Ozone, Ionic, UV, Mineral Systems

Now let's take a look at some products that help you enjoy cleaner and gentler pool water and allow you to dedicate less time to maintaining your pool's water and chemical levels

Ionizers and Mineral Purifiers

Ionizers and mineral purifiers cannot by themselves keep your pool clean, what they do is reduce pool algae and bacteria by working in harmony alongside your swimming pool's sanitation system. Therefore whether you use chlorine, salt or any other shock treatment you must continue to maintain water with chemicals levels that are safe to swim in. If you don't your pool water will be unsafe for swimming.

In essence, these systems help reduce the time spent maintaining your pool whilst reducing the number of chemicals you use to keep your pool safe and sound, they say you can effectively reduce chlorine use by up to 40%....wowser

Pool ionizers

Pool ionizers use electricity to produce copper ions (to kill algae) and silver ions (to kill bacteria) within your pool plumbing. A low voltage current runs from a plate in your pool's sub panel, energizing copper and silver electrodes. Also, a voltage is applied to metallic electrodes situated within your plumbing pipe. This current transforms the copper and silver electrode's atoms into an ion. The passing water introduces the ions into your pool, whereupon they encounter and kill microorganisms.

Ionizers don't dissipate, or evaporate and are unaffected by pH, temperature, aeration and sunlight meaning you will take less time adjusting your pH levels and the ions last longer in water than chlorine.

One point to note is that if you have a stain and scale problem you must treat the water at the source (hose pipe/tap) using a metal trap filter, do not use stain and scale chemicals as these not only remove iron and calcium but will also remove the ions.

Mineral Purifiers

Mineral purifiers are eco-friendly and once again are a low-chlorine option keeping your pH balanced and improving alkalinity levels. Another point of note is mineral purifiers like Nature2 automatically dispense the correct amount of minerals into your pool water, which controls silver/copper levels preventing staining.

It is recommended that you regularly replace your mineral purifier cartridge when you open your pool or every 6 months, this removes the need to worry about your pool liner staining due to the build-up of excess minerals.

Ultraviolet (UV) Systems

Ultraviolet (UV) Systems make your pool safe, fun and easier to manage by taking the power of ultraviolet light to reduce chemical levels and kill chlorine by-products. 99.5% of pool pathogens are destroyed by UV systems, potentially reducing chemical usage by up to 90%, whilst eliminating toxic chloramines.

UV work by passing water at a specific flow rate through the UV lamp. The light from the lamp kills pathogens and contaminants in the pool water, but don't think it does it in the same way as chlorine, it does not, it fundamentally makes the containments inert and stops reproduction. UV systems should be used in conjunction with other pool chemicals like chlorine and saltwater systems.

Ozonators

We sell thousands of hot tub ozones and now they are becoming more popular in the swimming pool world. The ozone decomposition leaves behind oxygen, whilst chlorine produces toxic chloramines which affect the eyes and leaves that chlorine smell on the body. A high voltage ionization process creates ozone gas - O3.

There are 2 ways of creating O3 - 1) Ultraviolet radiation treatment, but the UV process produces less gas about 5% ozone compared to the 2) Ionization process which produces about 20% ozone.

Ozone is a strong oxidizer, believe it or not, but about 100 times stronger than chlorine, breaking down grease and oils. Ozone doesn't affect pH levels, meaning pH levels need to be adjusted less often. Once again another system that allows less use of chemicals over time.