After many years of swimming in chlorine pools, assuming it was the only option for effectively sanitising swimming pools, Australian’s started to ask, is there a less harmful way?
Saltwater pools became popular, followed by mineral pools. Both options reduce the need for high levels of straight chlorine, as well as the impact on the environment. Unfortunately, both options still require high mineral content to produce chlorine, the main residual sanitiser in the pool that can cause skin and eye irritation and damage pool equipment, surrounding outdoor furniture, and plants.
We decided it was time to come up with a sanitisation system that produces clean, smooth and pleasant swimming pool water. Our pool sanitisation system is designed to be a true competitor to salt and mineral pool systems. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about each type of system to decide for yourself!
What’s a mineral pool?
Mineral pools are heavily marketed as being a natural, healthy alternative due to their use of magnesium and potassium salts. However, they work by using minerals to produce chlorine. Your standard mineral pools use magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride to produce chlorine as the primary sanitiser. This also means they require the same additional chemicals that chlorine and salt-chlorinated pools require. Not what you want if you’re looking to avoid these things!
Though a mineral water swimming pool may appear gentler on skin, eyes and the surrounding gardens than a traditional chlorine swimming pool, damaging chemicals are still present. Clever marketing will have you believe that a mineral system is healthy for you, when in fact they’re not that different from chlorine.
The cost of minerals for these pools can be very expensive as well, requiring a large amount the first time you fill the pool and regular top-ups throughout the year. While there are benefits, it’s important to weigh them up with the alternatives as well and work out what’s best for you.
Disadvantages of mineral swimming pools
A mineral pool can be an improvement on a saltwater pool, but here are some of the disadvantages of a mineral system that still rely on a chlorine residual in your pool:
Causes damage to outdoor furniture near your pool.
Causes damage to pool equipment.
Requires expensive ongoing bags of mineral salts.
You need to thoroughly wash swimwear after a swim or the mineral water can damage your swimwear.
Mineral pool maintenance requires a lot of your attention and money.
Can cause skin irritation and affect your eyes, hair and breathing, especially for those with skin conditions and asthma.
Saltwater pools
Another alternative to chlorine is a salt water swimming pool. However, these pools suffer from many of the same issues mineral pools do. The truth is a saltwater pool is, in fact, a chlorine pool. It’s a common misconception that a saltwater pool has no chlorine, but it actually involves converting high levels of salt into chlorine to clean and sanitise your pool. So you are still producing your own chlorine to sanitise the pool.
The chlorine levels are lower in a saltwater pool than in a regular chlorinated pool, but a saltwater pool’s upkeep is more. It’s crucial to monitor and balance a saltwater pool to ensure the water doesn’t become too acidic, damaging any concrete parts of your pool and surroundings. Also, the saltwater will corrode pool equipment and you may need to convert aspects of your pool to salt-resistant. In addition, the power costs of running your saltwater system will be higher than a regular chlorine pool or a natural water pool.
Mineral pools vs saltwater pools
Mineral pools (also known as magnesium pools) is widely marketed as a healthier alternative to chlorine or salt water pools when in fact, magnesium is merely added to a pool systems and still produces chlorine as the primary sanitiser. Adding magnesium rather than standard pool salt may make the water gentler on the skin, hair and eyes. Unfortunately, adding magnesium to your salt chlorinator requires more maintenance, more costly products and more of your time.
Converting your salt water pool to a mineral pools is a little bit like a bandaid fix. It has some minor benefits that come with higher costs and more maintenance. Not to mention the taste of the water. Can you imagine drinking magnesium and potassium?
Introducing freshwater pools
While the other swimming pools we’ve covered here use chlorine, we’ve created an alternative that boasts higher water quality and lower chlorine vs saltwater or mineral systems.
The NKD-R Freshwater System uses natural minerals similar to those that come from a natural spring. These minerals, namely copper and silver, remain in the water as the residual sanitiser so that no additional chlorine is needed. Copper also naturally prevents algae growth and silver acts as a bactericide. The end result is pool water with less chlorine than your household tap!
The NKD-R Freshwater System also utilises natural minerals like magnesium and potassium. But with 80% less salt and other additives required than mineral systems, it’s simply a lot better for you. And because it doesn’t need to be diluted for re-use in your garden like mineral pool water does, it’s better for the environment too. In fact, builders are now finding that plants placed directly within the overflow edges of freshwater pools that use freshwater pool system are actually thriving.
Convert your existing pool to freshwater
A freshwater pool will save you up to 50% on running costs and free up your time to enjoy your outdoor sanctuary oasis without worrying about maintaining it! We can convert your current mineral pool or saltwater pool to a freshwater one, eliminating the negatives of traditional chlorine systems and giving you the benefits of freshwater at the same time.
No more skin irritation, better water quality, less maintenance, and lower costs. Discuss your needs with our team today for more information.
Swim in water the way nature intended
To convert your mineral pool to a freshwater pool for better water quality, contact us. Swim in water that’s better for you and your family, all while being environmentally friendly and economical. You’ll have more free time to enjoy the silky smooth feeling of swimming in a crystal clear, crisply clean swimming pool.
Book a FREE consultation to discuss your needs and receive personalised recommendations for your pool. Or if you prefer, you can share a few details about your current pool setup (system type, pool size, and location), we’ll be happy to guide you through your options.
What is a mineral pool, and how is it different from a traditional pool?
A mineral pool, sometimes sold as a mineral water pool or mineral water swimming pool, sounds like a different category of pool. In simple terms it is still a chlorine pool. You add bags of mineral blend, usually magnesium chloride, potassium chloride and sodium chloride. The chlorinator cell runs an electrical current through that water and turns those minerals into active chlorine. That chlorine is what actually sanitises the pool and keeps algae from taking off. So even if the label says “mineral pool”, you are still swimming in chlorinated water. The chlorine level can sit lower than an old high chlorine setup and the water can feel a bit softer on the skin, but it is not a chemical free pool.
Where we went a different way is with our freshwater system. Instead of pushing chlorine production and marketing it as minerals, we use controlled copper and silver ions that sit in the pool water all the time. Those ions handle the ongoing sanitising, so the pool only needs a very small amount of chlorine to stay safe.
What are the disadvantages of a mineral swimming pool compared to a freshwater pool?
People usually look at mineral pools because they want nicer feeling water and less hassle. The water can feel smoother than a harsh old chlorine pool and it often smells milder. The part that catches people later is that you are still running a chemical system. Sensitive swimmers can still come out with dry skin or irritated eyes. Metal parts like heaters, hand rails and light rings can still corrode over time because chlorine is still present.
Cost and upkeep are also part of the mineral swimming pool disadvantages that do not always get mentioned up front. Most mineral pool systems need regular top ups of those minerals, or in some cases replacement cartridges, and neither is cheap. You are testing and balancing magnesium, potassium, chlorine and pH, not just checking one number. Our Naked Pools freshwater system avoids most of that. The sanitising ions stay in the pool water constantly, so the pool runs at very low chlorine levels without constant mineral dosing or cartridge swaps.
Is a mineral pool easier to maintain than a chlorine or saltwater pool?
Not really. A lot of people hear mineral pool maintenance and picture something close to a self managing pool. What actually happens is the job list just changes. You are not pouring liquid chlorine in by hand every few days, but you are still checking chlorine levels, pH and alkalinity. You are also watching magnesium and potassium levels so the system can keep generating chlorine, and you are cleaning scale off the cell so it does not foul. Cartridge style systems also mean scheduled replacements and more spend.
With a Naked Pools freshwater system most owners are just keeping an eye on copper and silver levels, keeping basic balance in range and doing normal cleaning. Once it is set up, the system tends to sit there quietly without constant mineral top ups or shock treatments.
Can I convert my existing saltwater or mineral pool to freshwater?
Yes, you can. Converting an existing saltwater, mineral or traditional chlorine pool to a freshwater system does not mean tearing the pool apart. In most pools the shell, pump and filter stay in place. We install the Naked control unit and set it up to run with what is already there, whether you have a sand filter, glass media or a cartridge filter.
After we commission and balance the water, the pool is ready to swim. The first thing most people notice is feel. The water does not have that heavy chemical feel on your skin and you do not climb out of the pool wanting to rinse off straight away.
Is a freshwater pool better than a mineral pool?
The honest answer for most pool owners is yes. Mineral pools were sold as the next step after straight chlorine and saltwater. They do soften the water a little and they can lower chlorine levels a little, but they still rely on chlorine, they still need regular mineral top ups and they still expect you to juggle multiple test numbers.
A Naked Pools freshwater system keeps the water sanitised with controlled copper and silver ions plus a very small amount of oxidation. Those ions stay active in the pool water itself, so the protection is always there, even when the pump is off. The result is water that feels closer to clean freshwater than typical “pool water”, with less sting on eyes and skin and less spend on chemicals and cartridges over time.
"Our pool is so low maintenance and the odd time we need assistance the customer service has been amazing!"
Rachel Jan
Gold Coast
"The water quality is second to none and is gentle on the most sensitive of skin."
Natalie Finneran
"There aren’t many businesses left that provide after sales services like this anymore. Kudos to the Naked pools team."
Courtland Williams
"I’ve now had this system for over 2 years it’s been amazing - no more chemicals. Had 2 friends also made the switch to the naked system after my recommendation and have never looked back. "
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Causes damage to pool equipment.
Requires expensive ongoing bags of mineral salts.
You need to thoroughly wash swimwear after a swim or the mineral water can damage your swimwear.
Mineral pool maintenance requires a lot of your attention and money.
Can cause skin irritation and affect your eyes, hair and breathing, especially for those with skin conditions and asthma.
