switching to saltwater

[CarlD]

An Autopilot digital, upgradeable to run an acid pump and control the two speed pump.

[Charlie_R]

Glad you pointed out the lack of cost saving, CarlD. I had been considering spending the $$ for the Intex SWCG for my pool. Not sure I would do that now.

[CarlD]

Charlie, the Intex is VERY inexpensive. If it works for you, the math is different. I think it's about $200, as opposed to $1000-$2000 for fancier set ups.

[BigDave]

If you do go for an Intex SWCG, be aware that it may include a copper ionizer feature. This feature puts copper ions in the pool water - something that's not very popular around here.

Copper can stain the pool, fingernails, and light colored hair (lightened and colored as well) green. It also has the somewhat dubious effect of supressing algae without killing bacteria. In other words, the copper can help a pool look clean while allowing bacteria to pass between swimmers (or from below the waist of a swimmer to above the neck - yuck!). Perhaps there's a way to defeat this feature.

[JimK]

If you do go for an Intex SWCG, be aware that it may include a copper ionizer feature. This feature puts copper ions in the pool water - something that's not very popular around here.

Copper can stain the pool, fingernails, and light colored hair (lightened and colored as well) green. It also has the somewhat dubious effect of supressing algae without killing bacteria. In other words, the copper can help a pool look clean while allowing bacteria to pass between swimmers (or from below the waist of a swimmer to above the neck - yuck!). Perhaps there's a way to defeat this feature.

That's good to know that Intex may include that "feature". In my early days of pool ownership when I depended on the pool store to tell me what to do (long before discovering this great forum!) I used a copper based algaecide. After discovering it was the cause of staining everything (it was a pain and expensive to get rid of!) I would never use anything copper based again! I've since learned here that my algae problem could have been solved by just maintaining appropriate chlorine levels in relation to my stabilizer level.

[Charlie_R]

I have read elsewhere that there is a way to disconnect the copper ion section, but may not have to do that. Amazon still sells the older units without this "feature", so might pull the trigger on one when end of season sales go into effect.