Swimming Pool Ozone Vs Ioniser

Most people love swimming pools but many people and children suffer from skin conditions and allergic reactions to swimming pool chlorine. In a swimming pool you can't avoid chlorine, whether it be a salt chlorinated pool or dosed by liquid chlorine it is the best method for keeping a swimming pool sanitized. Unfortunately though... chlorine is a poison.

Reducing Chlorine Levels

To date there is no suitable complete replacement for the need of chlorine, but you can certainly implement devices to reduce the chlorine content required.

At Red Baron Pool Supplies many people ask which is better for swimming pools, The main options are Ionisers or Ozonators. As to which is better, Well, simply put, ionisers are usually around $200, ozonators are up to $1000 or so, which do you think is going to be more effective?

Ionisers (or Ioninizers) are a mineral based swimming pool water purifier which work in conjunction with chlorine to help keep pool water healthy.

The minerals are usually silver and copper ions which help to destroy bacteria and algae. They have no electrical or moving parts and use a disposable cartridge that will usually last 6 months.

They do work in allowing lower levels of chlorine to be necessary, however I am very doubtful of their effectiveness on large pools. They are a cheaper alternative to ozone if ozone is out of your price bracket. The most popular ioniser I sell is the Nature 2 Express ioniser, simple to install and not too harsh on the wallet.

Ozone generators, or ozonators are a proven effective method for sanitising pool water.

Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules (O₂) split. The resulting oxygen atoms (O^-), seeking stability, attach to other oxygen molecules (O₂), forming ozone (O₃).

There are 2 methods of generating ozone, one is Corona ozonators and the other is UV Ozonators.

Corona ozonators work by generating a strong electrical field and passing oxygen through it. the electric current splits the Oxygen molecule. Many electrical office equipment will generate small amounts of ozone. The presence of moisture in the air used by a Corona discharge ozonator will create nitric acid which will reduce the life of a Corona Discharge ozonator.

UV ozonators use a high powered lamp to (don't ask me how) split the Oxygen molecules. UV ozonators have a more stable output of ozone and reduced cleaning and maintenance in comparison to Corona Discharge (CD) ozonators. UV ozonator lamps will require replacement approximately every 3 years, but like any light bulb, they may last 3 years, they may last 5 years, they may last 3 months. UV ozone smells better than that produced by CD

Ozonators and Ionisers are both good ways of reducing chlorine levels. By themselves they will never be a replacement for chlorine, if you do you will find your pool will still turn green. But for people with skin conditions and chlorine allergies they are an especially useful idea.

Personally I do think ozonators are much more effective than ionisers. Sometimes though at the end of the day it is the wallet that makes the final decision.

You may also be interested in my hub about Pool gas heaters vs heat pumps vs solar

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