Copper Ions In Pool Water

Copper zinc ionizers can introduce copper into the pool.

Copper ions in pool water. If the ph needs to be adjusted or the calcium hardness needs to be raised continue to the next steps. Test the calcium hardness using a calcium test strip. To counteract the copper in the pool water the ph should read between 7 2 and 7 3. With copper ionization acidic water will increase the risk of copper staining on the pool lining and surfaces.

You might use a copper zinc ionizer in addition to chlorine to sanitize the pool. Although lethal to bacteria and algae pool ionizers are completely safe for humans. Copper silver ionizers are electrolytic devices that deliver silver copper and sometimes other metal ions into swimming pool or spa water. It is a safe way of cleaning your pool without the side effects of chlorine.

The hardness level needed to fight copper buildup in the pool should be 350 parts per million. Copper has been used to purify drinking water for centuries. Copper ionization uses a low voltage current to release copper ions into your pool water. Ion generators or ionizers use d c electricity to erode electrodes composed of copper silver and sometimes zinc.

The result is free ions of these metals in the swimming pool water. So there is an added importance to testing ph on a regular basis. Pool ionization can lead to staining on a pool s interior surface or liner. Copper ions have the ability to pierce the protective outer membrane of a cell and disrupt enzyme balance thereby killing algae.

If your water has copper in it and you shock the pool or if your pool also happens to be out of balance with low ph low total alkalinity or low calcium hardness then you risk oxidizing the copper present in the pool water. These devices can inject copper into the pool water in the course of their normal operation. The discoloration is especially. Copper ionization is a process where copper ions are introduced to a water source essentially using electrolysis.

The copper ions are generated by using electrolytic controller devices ionizers that apply a low current to a flow cell that is plumbed into the pool s return line. However the ionization process is ph neutral so you should not have as much fluctuation in ph as you would with a salt chlorinated or traditional chlorine pool. When copper ions attach to the pool s liner the result is an aquatic blue green stain. People around the world have started using copper ionization to clean pools and kill tough bacteria.

At low concentrations they are effective in combatting a range of algae bacteria and viruses in conjunction with a low oxidizer level such as chlorine. This oxidized copper can cause a number of problems which i list below.