Sphagnum moss in an indoor commercial setting, need or don't need?

[tolkstoy]

Hello all, this is my first post.

I'm taking over a facility as their CPO, this will be my 4th year in pool operations, 3 years in a voluntary operations position as well as 4 years on the commercial service side . After a walkthrough of the facilities I noticed what looked like a small sand filter connected off of the pump before the accu-tab chlorinator. I was told that it is holding "pool moss" in a mesh bag to collect oils. The current CPO is new to the field and this is the only pool he has worked on so I couldn't get much information from him. He just replaced the mesh bags like he was told to when he took over.

I've serviced many commercial facilities in my short time as a pool operator and have not come across a system like this and have not come up with many search results online or on TFP which makes me believe this was some fad years ago.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Tolkstoy and Welcome !!!

In short, it's a 'conditioner' and doesn't add any residual sanitizer to the pool. You need residual sanitizer (chlorine) or the person to person transmissions are not controlled. Algae while unsightly is harmless and only the canary in the coal mine. If it can fester, so can bacteria, viruses and pathogens which are the real concern, but the industry is fixated on only algae.

Here's one company using moss, give their marketing mumbo jumbo the respect it deserves. (Very very little).

Residential Pools | Creative Water Solutions

Moss makes pool care and balancing pool water chemistry less work. PoolMoss® brings the power of Sphagnum moss to the residential pool. In addition to providing a new level of enjoyment for home users, it also reduces the time, cost, and effort associated with maintenance and service issues...

cwsnaturally.com

 

[JoyfulNoise]

wcco.com - Moss Proving An Alternative To Chlorine In Pools

Sunshine and warm summer days make homes with pools popular places this time of year. The upkeep of a pool or spa can be so time-consuming. The chemicals used to treat pools can be pretty corrosive.

web.archive.org

Commercial Water Treatment

Creative Water Solutions - Sphagnum moss makes pool care and balancing pool water chemistry less work, while having a great experience.

cwsnaturally.com

Basically a fad from many years ago. The usual “alternative to chlorine (but we still use chlorine anyway because it’s illegal to tell you not to)” nonsense.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

My guess is, long ago, some manager of the facility you work in either bought into all the “alternative sanitizer” nonsense or was berated by someone to stop using EEEEEEEEEEEVVVVVIIIILLLLLLL chlorine because … muh just like WWI mustard gas …. and to shut the idiot up they installed a teabag filled with bog moss to prove how “green” they could be.

Fast forward to today and you get the completely predictable results that people move on, staff turnover happens, and now no one knows what the heck this “thing” is attached to plumbing but someone remembers someone else saying to just turn this valve and push this button every morning and it will do whatever it is supposed to do. So like well trained lemmings, the valve gets turned, the button gets pushed, and everyone goes about their day.

 

[tolkstoy]

Hey Tolkstoy and Welcome !!!

In short, it's a 'conditioner' and doesn't add any residual sanitizer to the pool. You need residual sanitizer (chlorine) or the person to person transmissions are not controlled. Algae while unsightly is harmless and only the canary in the coal mine. If it can fester, so can bacteria, viruses and pathogens which are the real concern, but the industry is fixated on only algae.

Here's one company using moss, give their marketing mumbo jumbo the respect it deserves. (Very very little).

Residential Pools | Creative Water Solutions

Moss makes pool care and balancing pool water chemistry less work. PoolMoss® brings the power of Sphagnum moss to the residential pool. In addition to providing a new level of enjoyment for home users, it also reduces the time, cost, and effort associated with maintenance and service issues...

cwsnaturally.com

Apologies for the late response. Yes, I've looked into the company's marketing for the last week and have not seen many negative reviews online, just lots of news articles about pools incorporating the system. I have to ask myself, if this really does cut chlorine expenses by 50%, and eliminates scale on heater coils why isn't every commercial and residential pool have one installed? (Maybe big chlorine has something to do with it)

I've read the research paper that was published by some university, I could look back to find it but the claims and reporting were.. interesting. (The paper noted that pumps are what heat pools for example.)

I am interested in ripping it out and simplifying the pump room but I can't help but want to test out the pool with moss for 6 months vs. 6 months without with the supplies I have left. I'm not sure what parameters or data I would collect but Ill give myself some time to figure that out.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Newdude]

if this really does cut chlorine expenses by 50%,

It would have to deploy a tent over the pool to do so.

Otherwise the sun comes out and does it's thing everyday, moss or no moss, and burns off 3 or 4ppm each day in the peak season.

Then your bather load is your bather load and moss does nothing to sanitize it. You need the chlorine you need there as well.

Or there are commercial grade Ozone/ UV systems which can keep up with the sanitizing needs, and the moss doesn't lower the needs.

have not seen many negative reviews online,

Give those folks the same respect you gave the marketing folks above. Online review people also put a chunk of copper pipe in their skimmer instead of using chlorine. Or a magic eraser. Or moss.