Mineral pool conversion to freshwater

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!

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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 pool system uses 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:

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Causes damage to outdoor furniture near your pool.

naked poolCauses damage to pool equipment.

Requires expensive ongoing bags of mineral salts.

naked poolYou need to thoroughly wash swimwear after a swim or the mineral water can damage your swimwear.

naked poolMineral 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.

Salt water 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 freshwater 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 system 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 pool system 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?

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Introducing freshwater pools

While the other pool systems 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 systems are actually thriving.

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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 system 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.

Installation is quick and straightforward.

Find out more

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