A pool ionizer uses electricity to produce copper ions (which kill algae) and silver ions (which kill bacteria) within your pool's existing plumbing. A low voltage, DC current runs from a plate in your pool's sub panel. This current energizes copper and silver electrodes. A voltage is also applied to metallic electrodes that are within your plumbing pipe, causing an electrical current that transforms the copper and silver electrode's atoms into an ion. These ions are swept up in the passing water and introduced into your pool, where they float until they encounter a microorganism and kill it (copper ions will kill algae only and silver ions will only kill bacteria).
The Benefits of Using a Pool Ionizer
Ionizers continually release microscopic copper and silver ions into the water which helps control algae and bacteria without using as many chemicals. You'll spend less time adjusting your pool's pH levels with a pool ionizer. Ions last longer in your water than chlorine and bromine, they won't dissipate or evaporate and they are unaffected by pH, temperature, aeration and sunlight. Pool ionizers are a good, cost effective addition to your pool's sanitation system.
Use a Stain & Scale Product with Your Pool Ionizer
You should use a stain and scale product with your pool ionizer because of the high potential that the ionizer system will stain the interior surface of your pool if you overuse it. Excess copper can collect on your pool lining and give it a green-blue colour. Excess silver, which reacts with sunlight, can build up and create black stains. However, when you use the electric pool ionizers properly and they release the right amount or mineral ions they won't cause stains. Still, to be safe it's a good idea to use a stain and scale product alongside your ionizer.
Pool ionizers and mineral purifiers work alongside your pool's sanitation system to reduce pool algae and bacteria. You cannot use a pool ionizer or mineral purifier alone to keep your pool clean. You must still use chlorine, salt or other shock treatment to kill the bacteria and algae in your pool and maintain water that is safe to swim in. Pool water that only uses an ionizer or mineral purifier to clean the water has been proven unsafe for swimming.
Using a pool ionizer and/or mineral purifier with your current sanitation system will help you reduce the time you spend keeping your pool clean and reduce the amount of chemicals like chlorine and bromine that you use to keep your pool's pH level balanced. Pool ionizers and mineral purifiers that work alongside an existing sanitation system have been shown effective in reducing chlorine use by up to 40 per cent.
Mineral purifiers are a good eco-friendly addition to your pool's current sanitation system. Installing a mineral purifier will help you to reduce your use of chemicals like chlorine. Mineral purifiers like Nature2 work with your pool's filtration system to deliver minerals that fight bacteria and algae.
How Does a Mineral Purifier Work?
A mineral purifier uses a cartridge system to release copper and silver ions directly into your pool's water. These ions then neutralize algae or bacteria that they may happen to come in contact with.
Unlike a pool ionizer, some mineral purifiers like Nature2 use controlled release technology to automatically dispense the right amount of minerals into your pool water, which will help control the levels of silver and copper in your pool's water and prevent staining.
Benefits of Using a Mineral Purifier
A mineral purifier is a low-chlorine option that works with your pool's current sanitation system to help keep your pool's pH balanced and improve alkalinity levels. You'll enjoy cleaner and gentler pool water and have to dedicate less time maintaining your pool's water and chemical levels when you use a mineral purifier.
If you regularly replace your mineral purifier cartridge (when you open your pool or every 6 months) then you won't need to worry about your pool liner staining due to the build up of excess minerals.
About Nature2 Mineral Purifiers
An industry leader for over 18 years, Nature2 Mineral Purifiers are the most successful mineral-based systems on the market, and have been installed in over 300,000 pools and spas worldwide.
Nature2 works alongside your pool's filtration system to automatically deliver minerals like copper and silver to your pool water. These minerals help your existing sanitation system kill the bacteria and algae in your pool water which results in improved pH and alkalinity levels and cleaner pool water with less work on your part.
Nature2 uses controlled release technology to automatically dispense the right amount of mineral ions into your pool water, which means your mineral purifier will continuously assist with your pool's sanitation system and it won't stain your pool because you'll never introduce too many minerals into your pool's water.
A pool ionizer and mineral purifier are very similar. Both use copper and/or silver to kill algae and bacteria in the pool water. The main difference is the way that copper and silver is released. An ionizer uses electricity to charge a metal plate on your pool's subpanel, releasing copper and silver ions into the water. A mineral purifier uses a cartridge system to release the metal particles directly into the water.
With a mineral purifier, you will need to purchase a replacement cartridge once each pool season (or every 6 months if you use your pool year round). With an ionizer, you will need to purchase and change the electrodes once every one to three seasons if used with a pool, or every two to three years if used with a spa.
Pool ionizers and mineral purifiers are not effective stand-alone sanitizers because they simply release ions that will kill a specific type of microorganism should it come in contact with it. For this reason you must use both products alongside your existing chlorine or sanitation systems.
UV sanitation systems push water through a UV lamp at a specific flow rate. The lamp delivers UV light at a set intensity which then neutralizes pathogens and contaminants in the pool water. This process does not kill contaminants like chlorine does. Instead, the UV process makes the containments inert and stops them from reproducing. For this reason, UV systems must be used along with other pool chemicals like chlorine and salt water systems.
Although the systems are different, ozone and UV sanitation systems offer similar benefits. Both will not impact your pool's pH level and they both will extend the life of your pool's salt cells by reducing the need for chlorine in the system. For this reason, both systems are popular choices for pool owners.
When you think of ozone, you probably think of the thin layer of gas in our atmosphere. Ozone is a gas that is also used to filter pool water. How does it work? An ozone generator uses a high voltage ionization process that creates ozone gas. Ozone is also created through an ultraviolet radiation treatment but the UV process produces less gas (about 5% ozone) compared to the ionization process (which produces about 20% ozone). The UV lamp used in some ozone systems should not be confused with a UV sanitation system - which is a completely different sanitation process.
Ozone is a strong oxidizer (about 100 times stronger than chlorine) and it helps break down pool contaminants like grease and oils, which keeps your pool water clean. A great benefit of using ozone is that it does not affect the pH levels of your swimming pool, which means that you'll have to adjust the pH levels less often. For this reason people who use an ozone sanitation system along with their chlorine or salt water system use less chemicals over time.
People who have salt water pools will notice an improvement in their salt cell performance when they add an ozone sanitation system to the mix. Ozone reduces the amount of salt scaling on the salt cell, which can extend the life of your salt water system.
It's important to note that on its own ozone sanitation systems cannot eliminate pool contaminants, especially those organic contaminants that can enter your body and make you sick.
UV and ozone systems have similar benefits, but they are separate systems that work differently to filter your pool water. You can add one or both of these systems to your current sanitation methods to improve your pool water.
Many pool owners choose to use a UV or ozone system in addition to their regular chemical routine in order to:
UV and ozone sanitation systems cannot be used on their own. For pool owners looking for a way to cut down their use of chlorine and other pool chemicals, UV and ozone systems can be used along with a chlorine or salt water sanitation system to keep pool water clean and healthy. Both UV and ozone systems work in conjunction with major sanitation and chemical systems that use minerals, chlorine, bromine and salt.
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