENESIS is just as effective as bromine introduced
via tablets – and it is free of the impurities found in the tablets!!
Q: Why does the display go to a minus (-) every
few minutes?
A: This indicator informs you that the polarity of the electrodes is changing
every four minutes. This process is for the cleaning of the electrode
cell to prevent any “scale” buildup.
Q: The water I put in my spa has high
metal/mineral content. Now that I have GENESIS, is it OK for me to treat
the water with metal removers and scale inhibitors like I have in the
past?
A: It is fine to use metal removers and/or scale inhibitors – just
make certain that they do not contain PHOSPHATES.
So how does this technology work?
The Genesis system is installed inside the spa skirt.
There is a digital control box connected to a chamber that holds an electrode
cell. A special salt called sodium bromide is added to the spa water. As the spa water circulates
through the system, the salt is split and broken down into usable bromine.
The Genesis brominating system manufactures 100% pure bromine, which later
reverts back to its original salt form. Thus, an endless supply of bromine
is present in your tub.
The Genesis system will produce the level of bromine
necessary in keeping your spa looking clean and clear. You will no longer
need to add tablets to the spa, or shock it on a weekly basis. New salt
will need to be added only when water is lost due to splashing or when
the tub is drained and refilled. The salt is not lost due to evaporation.
The system's electrodes are comprised of high density, ultra-porous "graphite".
The controller operates at extremely low DC voltages, resulting in the
electrical cost of operation at just pennies a day. The electrodes are
virtually impervious to harsh chemicals and the oxidation process. Still,
over time, the flow of water will erode the replaceable cell. The cell
carries a full five-year warranty.
The system fits neatly inside any spa skirt and
takes a qualified technician just minutes to install. The electrode cell
is mated to a simple 2" slip X slip X threaded Tee fitting and is
then connected to the DC-out wires of the controller. Less than 30 watts
of total DC power is digitally pulsed across the electrode cell, producing
bromine from bromide salt.
| Initial Addition Rates of NaBr |
| Spa Volume (L) |
1000 |
1100 |
1200 |
1300 |
1400 |
1500 |
1600 |
1700 |
1800 |
1900 |
2000 |
2100 |
| Initial App. of NaBr (kg) |
2.5 |
2.75 |
3 |
3.25 |
3.5 |
3.75 |
4 |
4.25 |
4.5 |
4.75 |
5 |
5.25 |
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