Salt Pool Systems

Questions and Answers

Q. How does the Atlantis saltwater sanitizer work?

A.  A small amount of natural salt is dissolved into the pool water. The sanitizer's electrolytic cell is plumbed directly in-line with the pool equipment, typically after the heater. The power control unit is wired to the pool timer so it sanitizes the water when the pump is running. As the water flows through the electrolytic cell, electrolysis separates the salt water into it's basic components, sodium and chloride. Pure chlorine gas is produced by this process and goes to work in the cell chamber to oxidize bacteria and sanitize the pool water. Following this process the chloride and sodium re-bond and become natural salt again.

Q. How much sanitizer is produced?

A. The Atlantis power control unit can be adjusted to produce the level of sanitizer needed or desired.  

Q. Will I ever need to add standard pool chlorine again?

A. No, the Atlantis system will produce more than enough sanitizer to keep your pool crystal clear year around.

Q. Does the salt damage pool equipment?

A. No. low levels of salt have relatively insignificant effects on corrosion.

Q. How does the Atlantis system remove calcium build-up on pools?

A. By extracting excess hardness (calcium etc.) from the water during the electrolytic process. This improves the feel of the water, protects the pool equipment and saves you money. By extracting excess hardness (calcium etc.) from the water during the electrolytic process. This improves the feel of the water, protects the pool equipment and saves you money.

Q. How can the Atlantis system help with my health?

A. It keeps your pool water constantly sterile and healthy, automatically. No dangerous, unhealthy periods of high or low chlorine levels and no dangerous "chloramines" or chlorine compounds of any kind.

Q. Why is it good for my skin and hair?

A. Ladies know the benefits of salt treatments for the skin; the mild salinity of the water does not have a "drying" effect on the skin (as does more salty sea water) and does not turn blond or gray hair green.

How Does Natural Saltwater Sanitizing Work?

Traditionally, domestic and commercial swimming pools have been sanitized by the use of liquid, granular or gas chlorine. The storage and application of chemical chlorine has fallen out of favor in many countries due to environmental concern. The danger of having hazardous chemicals around your home, the cost of chlorine based chemicals, the cost of automatic dispensing machines or tedious manual application and the health hazards of these chemicals have all led to alternative sanitizing methods.

In Australia, for over 25 years, the use of chemical chlorine has been greatly replaced by saltwater sanitizing technology to such extent that approximately 98% of swimming pools are now sanitized using this process. Saltwater sanitizing technology is now fast becoming the standard throughout the world, with Australian companies being recognized as the market leader in this field.

HOW SALT SANITIZES:

First, the perception is wrong that swimming in a saltwater sanitized pool is equivalent to swimming in ocean water. A saltwater sanitized pool system does require the addition of salt to the swimming pool water, but only in a very mild solution. Saltwater sanitizers typically require a concentration of only 0.50% salt (about half as salty as a human teardrop). This compares to sea water and our own bodies, which have a salinity concentration of 3.75%.

This mild , pleasant saline water is sanitized through the process of electrolysis. This electrolytic cell, through the use of a small electric current, breaks down the water into it's basic elements, Hydrogen and Oxygen. By adding small quantities of granulated salt (much like household table salt-NaCI), Hypochlorous Acid (common chlorine) is produced. During the process, the Hypochlorous Acid (Chlorine) is ultimately converted back to salt. Thus, the salt does not get "used up". Salt only needs to be "topped off" once or twice a year and only to replace salt lost due to water splash-out and/or filter backwash.