Chlorine Alternative for swimming pool?

[mommystinch]

Hello. I am thinking of getting one of the small pools that you set up yourself. These aren't the baby pools, but the above ground pools with a filter and everything. However, I really don't like the idea of using chlorine. Is there any way to keep the water clean and healthy without toxic chemicals? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Isadora]

When I was in California my sil's neighbor got a new pool and said something about it not having chlorine,-but some type of saline solution. That's all I know,-but I'll see if I can get more info for you.

[Irishmommy]

We have salt.

[SugarAndSun]

I think you can use bromine. It isn't great, but much milder.

[SandyBeachBums]

Bump...

What is the salt?

We just got a cheap hot tub. We are hoping to find some alternatives to Chlorine.

[Persephone]

I remember seeing a gadget that was supposed to make it so you didn't need chlorine in your hot tub, but now I can't find it. I even tried googling it. But I did find this, which might be useful: http://tinyurl.com/9uem5

[mommystinch]

Now that I've been able to take these ideas and do some searching, I have found that the salt pools still make chlorine. They use some sort of pump/filter thing that produces chlorine from salt. I guess there won't be a perfect solution short of making a natural pool cleaned and filtered by plants. There's a dream for down the road!

[anotherKatrina]

We used to use a product called Baquacil. It was a bit pricier than chlorine, but worked well.

See more here www.baquacil.com

[Irishmommy]

Originally Posted by mommystinch

Now that I've been able to take these ideas and do some searching, I have found that the salt pools still make chlorine. They use some sort of pump/filter thing that produces chlorine from salt. I guess there won't be a perfect solution short of making a natural pool cleaned and filtered by plants. There's a dream for down the road!

You're right, the something breaks the salt down into chlorine and sodium (salt is sodium chloride). The water gets cleaned there, then before it goes back to the pool, it is changed back to salt. So the chlorine part of it is isolated from the pool and the environment.

[mommystinch]

Originally Posted by Irishmommy

You're right, the something breaks the salt down into chlorine and sodium (salt is sodium chloride). The water gets cleaned there, then before it goes back to the pool, it is changed back to salt. So the chlorine part of it is isolated from the pool and the environment.

Ah, the salesman didn't explain that to me. That changes things a bit. Thank you for the extra info

Also, thanks for the Baquile (sp?) recommendation. I will look into that a bit more.

[tea olive]

so mommystinch, what did you decide to use? a friend just gave me her pool and i just found a pump....

[mommystinch]

I ended up going with Baquacil. It wasn't my top pick, but I think the best choice for our pool. The pool is an easy up pool that only olds 500+ gallons. I pump for a salt water pool costs over $1000 here and is way to large for my pool. The Baquacil seems to be more gentle than chlorine, so I have my fingers crossed!

[tea olive]

thanks for answering. i don't know what to do. my yard has been totally organic for the garden but i think the pool worth doing, even chemically, with the climate i live in. most people cope with the summers here by simply staying inside, and my kids get pretty crazy.

[PikkuMyy]

realgoods.com has a non-chlorine pool cleansing device - it's solar powered.

Floatron Pool Purifier
The Floatron reduces your chlorine usage by an average of 80%. The Floatron's efficient solar panel generates a low-power electrical current that energizes a specially alloyed mineral electrode. The mineral ions produced effectively prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms, like algae and bacteria, in your pool water. The mineral electrode lasts for one to three seasons, the unit will last the life of your pool.

Suitable for sizes up to approximately 40,000 gallons.
24-month manufacturer warranty.

http://www.realgoods.com/shop/shop6....602/ts/1042801

[velcromom]

We use BaquaSpa for our hot tub, I can't tolerate chlorine. It is much simpler to use than chlorine systems, and doesn't make me itchy and wheezy. Sounds like there is a system for pools made by them too... I'd go with that if I had a pool.

[mich]

I dont know anything about pools, but I thought a friend once said they use baking soda?

[cwaddick]

Do a search...

This topic has come up for discussion a number of times in this forum.

I recommend that you do a search within this forum on chlorine and pools.

If you do, please post the results in this thread. You can post URL links to the old threads that were helpful or just quote people.

-- Caitlin