Mineral Sanitizers for Pools and Spas
You may have heard of people using minerals to sanitize their pool or spa water. But what does that mean, and why all the hype? We’re here to answer some of the most common questions related to mineral sanitation systems. In this blog post, you'll find all the facts you need to help you decide if a mineral sanitizer is right for you.
What is a Mineral Sanitizer?
A mineral sanitizer is a modern solution to water sanitation in pools and spas. They come in several sizes and configurations, but all contain a blend of minerals that work to kill living contaminants in the water, such as algae and bacteria.
How Do Mineral Sanitizers Work?
Most mineral sanitizers work by using silver and copper ions, or some combination of the two. The concept is nothing new. In fact, silver and copper have been used as a natural sanitizer for thousands of years. Early evidence of mineral sanitizers dates back to the ancient civilizations of the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians. A combination of silver and copper ions offer powerful antimicrobial properties. This makes them a natural solution for pool water sanitation.
Can Minerals Be Used as a Standalone Sanitation System?
Minerals effectively sanitize pool and spa water. But because silver and copper ions are not as fast-acting as chlorine or bromine, they cannot be used as a standalone sanitizer. That said, mineral systems are powerful long-acting sanitizers that can greatly reduce the amount of traditional sanitizer consumed in the water. Chlorine use can decrease by as much as 50-75%, and bromine use can drop by up to 50%. To further reduce the amount of chlorine needed in your pool, mineral sanitizers can be paired with other alternative sanitizers — such as an ozonator — and regular applications of a chlorine-free oxidizing shock.
BONUS TIP: Looking for other sanitation options? Check out our complete online selection of Alternative Sanitizers.
What Are the Benefits of Mineral Sanitizers?
There are so many benefits associated with mineral sanitizers in pools and spas. As we’ve already mentioned, the biggest immediate benefit is that mineral systems can greatly reduce the amount of chlorine or bromine needed in your pool or spa. If you’re using a salt chlorinator, mineral systems will also reduce the wear and tear on your salt cell. Besides from the obvious financial benefit of reduced sanitizer demand, this also brings a few other benefits that you can feel in the water. Lower levels of chlorine and bromine in the water mean less skin and eye irritation, and no more faded swimsuits. Mineral systems are also known to condition the water for a softer feel. In addition, they can help maintain pH balance in the water over a longer period of time.
Even with these benefits, the main reason pool and spa owners switch to mineral sanitizers is simply because they’re easy to use. Just choose the correct size for your water volume, install it, and you're all set. Some mineral systems come paired with a pre-measured chlorine or bromine cartridge. Once the minerals or chemical cartridges are used up, you simply replace the cartridge. No measuring or guesswork needed! Most pool and spa mineral cartridges are good for about 4–6 months. If it comes with a chemical cartridge, those usually last 1–4 weeks. The amount of time cartridges last depends on brand, size, application, and frequency of pool or spa use. This easy approach to pool sanitation saves a lot of time on pool maintenance!
How Do I Install Minerals in My Pool or Spa?
The answer to this question depends on the type of mineral system you purchase. An in-line system will require a small amount of effort to incorporate the sanitizer into your pool plumbing, placing it after the pump and filter. Once installed, all you’ll have to worry about is changing out the cartridges. With a floating sanitizer, you can just set it in the pool or spa water, and you’re good to go! If you decide that a filter cartridge insert works best for your situation, it's easy to just drop it into the hollow portion of the filter. Some hot tubs come with mineral systems already installed, so you’ll just need to locate replacement mineral and sanitizer cartridges for that particular system. There are even mineral systems that can be set inside your pump strainer or skimmer basket for quick and easy installation.
What’s the Best Mineral Sanitizer?
There are a lot of different brands and configurations of mineral systems on the market. It really boils down to quality, value, and which system best suits the needs of your pool or spa. Here are a few of the more popular mineral sanitizers we often recommend to our customers.
Jacuzzi
The trusted Jacuzzi Mineral Cartridge system is ideal for both inground and above ground pools. It treats pools up to 25,000 gallons. The mineral cartridges are easy to replace, and are interchangeable with Nature2 Express cartridges. Sanitizer levels need to stay around 0.5 ppm with this system, resulting in softer, cleaner water that requires up to 50% less chlorine.
Zodiac/Nature2
In addition to the popular Nature2 Express in-line system for inground and above ground swimming pools, there are a few other options available for all types of pool and spa owners. The Nature2 Fusion (used with chlorine tablets) or Nature2 Fusion Soft (minerals combined with a salt chlorinator) are perfect for large inground pools over 40,000 gallons. Nature2 CF for pool cartridge filters is ideal for pools up to 25,000 gallons. If you're a hot tub or spa owner, Nature2 Spa Sticks are the perfect solution, and they're easy to use.
PoolRx
Looking for something that's a little easier to install? The revolutionary PoolRx mineral system doesn't require a complex installation process. Simply place it inside your pump strainer or skimmer basket, and you're good to go. There are three varieties: PoolRx Original (up to 20k gallons), PoolRx+ Blue (up to 20k gallons), and PoolRx+ Black (20k–30k gallons). The main difference between Rx Original and Rx+ is the mineral blend inside. Both are incredibly effective sanitizers, but Rx+ includes zinc and silver for additional layers of protection against algae, bacteria, and other microbes. They're the perfect compliment to any chlorine system, whether you're using chemicals or a saltwater chlorine generator.
FROG
King Technology has a long history in producing high quality mineral sanitizers. Their line of FROG products provide diverse sanitation options for both inground and above ground pools, as well as spas and hot tubs. There are in-line solutions, floating sanitizers, skimmer applications, and even filter cartridge inserts available. For hot tubs, they also provide mineral sanitation for both chlorine (@ease) and bromine (Serene), depending on personal preference.
Have more questions about using a mineral sanitizer in your pool or spa? We can help! Speak with one of our knowledgeable, friendly associates when you call or stop by your local Leslie’s store. We’ll help you understand the ins and outs of mineral sanitation systems and how they can meet your unique pool and spa needs.