A mineral pool is a swimming pool that uses magnesium-based minerals as the foundation of its sanitising system, rather than the higher salt levels of a traditional saltwater pool. Most still use some chlorine, often at a lower level, and many are paired with an ozone system. Owners commonly describe the water as softer and silkier, with little of the chlorine smell people expect from a pool.
That’s the short answer. Below is the plain version: how a mineral pool works, what goes into one, and what to weigh up before you choose one for your Brisbane backyard.
How does a mineral pool work?
Every pool needs a dependable way to keep bacteria and algae under control. In a saltwater pool, salt is added to the water and a chlorinator turns it into chlorine. In a mineral pool, magnesium is the agent added to the water, and the system produces magnesium chloride as part of sanitising the pool.
From the backyard, the equipment looks much like a saltwater setup: a pump, a filter and a system that does the sanitising work. The real difference is what’s dissolved in the water, and how it feels when you swim.
What does the water feel like?
This is where most people notice the change. Mineral pool owners often describe the water as silky or soft, and say they notice little or no chlorine smell. Everyone experiences water a little differently, so if you get the chance, it’s well worth a swim in a mineral pool before you decide.
Where did mineral pools come from?
Mineral pools are a Queensland story. Back in 2007, our team was part of the management group that came up with the idea of families swimming in a mineral pool in their own backyard. After many years of selling saltwater chlorination, the goal was a system that gave safe water to swim in and was kinder to the environment. The Dead Sea, known around the world for the high mineral content of its water, was the inspiration.
Other mineral products followed, and as with any new category, quality varies. That’s a big reason we stick with a small number of products we trust.
What goes into a Mineral Pools QLD mineral pool?
On our mineral pools we use two main systems:
- Mineral Swim: minerals sourced from the Dead Sea. Maytronics, the company behind Dolphin robotic pool cleaners, partnered with AHAVA, together with Maytronics Australia, to bring these minerals from the Dead Sea to backyard pools.
- Ozone Swim: an ozone system manufactured on the Gold Coast by Brauer Industries. Ozone is an oxidiser that helps purify the water, and it breaks down into oxygen.
[CAM TO CONFIRM: Mineral Swim and Ozone Swim are still the products you install, and the AHAVA partnership is still current.]
Pairing minerals with ozone is designed to reduce how much chlorine the pool needs. [CAM TO CONFIRM: the chemical reduction figure you’re comfortable standing behind, with its source. Your site currently shows both “60-80%” and “80%”, so we’ve left a number out.]
Mineral pool or magnesium pool: is there a difference?
In everyday conversation, not really. People use “mineral pool” and “magnesium pool” interchangeably, because magnesium is the main mineral involved. The terms are used loosely across the industry, though, so it pays to ask any builder exactly which product and system they’re quoting.
Is a mineral pool chemical free?
No, and be wary of anyone who tells you otherwise. Every pool needs reliable sanitising to stay safe to swim in. A mineral pool usually still uses some chlorine, just often less of it, especially with ozone working alongside. We walk through the differences between the three main options in our mineral vs saltwater vs chlorine guide.
What are the benefits of a mineral pool?
The benefits people mention most come down to everyday comfort:
- Water that feels softer on the skin
- Less of a chlorine smell around the pool
- Lower chlorine use than a traditional chlorine pool, particularly when paired with ozone
Some of our clients tell us they come out of the water feeling calm and relaxed, and that their skin feels great. These are personal experiences, not promises. A backyard pool isn’t a medical treatment, so if anyone in your household has a skin condition, allergies or another health concern, talk to your doctor before settling on a pool type.
Is a mineral pool right for my family?
A mineral pool may suit you if:
- softer-feeling water and lower chlorine use matter to you
- you’re happy to test the water regularly and keep minerals, pH and sanitiser in balance
- you’d like to pair your pool with equipment such as ozone and a robotic cleaner
If you’d rather stick with a familiar, long-proven approach, a saltwater pool is a sound choice too. Saltwater pools have been around for more than 30 years and remain a popular choice for Queenslanders. We build both, so we can run through the advantages of each at the design stage without nudging you either way.
Questions to ask any mineral pool builder
- Which mineral product and sanitising system will you install?
- Will the pool still use chlorine, and how much compared with a saltwater pool?
- What does ongoing care look like from week to week?
- Who looks after the system after handover?
Can I turn my existing pool into a mineral pool?
Often, yes. Many existing chlorine and saltwater pools can be converted, and the right approach depends on the equipment you already have. Send us your pool’s length, width, average depth and the age of your chlorinator through our Convert your pool page, and we’ll take a look. [CAM TO CONFIRM: what a typical conversion involves, and any pools or equipment that can’t be converted.]
Common questions
Do mineral pools need chlorine?
Usually yes, though often less of it. Most mineral pools still use some chlorine or another sanitiser, and an ozone system can reduce how much you need.
Is a mineral pool the same as a saltwater pool?
No, they work differently. A saltwater pool uses salt to produce chlorine, while a mineral pool uses magnesium to produce magnesium chloride. The minerals, the equipment and the feel of the water are all different.
Are mineral pools low maintenance?
They can reduce some routine chemical handling, but no pool is maintenance free. You’ll still test the water, top up minerals as needed and keep the pump and filter in good order. A robotic cleaner, such as the Dolphin cleaners we supply, takes a lot of the manual cleaning off your hands.
Can I have a mineral pool and spa?
Yes. We design and build custom concrete pools and spas. [CAM TO CONFIRM: that a spa can run on the same mineral system as the pool.]
Thinking about a mineral pool?
We’re a Brisbane family business with over 17 years’ experience building custom concrete pools and spas. You’ll have one contact from the very first meeting through to final handover, and our design process is pressure free.
Call [CAM TO CONFIRM: preferred phone number to display; the Contact page shows 1300 846 816] or request your obligation-free quote.
General information only, not health or medical advice.
