Introducing Mineral Guard™: Cleaner Pools, Less Chlorine

Are you tired of battling high chlorine levels in your pool? Many pool owners face the challenge of maintaining clean and safe water for their pool while trying to use as few chemicals as possible. It's a delicate balance—too much chlorine can result in irritated eyes and skin as well as detrimental to the pool chemistry, but with too little chlorine, you run the risk of a green pool. 

 Introducing the AstralPool Mineral Guard™, the ultimate solution to this common dilemma. This innovative secondary sanitiser leverages the purifying power of natural minerals, a method trusted throughout history to keep water clean without relying heavily on chemicals. With AstralPool Mineral Guard, you can reduce your pool's chlorine dependency while enjoying a safer, more enjoyable swimming experience. Discover how Mineral Guard can transform your pool maintenance routine into a hassle-free one.

Why Do We Need to Maintain Ideal Chlorine Levels?

Understanding and managing chlorine levels is crucial for any pool owner. While slightly elevated chlorine levels are generally harmless, excessively high concentrations can significantly impact swimmer's health and the overall pool environment.

Common issues with High Chlorine Levels

An over-chlorinated pool can lead to a range of adverse effects. These include:

• Skin and Eye Irritation: High chlorine levels can cause discomfort, such as itchy eyes, nose, and throat, as well as skin rashes.
• pH Imbalance: Excessive chlorine raises the pH levels of pool water. This not only affects swimmer comfort but also interferes with the effectiveness of the pool's sanitising chemicals.
• Physical Damage: High pH can corrode pool equipment, deteriorate pool linings, damage swimwear, and even damage landscaping around the pool.

Importance of Maintaining Balanced Pool Chemistry

Water balance is essential for a number of reasons:

• Effective Sanitisation: Proper pH levels ensure sanitising chemicals such as chlorine work more efficiently. For example,  high pH prevents sanitiser from adequately disinfecting the water.
• Prevention of Water Problems: Maintaining the right pH balance reduces the likelihood of encountering common water issues like cloudiness and algae growth.
• Equipment Longevity: Low pH levels cause the water to become corrosive, which can lead to the deterioration of pool surfaces and components.

Moreover, improper water balance can lead to scaling, which affects the efficiency of pool heaters and pumps, similar to how arteries are clogged by unhealthy diets, forcing systems to work harder and consume more energy.

What is AstralPool Mineral Guard™?

Mineral Guard represents a significant advancement in pool sanitisation technology, an innovative secondary sanitiser designed to work in conjunction with a primary sanitiser like chlorine or a saltwater chlorinator. Leveraging the power of natural minerals and advanced technology enhances pool water quality while optimising the use of traditional sanitisers. 

Key Ingredients and Their Roles

• Alumina Core

The highly engineered, porous alumina core serves as a reservoir that holds and gradually releases mineral ions. This controlled release helps maintain consistent water treatment levels, reducing the overall reliance on high chemical doses and minimising the risk of staining and maintenance.

• Silver

Silver is a known disinfectant and has been used for millennia for its potent antimicrobial properties, as it can eliminate more than 650 types of bacteria. Silver is commonly integrated into domestic water filters, including granular and powdered activated carbon and ceramic water filters. Silver ions are positively charged in the silver ionisation water filtration process, while microbes typically carry a negative charge. The interaction between silver ions and bacteria inhibits essential functions necessary for microbial survival, including respiration and DNA replication, effectively killing the pathogens. According to the World Health Organisation, silver is frequently used alongside copper in systems like copper-silver ionisation, particularly for controlling bacteria such as Legionella spp. in hot water plumbing systems.

• Copper

As an effective algaecide, copper is essential in preventing algae growth. It offers long-lasting protection and works in conjunction with silver to provide a robust defence against a range of microbial and algae threats, simplifying pool maintenance and reducing dependency on high levels of chlorine.

Installation and Maintenance

Installing AstralPool Mineral Guard is straightforward and energy-efficient, requiring no additional power—just the natural water flow from your pool's filtration system. Simply follow the below steps:

1. Turn off your pool pump.
2. Disconnect the first hose section after your pool's skimmer or dedicated vacuum line.
3. Connect the Mineral Guard™ between the hose sections.
4. Turn on the pool pump.
5. Activate the cartridge. 

This product complements your primary sanitisation method, enhancing its efficiency and reducing the amount of chlorine needed. For continued optimal performance, replace the Mineral Guard cartridge every six months. 

Important Notes:

• While Mineral Guard™ significantly enhances pool water quality, it must be used with a primary sanitiser, such as chlorine or a saltwater chlorinator.
• Avoid using it with PHMB, biguanides, bromine sanitisers, or any copper-based algaecide or soda ash products, as with bromine-based chemicals, Mineral Guard™'s silver ions will be deactivated, which may result in cloudy water.

How It Works- The Technology Behind Mineral Guard™

The effectiveness of AstralPool Guard lies in its innovative use of Nature2 technology, which utilises a unique blend of natural minerals. The patented Controlled Release Technology (CRT) ensures a steady and controlled release of mineral ions into the pool. This technology helps maintain effective sanitisation, reduces the frequency and quantity of primary sanitiser required, and eliminates the need to test and measure copper and silver levels constantly. 

Nature2 Technology

The core of Nature2 technology is its use of activated alumina, or aluminum oxide, which serves as a support matrix. This material works with silver and copper actives in a proprietary process, creating a highly effective media for metal ion release. The alumina core acts as both a reservoir and a regulator, storing metal ions and releasing them in controlled amounts to effectively kill bacteria and control algae without causing staining.

• Rapid Bacterial Elimination: Independent tests have shown that the Nature2 system can eliminate common pool bacteria within 30 seconds, far outperforming traditional chlorine systems in speed and efficiency.
• Algae Control: In a study involving multiple algae types, Nature2 demonstrated superior performance, being 240% as effective as traditional chlorine alone in preventing algae growth.
• Metal Ion Control: The system controls the release of metal ions, ensuring that their levels stay below staining thresholds, thus maintaining the pool's aesthetics and structural integrity.

Benefits of Using Mineral Guard™

Mineral Guard™ offers various advantages for pool owners who are seeking an efficient, low-maintenance solution to pool sanitation. Here are the key benefits that make it a standout choice on the market:

Achieve Minimal Chlorine Levels

Mineral Guard™ is engineered to significantly reduce the amount of chlorine needed to maintain your pool. Regardless of the type of chlorine delivery system you use, this secondary sanitiser has been proven to operate effectively with 50% less chlorine than chlorine alone. This reduction promotes a healthier swimming environment by minimising chemical exposure and aligns with Australian standards, which recommend a minimum of 1 ppm of chlorine for safe pool water.

Unique Residual Sanitising Power

Unlike secondary sanitisers such as ozone, AOP, or UV systems, which require continuous operation to maintain their effectiveness, Mineral Guard™ provides a unique residual effect, meaning it continues to sanitise the water even when there's no water flow, such as during power outages or when the pump is off. This ensures your pool remains safe and clean, continuously and reliably maintaining water health.

Easy Installation with No Power Requirements

One of the most user-friendly features of the Mineral Guard™ is its simplicity in installation. The unit requires no external power, operating solely on the water flow through your pool's filtration system, activated by the presence of chlorine. This makes it hassle-free and straightforward to set up and enhances its appeal as an energy-efficient sanitisation solution.

Cost-Effective and Powerful

Mineral Guard™ stands out as the most economical choice among secondary sanitisers on the market. It provides powerful, long-lasting protection against bacteria and algae without the need for frequent reapplications or high levels of chemicals, offering significant cost savings over time.

No Stain Guarantee

Thanks to the controlled release technology and the ingredients used, Mineral Guard™ is unique when compared to all other ionisers in as much that it cannot cause staining of your pool surfaces or equipment. This guarantees the aesthetic appeal and longevity of your pool investment, allowing you to enjoy a beautiful swimming environment without worrying about unsightly stains often associated with other types of water treatments.

 

Bottom Line

With its powerful residual sanitising action, ease of installation, cost-effectiveness, and no stain guarantee, Mineral Guard™ offers an all-encompassing solution that ensures your pool water remains clean, clear, and inviting without the hassle and high costs of heavy chemical use. 

Ready to transform your pool maintenance routine and enjoy a healthier, more sustainable swimming environment? Visit our dealer page to locate your nearest AstralPool authorised dealer and learn more about how this innovative product can be part of your pool care solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I still need to use chlorine?

Yes, Mineral Guard™ requires an oxidiser (chlorine) to activate the silver and copper. A chlorine level that satisfies the Australian Standards is adequate. With Mineral Guard™, you can reduce the need for superchlorination by up to 50%.

• Is Mineral Guard™ a pool filter?

No, a pool filter is required to remove particles and debris from the water. Mineral Guard™ disinfects pool water by killing bacteria, algae and viruses. 

• Are low levels of silver and copper safe in a pool?

Yes, water treated by the Mineral Guard™ meets APVMA standards for pool water health.