Thanks for your interest Sunshine.
There are certainly 'lower chemical requirement' pools these days. And there are also 'completely and utterly chemical free' pools, in the sense that nothing is ever added to the water. It is completely unsanitised.
I have fish in my pool. Swallows skim the water for a drink. The cats drink it. So does the dog. So have I actually, and it tastes better than the rainwater in my twenty year old concrete tank.
Prices to convert a pool to completely non chemical are very subjective, and should be thoroughly investigated.
Trouble with that is there are not many people to ask opinions.
My opinion, be wary of anyone selling these pools or conversions. Be wary of me too, and ask to see what I've done, how I do it, and also perhaps ask to see water tests conducted by.....in my case Albury City Council. They came and took a sample from my pool and sent it for analysis by a NATA accredited laboratory in Melbourne. The short version of the analysis is "high quality water" which is "satisfactory for the purpose of swimming and water based recreation" Has a council ever said that before? I doubt it.
Of interest, my pool water is ph 7.5 Always. Never changes.
There will be some huge failures by people attempting to build these pools without understanding what they are doing, and why they are doing it.
I have eight years experience with my own pool now, perfecting the design concept.
I don't use any fancy, overpriced components with my 'name' on it.
The rubber liner that I use is made in America by Firestone. The pumps are Australian or German, depending on whether I need 12 volt or 240.
Most all other components are from Australian companies and purchased from Bunnings, Reece plunbing, Boral masonry etc.
There are two very separate things that must work, and continue to work.
Construction of the structure, and the habitat for the biology to survive.
Having said all that, the principle or concept which makes these pools work is very simple.
It just needs to be a very considered design from the beginning.
I will answer anyone's questions and point them in the right direction.
Can I explain how to build one on a forum? No, because it would take a book almost, and every pool has different construction requirements.
Posted Friday 21 Jun 2013 @ 5:15:44 am from IP
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