UVC sanitizer and ozone cleaning spas with bromine

[Lcharapich]

I have an MSPA Frame Series Duet with a UVC sanitizer and ozone system. There really isn't a good instruction manual for how to use these two systems.

I have chosen to crush bromine tablets to get my spa to bank the bromine so bromine shows up on test strips Instead of using a sodium bromide due to reading that might cause cancer. I heard UV systems shouldn't use sodium bromide. But then I also read ozone can cause bromates which are assume to be a carcinogen. So now I am confused on when to use ozone a when to you use the UVC system. So how do I prevent bromates from forming in my spa water?

I have ordered the Taylor K-1004 DPD to better test the chemicals since these strips seem un reliable.

I also am not sure how often I should use non chlorine shock. I bought some HTH non chlorine shock, but I think after I have used this up I will use bleach. Sometimes I have read you should do a tablespoon per user every time it is used of the non chlorine shock HTH.

 

[Mdragger88]

Here’s the bromine guide

How do I use Bromine in my Spa or Hot Tub?

Originally Posted by waterbear There is a lot of misinformation on the proper way to use Bromine so I hope this primer is helpful. First, you need to establish a bromide reserve in the water. Bromine tablets can do it by themselves but it can take literally weeks until enough dissolves. Some...

www.google.com

The tablets likely have sodium bromide in them so either way is a similar result.
The difference is that the tablets also contain an oxidizer so they “activate” themselves whereas sodium bromide alone needs a separate oxidizer/“activator”.
This can be ozone, mps, or chlorine.
Here’s some more info on bromine

Sodium Bromide - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Ozone + bromine can create bromates
I’ll let @JoyfulNoise elaborate on the relationship

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Honestly I wouldn’t bother with bromine in a hot tub, although some people swear that it’s better. I would just use chlorine in the tub and disable the ozonator and UV source, depending on the systems used. A lot of the ozone equipment on tubs are just useless toys. Real ozone systems and higher power UV sources are expensive and require routine maintenance to keep them running properly so I can only imagine how tub manufacturers skimp to save money but claim their tubs will be so easy to manage.

Bromates are bad but you have to realize that only a small fraction of bromine gets converted to bromates and that will happen no matter what the oxidation source is. But good tub hygiene should require you to dump the water every 2-3 months and start over. So, in that short time period, you’re not going to get any significant bromate exposure … assuming you’re not drinking large quantities of hot tub water