Keeping the water in your swimming pool safe and healthy for everyone to enjoy is a major part of being a responsible pool owner. While chlorine is the most popular pool sanitiser, there are alternative options and avenues you can take. should you wish to use a less-harsh chemicals.
There are many reasons pool owners opt for chlorine alternatives or search for solutions to limit its use. From avoiding allergies and skin irritations, to reducing red eyes and odour, if you want to explore other chemicals to keep your pool clean, we have compiled a list of recommendations.
Bromine
- Bromine is an acceptable substitute for those who suffer from reactions to chlorine
- It is a great sanitiser, but cannot oxidize as well as chlorine
- Remains stable at high temperatures and is therefore often used in spas
- It is also in the same halogen chemical family as chlorine, so if you don’t want to alter your sanitation too much, consider bromine
- Whilst used often in spas, practically it is hard to manage a pool’s sanitation with bromine.
Ionizers
- Ionizers rely on two dissimilar metals, often copper (an algaecide) and silver (a sanitiser)
- The device uses a low voltage DC current to send these two metals into the water
- The positive charge attracts germs, algae, and bacteria. They form large compounds which can then be carried out in the filtration system
- Won’t cause skin irritations, but ionizers rely on the pool pump continuously running to keep the water sanitised
- You will therefore need to combine an ionising system with an oxidiser such as a salt chlorination system, however you will only require a small amount of chlorine than in a chlorinated pool.
- There are a number of brands of ionising systems on the market – one we recommend is the Naked Pools Naked 1 system.
Ozonators
- An ozonator machine inserts ozone gas – an active form of oxygen – into the pool to react with the water’s impurities
- There are two types of ozonators: UV light and corona discharge
- Ozonotors can reduce chlorine usage up to 90% and uses the same amount of electricity as a 60-watt light bulb when the filtration pump is turned on
- Similarly, an ozone system requires the pump to flow continuously to keep the water sanitised and therefore needs to be combined with an oxidiser such as chlorine.
- There are also a number of brands of ozone systems on the market – one we recommend is the Maytronics Mineral Swim system.
Get All Your Pool Needs at Perth Pool Professionals
Regardless of what type of chemical you want to use to clean and sanitise your pool, our team at Perth Pool Professionals can answer all of your questions, and help you find the best solution for your swimming pool needs.
Browse our selection of products or get in touch with us today to learn more.