Yes and over 3 weeks of use my tiny 3200 gal pool has become cloudy and hazy with the Remington solar shock , my kids hair turns green as well , prob going to switch back to chemicals. Ran smaller filtered pools with chemicals for the last four years and have never had this problem.
This is an expensive gimmick. The ionizer (if it works at all) is adding copper ions to your pool, which you can buy $10 worth of copper sulfate to do and have a lifetime supply. Plus, copper doesn't need to be continuously added. You want about 1 ppm of copper in the pool and not much more or you will see the problems CapeCoralFloridaWaterfront mentions below where there will be staining and possible filter damage. Salt pools do a good job of churning out chlorine on a fairly regular basis (they do need some maintenance), and I also recommend learning about and adding borates (up to about 50 ppm) to the pool.
I had one of these in my pool for the past six months, after a neighbor talked about the benefits of little or no chlorine cost. His pool has copper staining in it, which made me a bit nervous about using it. The good news is, that your pool will not be green, so if pool maintenance for you is No Green = Good, then the ionizer is great. Here's what I learned after taking a pool chemistry certification, and after buying a $1,400 digital testing tool: My pool water had a pH of just over 6, and TA was at 13. My chlorine level was at 0.53ppm (essentially zero). The CYA level was 60ppm, and the copper was at 1.4ppm. Once I raised my pH to where it's supposed to be at 7.5, a bunch of the copper fell out of solution. My filter was clogged with copper, and the water was really cloudy. I had to drain out more than half of the water to get the copper down below 0.4ppm where it needs to be. Turns out, that if you balance your water's pH at 7.5, keep the CYA at or below 50ppm, Alkalinity at 90ppm & add borates to 50ppm, the chlorine consumption is really affordable and the pool is clean, clear and sanitized. If you don't want to take the time to learn the chemistry, the copper ionizer will keep the algae away, but your water might be corrosive and filled with other nasty stuff that's worse than algae. Your surface can become stained, the liner in your pool if it's vinyl can stretch, and your family could get sick. Once you take the time to learn how to balance your pool water like a pro, everything is easier.
I just went to the hardware store and got some copper fittings and put them on a zip tie and dropped them in the drain basket The lady in the store said people put them in their water troughs for their livestock
Copper is great as an algicide , not so good as sanantizer . You still need a bit go Chlorine ( probably 10-20 % of what you used to use .) You can also just buy some copper sulphate in the garden section of Home Depot to Lower .
Thanks, Graham. Good advice, we still have found the need for some chlorine, as you stated. Overall, it's cutting back on most of our chemicals across the board.
Copper is not good for your pool. It’s adding more metal to it which will require you to drain the pool eventually. It will stain your pool and turn blonde hair green. Might “work” for a little while but you will find out it will cause you more headaches. Chlorine is the only way to properly sanitize a pool period.
@@BLUESILV Thanks for the comment. I haven't read too many ill effects to either a person or the pool itself from copper additives, but I welcome your references. Also, in the context of the chlorine shortgage, these ionizers have been a welcome boon.
@@SavingGreen you can just Google dangerous copper levels in pool. You should not have any copper in pool water. It’s a lazy way to maintain a pool and it can make children sick who ingest it, stain the pool surface and it turns hair green. It keeps algae from growing ya but if you plan on swimming in that pool it’s not a good idea.
@@BLUESILV Well I've used it for 20 odd years and so have friends . Unless you used underground water of high mineral content its not a problem in small quantities . Copper has to be in huge amount to turns hair green . Generally its too much chlorine that turns hair green . You can always check for it . You don't use buckets of it , you use a spoonful or two . Look at algicide that you buy some are copper based . Copper is the algicide , Chlorine is the Snazzier , two different things both needed in a pool . so to is water flow , unless it freezes you need to run your pump twice a day for 1/2 hour to help prevent it .
I’m satisfied with mine, but going to run 2 of them next year since I have 22k gallons. Also, I did get a couple snakes in the water since it’s basically like drinking water now..
It shouldn't need it, but you can get sequestering agents and treat the pool if deposition occurs. There's a sweet spot for pH and chlorine levels that can be tricky to get right...
Hey Zach, I’m actually editing the video this week and plan to put it out tomorrow. Long story short, they’re good in select and limited circumstances, but definitely require close supervision and not as much as a “leave and forget” type deal as I was hoping.
Hi, thanks for the great video! Might you know what my non-chlorine chemicals might need to be after starting with this? I have a 15,000 above ground pool and haven’t found any info except for chlorine users on the maintenance for the remaining chemicals like my oxidizer, algecide and sanitizer. Any advice is welcome greatly. Thanks again!
Hi Nicole, I’m updating this video in the next few days and hope to answer that question! If you still can’t find exactly what you need, send me another message and I’ll reach out to my pool guy :)
what is your weekly routine? i am having a hard time finding what i am suppose to do ? add shock once a week? a gallon of bleach or chlorine once a week?
I’ll be putting out a video again with my pool guy who’s been managing a bunch of pools with these. You shouldn’t need to shock except for the initial use if the pool has been overgrown with algae. You may need more acid than normal but way less chlorine
Since the salt cells produce their own chlorine, regulating levels might be more difficult. These solar ionizers are best used in freshwater pools, but you might talk to a pool pro and see if there are other alternatives.
Fortunately, my neighbor is a pool expert, so he handles most of the chemicals. Chlorine usage is down a lot, but acid usage is up. Still using a fair amount of stabilizer. Overall, total costs are down about 50%.
Doesn’t that add copper to the pool? Too much copper is not good for the pool lining and equipment as you said. The only way to get rid of that is drain the pool or add water. Seems a little risky for me. If the equipment goes you are stuck with a hefty pool cost. I understand tabs are expensive but good shock or some pr10000 lasts a while and does little to no damage to your pool. Just add a little chlorine and in really hot areas the sun does the rest.
You raise some great points. Yes, there are risks with the copper, but with caution they can work well. I’m updating this video with some advice from my pool guy, so stay tuned!
Do you have any experience with pool ionizers?
Yes and over 3 weeks of use my tiny 3200 gal pool has become cloudy and hazy with the Remington solar shock , my kids hair turns green as well , prob going to switch back to chemicals. Ran smaller filtered pools with chemicals for the last four years and have never had this problem.
This is an expensive gimmick. The ionizer (if it works at all) is adding copper ions to your pool, which you can buy $10 worth of copper sulfate to do and have a lifetime supply. Plus, copper doesn't need to be continuously added. You want about 1 ppm of copper in the pool and not much more or you will see the problems CapeCoralFloridaWaterfront mentions below where there will be staining and possible filter damage. Salt pools do a good job of churning out chlorine on a fairly regular basis (they do need some maintenance), and I also recommend learning about and adding borates (up to about 50 ppm) to the pool.
I had one of these in my pool for the past six months, after a neighbor talked about the benefits of little or no chlorine cost. His pool has copper staining in it, which made me a bit nervous about using it. The good news is, that your pool will not be green, so if pool maintenance for you is No Green = Good, then the ionizer is great. Here's what I learned after taking a pool chemistry certification, and after buying a $1,400 digital testing tool: My pool water had a pH of just over 6, and TA was at 13. My chlorine level was at 0.53ppm (essentially zero). The CYA level was 60ppm, and the copper was at 1.4ppm. Once I raised my pH to where it's supposed to be at 7.5, a bunch of the copper fell out of solution. My filter was clogged with copper, and the water was really cloudy. I had to drain out more than half of the water to get the copper down below 0.4ppm where it needs to be. Turns out, that if you balance your water's pH at 7.5, keep the CYA at or below 50ppm, Alkalinity at 90ppm & add borates to 50ppm, the chlorine consumption is really affordable and the pool is clean, clear and sanitized. If you don't want to take the time to learn the chemistry, the copper ionizer will keep the algae away, but your water might be corrosive and filled with other nasty stuff that's worse than algae. Your surface can become stained, the liner in your pool if it's vinyl can stretch, and your family could get sick. Once you take the time to learn how to balance your pool water like a pro, everything is easier.
LONG ACE STORY. SOME PPL COMMENTS ARE LIKE READING A DANG BOOK
@@stbam1965 I'm guessing you haven't read one in a while.
thanks bro appreciate that its pros and cons 🤦🏻♂️ probably not gonna buy that ionizer
You just wasted $1400
I just went to the hardware store and got some copper fittings and put them on a zip tie and dropped them in the drain basket The lady in the store said people put them in their water troughs for their livestock
Didnt want to waste money. I put in 2 tablespoons of copper sulfate into small mesh bag and put n skimmer basket. $12/yr.
$100 - $200 is a rip off 😂 they cost $40 on Amazon you prankster
Copper is great as an algicide , not so good as sanantizer . You still need a bit go Chlorine ( probably 10-20 % of what you used to use .) You can also just buy some copper sulphate in the garden section of Home Depot to Lower .
Thanks, Graham. Good advice, we still have found the need for some chlorine, as you stated. Overall, it's cutting back on most of our chemicals across the board.
Copper is not good for your pool. It’s adding more metal to it which will require you to drain the pool eventually. It will stain your pool and turn blonde hair green. Might “work” for a little while but you will find out it will cause you more headaches. Chlorine is the only way to properly sanitize a pool period.
@@BLUESILV Thanks for the comment. I haven't read too many ill effects to either a person or the pool itself from copper additives, but I welcome your references. Also, in the context of the chlorine shortgage, these ionizers have been a welcome boon.
@@SavingGreen you can just Google dangerous copper levels in pool. You should not have any copper in pool water. It’s a lazy way to maintain a pool and it can make children sick who ingest it, stain the pool surface and it turns hair green. It keeps algae from growing ya but if you plan on swimming in that pool it’s not a good idea.
@@BLUESILV Well I've used it for 20 odd years and so have friends . Unless you used underground water of high mineral content its not a problem in small quantities . Copper has to be in huge amount to turns hair green . Generally its too much chlorine that turns hair green . You can always check for it . You don't use buckets of it , you use a spoonful or two . Look at algicide that you buy some are copper based . Copper is the algicide , Chlorine is the Snazzier , two different things both needed in a pool . so to is water flow , unless it freezes you need to run your pump twice a day for 1/2 hour to help prevent it .
I’m satisfied with mine, but going to run 2 of them next year since I have 22k gallons. Also, I did get a couple snakes in the water since it’s basically like drinking water now..
nice! Let us know how running two works out
copper sulfate in mesh bag and put in skimmer... thats it ! $12/yr
So far mines doing awesome I just add shock weekly
thanks for sharing your experience!
Looks great. Does it have a chelating agent that keeps the copper from staining? Or does it recommend that you add sequestering or chelating agents?
It shouldn't need it, but you can get sequestering agents and treat the pool if deposition occurs. There's a sweet spot for pH and chlorine levels that can be tricky to get right...
Does an ionizer have to be compatible with the pump etc?
they're pretty universal, but never hurts to double check with your system specs
Any update now that you have used it all summer? Thinking about making one.
Hey Zach, I’m actually editing the video this week and plan to put it out tomorrow. Long story short, they’re good in select and limited circumstances, but definitely require close supervision and not as much as a “leave and forget” type deal as I was hoping.
you never tested for days in the video. where is the evidence?
The ionizer worked fine for about a year, but it was pulled out due to concern for staining from a few other pools my guy manages.
@@SavingGreen gracias
Hi, thanks for the great video! Might you know what my non-chlorine chemicals might need to be after starting with this? I have a 15,000 above ground pool and haven’t found any info except for chlorine users on the maintenance for the remaining chemicals like my oxidizer, algecide and sanitizer. Any advice is welcome greatly. Thanks again!
Hi Nicole, I’m updating this video in the next few days and hope to answer that question! If you still can’t find exactly what you need, send me another message and I’ll reach out to my pool guy :)
Awesome, thank you!
what is your weekly routine? i am having a hard time finding what i am suppose to do ? add shock once a week? a gallon of bleach or chlorine once a week?
I’ll be putting out a video again with my pool guy who’s been managing a bunch of pools with these. You shouldn’t need to shock except for the initial use if the pool has been overgrown with algae. You may need more acid than normal but way less chlorine
There are a million UA-cam videos that will teach you just how to maintain your pool. Just search DIY pool management. 🙂
Do they work with pools that use a salt cell?
Since the salt cells produce their own chlorine, regulating levels might be more difficult. These solar ionizers are best used in freshwater pools, but you might talk to a pool pro and see if there are other alternatives.
Hi you should do an update on hows it performing! Thanks
Planning on it!
Mine turned my gunite pool black..
Do you need to add any chems?
Fortunately, my neighbor is a pool expert, so he handles most of the chemicals. Chlorine usage is down a lot, but acid usage is up. Still using a fair amount of stabilizer. Overall, total costs are down about 50%.
They only work for a few months. You and your pool guy need to learn pools.
Yes we only kept it in for a few months.
Does not work turned my finite pool black
oh my, sorry to hear that 😫
not sure why that happened, I would reach out to the manufacturer and have a professional service the pool
😲blackened finite😲
This is definitely not what turned your pool black. Try finding the root cause
Too much chlorine with the copper will turn eathier a black or stain green .
Lmao
This will eventually stain your plaster
Yes, it can. def need to be careful!
Please do an update video of how it worked.
I have one! Check out the interview with our pool guy, Paul. We took it out after a year to play it safe, but we had no issues.
Doesn’t that add copper to the pool? Too much copper is not good for the pool lining and equipment as you said. The only way to get rid of that is drain the pool or add water. Seems a little risky for me. If the equipment goes you are stuck with a hefty pool cost. I understand tabs are expensive but good shock or some pr10000 lasts a while and does little to no damage to your pool. Just add a little chlorine and in really hot areas the sun does the rest.
You raise some great points. Yes, there are risks with the copper, but with caution they can work well. I’m updating this video with some advice from my pool guy, so stay tuned!