A clear, explanation on most pool sanitation systems available
A clear, explanation on most pool sanitation systems available
The current market is flooded with so many different pool sanitation options available to the consumer that many people find it all confusing. Below is a brief, clear explanation of each system and how it works.
Chlorine Injection systems: (Chemigem & Rolachem-automated dosing systems) These systems use chlorine as the main disinfectant and also balance the pH of the water through monitoring ORP (Oxidation reduction Potential) & pH, these units require a constant supply of liquid chlorine & pool acid to be supplied to the dosing unit. These systems although seemingly automated do require regular probe cleaning & calibration. They also require stabiliser to be added to the pool and maintained at around 50-70 ppm (Parts per million), chlorine is easily zapped out by the sun and needs the stabiliser to hold it in the pool for longer. Stabiliser is Isocyanuric acid, which is actually a derivative of cyanide . Liquid chlorine has a high PH of 11 -13 and therefore requires a lot of acid to counteract the ph spikes from chlorine, this is how these systems maintain a pH level, the chlorine feeds in first and then the pool acid is then injected soon after to reduce the ph back to its set point. These systems can work well but are relatively expensive to run and are prone to problems from probe failures to internal injection components corroding and needing regular servicing / replacement due to the corrosive nature of the liquid chlorine & pool acid being used. These systems are mid to high range in running costs.
Salt Chlorinated Pools: Salt pools are a chlorine based pool, the purpose of adding salt to the pool is purely to generate chlorine gas which is produced by the chlorinator cell to chlorinate the water. The salt in a salt-water pool is approximately 1/8 of the salt content in the oceans and is maintained at around 5000 ppm. Salt chlorinators have an electrolytic cell containing a series of around 5-7 metal plates, water passes the electrically charged plates and produces chlorine. They also require stabiliser to be added to the pool and maintained at around 50-70 ppm (Parts per million), chlorine is easily zapped out by the sun and needs the stabiliser to hold it in the pool for longer. Stabiliser is Isocyanuric acid, which is actually a derivative of cyanide. Algaecides (basically liquid copper) are required to be added occasionally to keep algae away particularly during winter time. The annual chemical running costs on this system are low to mid range.
Magna Pool/Mineral Pool: These pools are exactly the same as a salt chlorination pool but using magnesium salts rather than pool salt. Magnesium and minerals does not kill bacteria, they do not disinfect however the magnesium salt is converted to chlorine and it is the chlorine that kills the bacteria. Though magnesium is good for you (I take magnesium capsules daily for good health) it adds a soft feel to the chlorinated pool. In essence these pools are a chlorine pool with magnesium salt added. As chlorine is the substance that is killing the bacteria it will also require stabiliser, chlorine is easily zapped out by the sun and needs stabiliser to hold it in the pool for longer. Stabiliser is Cyanuric acid, which is derived from cyanide. Algaecides (basically liquid copper) are required to be added occasionally to keep algae away. These systems are very expensive to run with addition of mineral salts often required.
Ozone Swim: This is a relative newcomer to the market and put simply is a corona discharge Ozone unit (the type that generates Nitric acid in humid conditions) coupled with a salt water chlorinator. They also require stabiliser to be added to the pool and maintained at around 50-70 ppm (Parts per million), chlorine is easily zapped out by the sun and needs the stabiliser to hold it in the pool for longer. Stabiliser is Isocyanuric acid, which is actually a derivative of cyanide. The running costs for these systems is low to mid range.
Hydroxypure System: This system is using a hybrid CD Ozone which produces nitric acid in the presence of humidity. The System requires H2O2 Poppits to be added by a automatic feeding probe all year round. This automatic feeding probe can only be used for Peroxide only. Unless the Ph levels are maintained within the specified parameters the measuring of the peroxide can be inaccurate and lead to under or over dosing of the Peroxide, which will cause an unstable pool environment. Due to the many environmental factors that can affect Ph and Total Alkalinity, which in turn affects the stability of the peroxide, these pools can be very difficult to maintain. This sanitation residual can be measured by using test strips. There is no chlorine added or produced by this system. The chemical costs to run this system annually are on the highest end.
King Neptune Synergistic System: This system is using Ozone Generation, this ozone is produced by the safe UV with has no nitric acid as a by product. This system is supplemented with Ozone Accelerator as the main sanitiser, Ozone Activator as the oxidiser and Ozone clear as another sanitiser and Ozone Algazone as the algaecide. The main sanitation using Ozone gas and Ozone liquid creates a synergy of oxygen in the water that kills bacteria viruses and fungi; this Ozone accelerator sanitation residual can be measured by using test strips. The Dosing unit feeds the Ozone Accelerator by use of a semi automatic dosing system and the rate of feed is set according to the test results, this unit feeds the product all year round. There is no chlorine added or produced by this system..
Note Optional: Using liquid chlorine during winter and Ozone Accelerator during the swimming season can reduce the annual chemical costs. The feeding dosing unit has the ability to dose either product The chemical costs to run this system annually are mid range.
Ionised Pools: (Bioniser, Eclear, Dontek, Aquamatics, Poolfresh) These have been around since the 80’s and are generally sold as chlorine free alternatives. These systems rely on a small electric current being passed between 2 copper & silver rods, these rods erode over time releasing copper / silver ions into the water. Copper silver systems are a better option than chlorine based systems, as the copper silver ions in the water are not affected by temperature or sunlight. Copper silver ions continue to work as a residual sanitiser / algaecide even when the pool equipment is switched off. Copper silver systems do require the addition of an oxidiser such as liquid chlorine or chlorine free oxygen based products such as Ozone Accelerator & Ozone Activator to be used to oxidise suntan oils, perspiration, dust and body fats. The annual chemical running costs on these systems are low to mid range.
Enviroswim / Naked Swim: These systems claim to be freshwater systems but in reality, they both use a small chlorinator cell, which is referred to, as an “oxidiser”, they generate low levels of chlorine and are generally used without stabiliser. These “oxidiser” cells are coupled with copper/silver ionisation, which is a tried and tested technology. Although the metal horizontal plates inside the cell are smaller than the standard chlorinator cell when the “oxidiser” dial is turned up - it can produce substantial amounts of chlorine. Ionisation is using copper and silver electrical anodes to release copper and silver ions into the water. Copper is used as an algaecide and Silver is used as a bactericide. Ionisation is not enough on its own and requires a supplemental oxidiser; Enviroswim and Naked Swim are using chlorine as their oxidiser.
Enviroswim has a small ultra-sonic device designed to reduce scale on the chlorinator cell. These systems have no need to add an algaecide as it is being produced automatically. These systems may require extra dosing of liquid chlorine during the peak swimming season. The annual chemical running costs on these systems are around low to mid range.
SwimFresh Oxy Silver System: The SwimFresh Oxy Silver System is combining 2 technologies that have been used independently in pool sanitation for many years. Ionisation is using Copper and Silver electrical anodes to release copper and silver ions into the water. Copper is used as an algaecide and Silver is used as a bactericide. Ionisation is not enough on its own, it also requires a supplementation oxidiser. The SwimFresh system uses Ozone as it oxidation. Ozone is so effective that it has been used in every Olympic pool since 1984. This is because ozone is the only thing that effectively kills gardia and cryptosporidium without the use of massive amounts of chlorine which are common public pool parasites. Ozone was discovered in 1840 and has been used to purify water and treat patients for more than 170 years. Some major cities in Europe have used ozone to purify the municipal water supply. The Los Angeles municipal water treatment facility uses ozone, and is the largest in the world. Most swimming pools in Europe & America use ozone rather than chlorine to purify water. It has been known for at least 100 years that ozone is highly germicidal in that it will almost instantly kill virtually all viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, molds, cancer, etc. It is known to oxidize just about all man made chemicals also. Ozone is used extensively in resorts, health retreats, medical treatments and hospitals since 1880. In regards to the pool during the peak swimming season when there is high swimmer loads and lots of fats, oils and suntan lotion, the SwimFresh System will require the addition of Ozone Activator which is an oxygen based product to be added fortnightly / monthly to supplement the oxidation. Some Pools also use Ozone Accelerator, which is a liquid form of ozone that works in synergy with the Ozone. The Ozone Accelerator residual can be measured with test strips if so required. No chlorine is added and no chlorine is produced by the SwimFresh Silver system. Ozone products only used during swimming season cost approx $200 per year. The Ozone produced by the SwimFresh Oxy Silver System is produced by specialised UV, which does not produce nitric acid. The annual chemical running costs on this system are low to mid range.
For a FREE brochure and more information on SwimFresh contact your local experienced dealer today.