Making the decision on the chlorine and mineral system

Hi Folks,
I'm currently in full swing of meeting with builders and researching for my in-ground pool construction I’m planning for next spring.
So far i'm leaning towards a gunite (pebbletec finish) rectangular pool with an automatic cover. The builder i'm leaning towards to is recommending a mineral system (nature2 i believe) and also not recommending a SWCG because of the possible future issues with saltwater affecting (a very expensive lol) automatic cover, hence recommending a regular automatic chlorinator.

So my questions are.

1. For those with automatic covers and SWCG, do you really see the issues described? I would def. prefer a SWCG but certainly do want cause issues to the cover (cover will be by coverpools btw).

2. If i end up not doing SWCG, would you guys advise going with the chlorine or bromine automatic dispenser?

3. Can you provide feedback on the mineral system? Is it really beneficial to have one? I'm concerned that the minerals could negatively affect the pools finish since i'm doing gunite.

4. Any other considerations/options i should think about as far as the chem systems taking into an account the pool will be gunite variety?

Thank you all in advance.

Mineral (metal) systems are not well regarded around here. Nature2 is silver and copper. Copper can kill algea but not bacteria, silver can slowly kill some (but not all) harmful bacteria. Neither helps get rid of bather waste and other stuff that gets in the pool so you must have chlorine along with Nature2. Both copper and silver can stain a pool and copper turns fingernails and blonde hair green.

So... it seems to me that mineral systems such as this are at best money poorly spent and can lead to staining and poor sanitization.

SWCG is a popular way to chlorinate that many people find convienient. I can't help you asses the risk to the cover but I would think in Maryland you get pretty regular rain and that would help dilute / wash away any salt from the cover.

Great, thank you for the feedback Dave.

Two follow up questions. As far as staining with Nature2, does that affect liner pools only, or gunite as well (especially with pebbletec finish)? The way it was explained to me, is that you use the mineral systems in conjuction to chlorine, except that you can now keep the chlorine levels lower.

Also, is there a big difference between chlorine and bromine? Which one is better for gunite pool?

Thanks.

Ditch the Nature2. Those things that add copper to your pool are what stain pool surfaces and blonde hair green. You do NOT want copper in your pool. Don't get it. Just use chlorine in the pool.

ok thanks, i will do that then. I will probably just do the automatic chlorinator and thats it. i think i will stay away from SWCG because of the auto cover, unless you guys can advise different.

Contrary to what has been told to you and the marketing hype from Zodiac the Nature2 will NOT allow lower FC levels in practice. It is merely a very expensive algaecide. Plaster finishes (and pebbletec is a plaster finish) are prone to staining from metals. Period!
As far as problem with the autocover and a SWCG, if everything is properly bonded it usually is not a problem (assuming the cover is made from material that are resistant to salt, which might cost a bit more. If it can be installed in a coastal community such as the Florida coast it should stand up to a SWCG.) I would be more concerned about problems with trapped chlorine gas and volatile chloramines taking their tole on the cover than the salt in the water. Check with the manufacturer of the cover and see what they have to say.

great feedback. thank you folks!

Hey folks, another thing i've read about a potential concern with using SWCG and the vinyl liner pools.

It seems like there is a potential long term issue with using salt in a vinyl liner pool. The concern i've been reading about is a potential of saltwater vapor crystalizing behind the liner and attacking the metal panels of the pool, eventually destroying the structure of the pool. I would think this wouldn't be an issue withe the gunite pool, but seems like a real possibilty on the vinyl liner pool.

Any thoughts/experrience on this?

Thanks,
Alex

If you have a pool with a metal frame instead of concrete/gunite there is always some risk of corrosion. I would check the manufacturers/builders warranty to make sure the warranty isn't rendered void first. If so, then the best way to go is manually chlorinating, possibly with the assistance of a tablet feeder system.

I've got a gunite pool that's about 5 years old now and has had a swcg since it was built I've only owned the house for two years, but as best I can tell there's not much metal (maybe rebar?) to worry about. I get a lot of rain here in FL, so lots of salt gets washed out and onto things around the pool. That's no problem for me, though because nothing around the pool is metal with the exception of the metal ring around my pool light (stainless, still looks perfect).

Are you placing a vinyl liner over a brand new gunite or pebbletec surface?

I have had a SWCG on an Above Ground pool with (obviously) a Metal frame and a Clip-in vinyl liner since May, 2010. I am in Arizona which averages about 10" of Rainfall per year. I have yet to see any corrosion on the exposed metal surfaces of the frame.