Different types of pools

[walter05]

Today, I learned that an indoor pool I have access to is a salt water pool. I was told that these are much better than traditional chlorine pools.

What is a salt water pool?

What are the advantages?

What are the disadvantages?

[Eric6420]

I will try to answer your questions even though I am not a specialist.

First, what is a salt water poll? I am not sure because there are different kinds od salts.

I know for example that some people use a kind of salt instead of chlorine, and that kind of salt is cheaper than chlorine but may be hazardous to your health.

There is also, ordinary table salt, this salt is not as good as sea salt, because sea salt is more healthy (it contains a greater quantity of minerals in the right proportion).

There is also bromium that some people use intead of chlorine. It is more expensive, but less irritating for the eyes.

Finally, I am sure that there are other ways to maintain the water clean, but I do not remember thoses. It may have to do with ultraviolet light filter.

Anyway, a water with to much salt becomes very irritating, first for the eyes, and the for other parts of the body.

[NCguy49]

I will try to answer your questions even though I am not a specialist.

Finally, I am sure that there are other ways to maintain the water clean, but I do not remember thoses. It may have to do with ultraviolet light filter.


I used to work in a plant that had to purify water for inkjet printers. We used UV light to kill "bugs" (bacteria and things) then filter them out. So using UV light can make water more healthy.

[OZJames]

We have had a salt pool for over 18 years and ir is fantastic. A very low salt content - 4000 ppm is used by tipping salt granules in ordinary water until the content level is correct. The salt level is so low that it is hard to detect it in the water. I think that sea water may be more salty than that.

The water is pumped through a "cell" with some sort of electrical mechanism. This causes the production of Chlorine in the water which kills bacteria . The Chlorine level is also at a level that I cannot taste it or smell it. Very occasionally I tip extra Chlorine in the pool is the water balance is "out of wack". A salt pool is much cheaper to run than a Chlorine pool because almost no Chlorine is needed to be bought and salt is only tipped in usually once a year.

[DenitaLC]

You will love the salt/saline pool. It leaves your skin and hair feeling great, unlike chlorine treated pools or spas. My mom lives in FL in a very large retirement community...all the pools are saline. We are going on a trip in two weeks to Palm Springs and the resort there (Terra Cotta) uses saline.
:)

[Journeyman]

Walter, I visited Bare Oaks this summer (outside Toronto) and it has salt water pools. From its website (http://www.bareoaks.ca ) :

"People generally find that the salt-water feels softer. They don’t get dry skin and hair doesn’t get damaged or bleached. Eyes don’t get irritated.

Salt-water pools are also environmentally friendly because no toxic chlorine is manufactured, transported and handled.

For effective sanitization, the salt level is kept at 3,000 ppm. (ppm = parts per million) In contrast, the ocean is between 30,000 and 60,000 ppm.

A digital controller constantly monitors and adjusts chlorine production and alkalinity based on temperature to ensure a clean and safe pool and spa."

[Mosquito_Bait]

I have a chlorine pool. I have been satisfied with it. I have a friend who had a saltwater pool and he was satisfied with it; however, he did have to periodically add chlorine. After over a decade of service, the salt ionizer gizmo broke down. It was cheaper to replace it with a chlorinator, so now he just uses chlorine.

My brother-in-law has a chlorine pool. During Hurricane Isabel, the tide rose high enough that the salt marsh behind his house overflowed into his yard and submerged his pool. There has been saltwater in his pool ever since. It doesn't seem to have harmed the pump or filter even though they were never intended to be in service with saltwater.

[Tsirutan]

I'm the proud owner of a salt pool and will attest that the water is "softer" - you do not get that dried out feeling of the skin when you get out. Plus, there is no eye irritation. A common misconception is that a salt system pool does not have chlorine. This is not true, the salt chlorinator uses a process known as electrolysis to produce Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine) from a low concentration of salt added to the pool water. The generator then reuses the salt and the process is continous. A properly maintained pool will require no addition of chlorine. That said, proper maintenance is most important, and proper regulation of pH must be maintained (usually 7.5). Consequently, here in the desert where the water tends to be a little hard, I find myself using just as much acid as I would have chlorine to keep the chemicals balanced, but I feel the benefits outweigh the alternatives. I've also had a chlorine pool and would not go back. If your a stickler for maintaining things, then a salt pool is definately the way to go.

[Zorro]

The pools at Harbin Hot Springs here in California use hydrogen peroxide, and it is supposedly very effective. I have, however, gotten two sinus infections from the water (it's been years, but I'm very careful about that!), and after spending the day soaking in the warm pool, my skin gets super itchy for a few days afterwards (normally only my lower legs and lower back, once in a while my arms itch a little). Washing with soap and water helps, but hasn't eliminated it...

[EricNY]

Salt-water pools are NOT chlorine free. They use what is called a "Chlorine Generator"

A chlorine generator's main function is to produce chlorine for the pool so you do not have to buy it, store it or handle it.

These are big advantages for many pool owners. Chlorine generators, when functioning correctly, produce chlorine constantly (when the pump is running) with most units. This keeps a residual of chlorine in the pool that prevents algae from growing. The secret is keeping the cell free of calcium and mineral deposits--the cell itself is made up of precious metals-it must be maintained so it can continue to make chlorine.

When the ions in salt are passed over specially coated blades and induced with a low voltage electrical charge it is converted into chlorine. It is the same process that is used to convert seawater into laundry bleach. When this process is incorporated into your swimming pool you have your very own "chlorine generator".

[nudenwv]

thanks for the info! i assumed all pools were chlorine treated to keep it bacteria free. learned a lot from this thread!

[Hadaka04]

We have a salt pool and love it. In addition to what has been previously posted, with a "chlorine" pool, you maintain the chlorine level with tablets typically. Additionally you must "shock" the pool as a bactericidal boost. So also call this process super-chlorinating. With the salt pool, as the water passes from the filter through the electrolytic cell and back to the pool the salt (NaCl) is broken down and liberates a free chlorine radical. It is these free radicals that kill bacteria. This is what is known as available chlorine. The water within the electrolytic cell has naturally very high concentrations of available chlorine. So in essence the water passing through the cell is super-chlorinated. This occurs constantly while the system is in operation and is much more effective at controlling bacteria and algae levels that periodic shocking. FWIW I also installed a timer so I only run the pump/filter/chlorination system 16 hours a day instead of full time. Saves 1/3 on energy and I can't tell any difference in the pool.

Hadaka

[Tsirutan]

[quote=ercNY;172169]The secret is keeping the cell free of calcium and mineral deposits--the cell itself is made up of precious metals-it must be maintained so it can continue to make chlorine.

Oh yea, forgot to mention periodic cell cleaning with acid. I struggled though this the first year, cleaning the cell every month before I got my pH correct. If you are considering a salt pool, it would be a good idea to get a GOOD pool service that knows how the chemistry effects the salt system.

(I see i still haven't got this new "quote" thing right yet)

[walter05]

Once again, people on these forums have a lot of useful information.

The pool is an indoor lap pool.

Are there 1 to 3 questions I should ask the center?

[EricNY]

Once again, people on these forums have a lot of useful information.

The pool is an indoor lap pool.

Are there 1 to 3 questions I should ask the center?

I am certainly not an expert, but the obvious questions for me would be
Pros vs cons... Advantages? Benefits?
cost- up front and maintainence

Another thought is that we have a member here Walt Iliff (http://www.clothesfreeforum.com/member.php?u=7038)

He owns a spa repair business a great guy and much knowledge on these things.

[ah2benude]

I also have a salt water pool. I think it's wonderful. It leaves your skin soft and smooth. There is no eye irritation, no smell of chlorine, and no taste of salt. Unlike the pools you add chlorine to, it does not discolor bathing suits (for those who wear them), and it does not ruin the dyes for people who color their hair.

[unitednudist]

im going to look further into it. In Corolla, NC (AKA The Outher Banks) there is a pool company that just makes Salt Water Pools. I Will post more info when I learn more.

It can be complicated deciding which pool is best for your family. Many questions revolve around salt-water pools or chlorine free pools. Salt-water pools are NOT chlorine free pools. A salt-water pool is simply one that utilizes a chlorine generator. Chlorine generators have been around for decades. As technology and materials continue to evolve, chlorine generators continue to improve in performance.

Why Salt-Water?

Ocean water has a salt content of around 35,000 parts per million ("ppm"). Humans have a salt taste threshold of around 3,500 ppm. Most chlorine generators require a salt content of 2500 - 6000 ppm in the pool. A unit that needs less than 3500 ppm to operate effectively is optimal. If the salt content is higher, that warm, salty water will be pretty distasteful!

Swimming in a mild saline solution is much like taking a shower in soft water. Generally, when people swim in a non-chlorine generator pool (a pool with no salt water in it) they feel like their skin dries quicker upon exiting the pool. They may feel and/or see a whitish residual, chlorine flaking, on the skin. In a salt-water pool (one with a chlorine generator) the water feels smooth, your skin feels smooth and many people feel more refreshed.

What Does a Chlorine Generator Do?

A chlorine generator's main function is to produce chlorine for the pool so you do not have to buy it, store it or handle it. These are big advantages for many pool owners. Chlorine generators, when functioning correctly, produce chlorine constantly (when the pump is running) with most units. This keeps a residual of chlorine in the pool that prevents algae from growing. The secret is keeping the cell free of calcium and mineral deposits--the cell itself is made up of precious metals-it must be maintained so it can continue to make chlorine.

Through the process of electrolysis, water passing over the chlorine generator cell produces chlorine that is instantaneously transformed into Hypochlorous acid. When any type of chlorine is added to water it ALL makes the SAME thing: Hypochlorous acid. It does not matter if it is Sodium Hypochlorite (liquid chlorine), Tri-chlor and Di-chlor or Lithium based, Cal-hypo or even gas chlorine--it all makes Hypochlorous acid. Hypochlorous acid is the active sanitizer; this is what kills algae and other harmful stuff in the water. Its effectiveness is totally predicated on balanced water conditions and, more importantly, proper pH. So, with a salt water system or chlorine generator, you still must maintain your water balance (pool chemistry) properly. As long as you do this, a chlorine generator is a good choice.

Source: About.com

[luvnaturism]

We put in a chlorine generator when we built our pool. After 10 years of use we decided not to replace it when it once again needed repair. It was just too expensive for the minor benefit it provided. The ionization cells require periodic replacement, and they are expensive. The controller units don't last forever, and they are more expensive.

It's true that you don't buy chlorine when you have a salt generator, but that savings goes to buy the extra acid needed to balance the pH. When we quit using the generator our acid demand dropped by 3/4.

People who say that pools with a salt generator don't have a strong chlorine smell, don't burn the eyes, etc., are simply comparing a pool with the right amount of chlorine to one that doesn't have enough. Pools that have enough chlorine and proper pH balance don't smell of chlorine and don't burn the eyes.

[unitednudist]

It also depends on the brands of Chemicals.

[wannabenaked]

When my wife and I bought our house, it came with an inground pool. We started out using chlorine, but switched to a product line call "Pristine Blue". It is a copper based chemical system that has been MUCH easier to manage. We still use a chlorine shock about once a month. Much less than before. One important thing to know about this product line; Less is More! Giving your pool even a slightly higher dose, can cause the cu to plate out and turn everything green.

[steve1979]

yes, salt water is benefict for some skin diseases as Psoriasis, it is advised to swim in the Dead sea for such illness , :):)