New Member - Need Info on CL Free (Copper Ionization) System

[noCigar]

Greetings,

I've owned my home for about 5 years now that came with an in-ground pool with a My CL Free copper ionization system. The previous owners were older and presumably wanted a solution that didn't involve salt or chlorine so that's what the house came with. I've only ever had two algae blooms in the pool, and it seems to work okay. In the summer months I do supplement with a floating chlorinator and a couple of pucks of chlorine.

I just found this forum and was curious if anyone here knows about these systems and if they're really working or are snake oil? I know if the chlorine gets too out of hand it stains and cloggs the filters and need to do an acid bath. Unfortunately information is very sparse on these systems so just trying to see who here may have heard or these and if they require any specialized service?

Thanks!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Copper works until it stains your pool. We do not recommend putting copper in a pool. A SWG and following TFP methods is a much better system for sanitation.

Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Donldson]

Welcome to TFP!

Copper is a very good algaecide, which will keep your pool water clear, but it provides no sanitation of the water or oxidation of bather wastes. With the little to no chlorine these systems run the water can very easily become unsanitary. A lot of people like to bring up lakes and rivers when I mention that, but remember that a pool is a tiny puddle compared to even small ponds. It does not have an ecosystem and is easily contaminated, which is what chlorine protects from.

Between the massive limitations, the requirement to still use adequate chlorine to sanitize the water, and the potential for staining of people and pool surfaces, it is not something we in any way support using.

 

[Bperry]

I just found this forum and was curious if anyone here knows about these systems and if they're really working or are snake oil?

Probably don’t count as snake oil but just barely. Look up “copper staining” on any pool forum and learn the damage copper can do. It also tends to turn blond hair green.

A regular chlorine system of some kind is the best option.

 

[JJ_Tex]

As the others have said, Copper is okay at killing algae, but that comes with a whole series of staining risks and the EPA does not approve copper as a stand-alone sanitizer for your pool and it needs to be supplemented with chlorine.

So your choice is either
#1 - Chlorine at proper levels + Copper + a whole lot of staining risks... or
#2 - Chlorine at proper levels

#2 comes with no staining risks and is a much better sanitizer, which is why TFP chooses #2

 

[AUSpool]

Greetings,

I've owned my home for about 5 years now that came with an in-ground pool with a My CL Free copper ionization system. The previous owners were older and presumably wanted a solution that didn't involve salt or chlorine so that's what the house came with. I've only ever had two algae blooms in the pool, and it seems to work okay. In the summer months I do supplement with a floating chlorinator and a couple of pucks of chlorine.

I just found this forum and was curious if anyone here knows about these systems and if they're really working or are snake oil? I know if the chlorine gets too out of hand it stains and cloggs the filters and need to do an acid bath. Unfortunately information is very sparse on these systems so just trying to see who here may have heard or these and if they require any specialized service?

Thanks!

Geday noCigar and welcome to TFP and the forums.

Unfortunately I call snake oil. Copper isn’t that good at killing algae, it’s better at preventing algae growth and provides very little sanitation for bacterial or viral pathogens which is why a combination of silver is often used. And as already mentioned, copper and silver won’t oxidize waste, hence the chlorine to provide oxidation but the chlorine does all the sanitizing and oxidising while the copper causes all that staining. The staining part is never included in the glossy brochures.

In a pool that’s clean and clear chlorine, even at elevated levels, won’t cause staining or clogging the filters. What’s happening here is when chlorine is added sporadically it’s reacting with a high nutrient load and algae which gets caught in the filter. Your constantly on the verge of an algae outbreak.

Have a look through Pool Care Basics and embrace the benefits of using chlorine and stabaliser, aka, CyA.