Hello all,
First post on the forum.
Great to see some people talking about natural swimming pools and swimming ponds.
I've been working away at these systems since 2006 and I must say it's been a long hard road. The concept is slowly making headway in Australia.
The main thing I find when talking to people about the concept of chemical free, is that they don't understand what chemical free means.
The most common response I get when I say my pool never has chemicals added is "Oh, it's salt is it?"
'Chemical free' is no chemicals, no additives, no nothing......ever. If someone markets a natural pool or swim pond with 'additives', its a fail.
These pools are indeed very similar to fish tanks. In fact, they are super fish tanks when built correctly, even if they contain no fish. The biology is the same.
I have one large koi in my pool that's been there since 2007. I have also had 34, kilo plus golden perch in the bio-filter pool when the drought was happening with no apparent change to water clarity or health.
They are different to conventional pools in almost every way. The main difference is that the water in these pools is alive, and completely unsanitised, unless there is a U.V. installed which imo is unnecessary.
The water in a conventional pool is obviously.........biologically dead.
A well designed system will produce water as clear, or clearer than a conventional pool, and healthy enough to drink.
How do I know? I have done it.
Are these pools more work than a conventional pool? Yes..... And no. It depends entirely on the size and design of the pool.
At least there is no balancing/chemical manipulation of the water. Remember, nothing is ever done to the water.
The pool does need vacuuming, and in my situation a fine filter is cleaned every 2-3 weeks or after a full vacuum.
There is gardening work to do, although it is not a major task at all. Then again some people like gardening, particularly when that garden can host a diverse ecology.
Natural swimming pools and swim ponds are most definitely 'swimming pools' as far as councils are concerned, and must conform to building regulations including building permits, engineering, pool fencing, home warranty etc. They can also only be built by licensed pool builders or licensed house builders, or owner builders.
Landscapers, even if holders of 'contractor licenses' cannot legally contract to build them.
Power consumption wise these pools are far more efficient when it comes to litres pumped/watts consumed.
I have built two 75,000 litre systems that each use a single 100 watt pump, powered by stand alone, off grid solar.
As well, another two systems both over 200,000 litres, each using a 460 watt pump.
All my systems use a separate .75 hp pump when vacuuming, which for me is about every six weeks.
Algae does grow in these pools, the amount varying with the time of year. Spring and autumn are the main growing times.
The algae is a filamentous type which grows on the walls, not the type that makes the water green. My pool has never had green water.
Algae plays an important role in taking up nutrients in the water. Remove the algae, remove the nutrients.
It has long been my view that algae is not the problem, rather the ability to easily remove it from the system. That is where my fine filter comes into play. I vacuum straight into the fine filter, and clean the filter afterwards.
I use less than 60 litres of water to clean the filter. If I wanted, I could reclaim 95% of that and return it to the pool.
These pools aren't for everyone tho'. Bad move if you buy/build one just to be a trend setter.
But if you love the environment and all its critters, you'll find these pools fascinating. Not to mention a swim quality that surpasses the very best conventional pool. Imo, of course.
Jeff