So, you're thinking about converting your salt water pool to a magnesium mineral pool? Good on you! But we know what you're thinking: "What's converting my existing pool to a magnesium cost going to be cost me?"
Well, let's look at the differest aspects of converting your pool to a magnesium mineral pool shall we?
I'm scared of the costs of converting to a magnesium pool
Cost? Sure, it may be a bit of an investment up front, but think of all the money you'll save on chemicals and maintenance in the long run. By converting your pool to a magnesium pool, you would no longer be adding chlorine to your pool and removing the need to add water conditioners or needing to shock your pool to get rid of that "chlorine smell".
Plus, your friends will be so impressed by your fancy pool, it's like getting a full pool makeover without the massive expenses. Not that it will look any different, but it will feel like a million bucks! Silky smooth water feel, no chlorine smell, gentle on the skin, no red eyes after swimming, heck, you'll feel like you're in a top-end mineral spa at the comfort of your own pool.
Does having a Magnesium Mineral Pool need Specialised Equipment?
Specialized equipment? Yes, specialized magnesium chlorinators can cost an arm and a leg, but there's an alternative to that from Water TechniX that promises to change the way you look at the costs of a Magnesium pool, more on that later. But if you already have a saltwater pool then you may already have everything you need to get a magnesium pool up and running! We also have an in-depth discussion about the difference between a saltwater pool and a chlorine pool. For more information, click here.
Is switching over to a magnesium pool difficult?
Don't worry about convenience - our team of experts will make the conversion process as smooth as possible by answering any and all of your questions before, during, and after the conversion, so you can get back to lounging poolside with a cold drink in hand. As for health and environmental concerns, you can rest easy knowing that magnesium mineral pools are both safe and eco-friendly.
And if you're worried about compatibility with your existing equipment, don't be. If you have a pool then you're already halfway there! We'll go over everything you'll need in the section below and you'd be surprised to find out that you probably have most of the things needed to convert your pool to a magnesium pool.
So, what are you waiting for? Dive in and experience the benefits of a magnesium mineral pool. Your skin (and your wallet) will thank you.
How Much Magnesium Minerals Do I need to add to my pool?
Here's an easy-to-follow sheet of how much magnesium minerals you need to add to your pool depending on the levels. Note that 0 ppm means that you are starting from scratch and the succeeding levels are there for periodic maintenance.
Note 2: Magnesium minerals are referred to as "bags"as that's the traditional way of packaging them. Water TechniX Magnesium Minerals are packaged in buckets to prevent exposure to the elements and clumping, making it easier to use!
Note 3: 1 bag = 1 bucket = 10kg of magnesium minerals
| Salinity | 10,000L | 20,000L | 30,000L | 40,000L | 50,000L | 60,000L | 70,000L | 80,000L |
| 0 ppm | 3 Bags | 6 Bags | 9 Bags | 12 Bags | 15 Bags | 18 Bags | 21 Bags | 24 Bags |
| 500 ppm | 2 Bags | 4 Bags | 6 Bags | 8 Bags | 10 Bags | 12 Bags | 14 Bags | 16 Bags |
| 1000 ppm | 2 Bags | 3 Bags | 5 Bags | 7 Bags | 9 Bags | 10 Bags | 12 Bags | 15 Bags |
| 1500 ppm | 1 Bag | 2 Bags | 3 Bags | 4 Bags | 5 Bags | 6 Bags | 7 Bags | 8 Bags |
| 2000 ppm | 1 Bag | 2 Bags | 3 Bags | 4 Bags | 5 Bags | 6 Bags | 7 Bags | 8 Bags |
| 2500 - 3500 ppm | 1/2 Bag | 1 Bag | 1 1/2 Bags | 2 Bags | 2 1/2 Bags | 3 Bags | 3 1/2 Bags | 4 Bags |
| 4000 ppm | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 1 Bag | 1 Bag | 2 Bags | 2 Bags | 2 Bags |
| 4500 ppm | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags | 0 Bags |
Need a LOT of magnesium minerals? We have a 10-pack of magnesium minerals that you can check out here.
Magnesium Mineral Pool FAQs
What are the benefits of having a magnesium mineral pool?
A magnesium mineral pool offers several benefits, including softer, smoother water that is gentler on skin, hair, and eyes. It also has a more natural feel and may help reduce stress and anxiety. Additionally, magnesium has been linked to potential health benefits, such as reducing inflammation and improving sleep quality.
Will converting my pool to a magnesium mineral pool require any major changes or renovations?
No, all you need is a chlorinator capable of handling magnesium minerals, a media filter with glass filter, and magnesium minerals (more on that below)
How does a magnesium mineral pool compare in terms of maintenance and cost to a traditional chlorine pool?
There may be some additional costs associated with maintaining the mineral levels in the pool. Additionally, a magnesium mineral pool may require more frequent water testing and adjustment to maintain proper mineral levels. But it will require less chlorine so overall, once you get past the initial cost, the regular maintenance costs will be just a tad higher than having a regular pool, but the benefits are more than enough to offset the minor increase in costs.
Will a magnesium mineral pool affect the lifespan of my pool equipment or the surface of my pool?
A magnesium mineral pool is generally safe for pool equipment and surfaces, and may even help extend their lifespan. However, it is important to maintain proper water balance and regularly test and adjust the mineral levels to avoid any potential damage or buildup.
I already have all of the required equipment, can I just add magnesium minerals on top of my saltwater pool?
No, it is best to drain your pool about 1/3 of the way and refill it with fresh water to dilute the salt, then do this two times more to ensure that there's minimal salt less. Having a combination of too much salt and minerals will cause your chlorinator not to function properly.
Can I or Should I drain my pool to convert it into a magnesium pool?
It would be safer to just partially drain your pool to dilute existing salt levels. But if you want to do it in one go, you can fully drain your pool UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A POOL PROFESSIONAL. We cannot stress the importance of pool professional supervision when draining your pool to avoid catastrophically damaging your pool.
Converting a regular pool to a magnesium mineral pool
For regular pools, you’ll need a number of components to convert your pool into a magnesium mineral pool. Stay with me, it's much simpler than you imagine.
First component: Salt and Mineral Chlorinator
As we mentioned earlier, you don’t need those fancy dedicated magnesium chlorinators. While we can’t speak for all of the different salt water chlorinators out there, we’re 100% confident that the standard Water TechniX Atomic Salt and Mineral Chlorinators are able to handle magnesium minerals and work as a chlorinator using magnesium minerals.
We've thoroughly tested the Water TechniX Chlorinator and we can say with confidence that it works just as well (or even better) than specialized magnesium chlorinators at twice or three times the price!
Second component: Magnesium Minerals
Well, it wouldn’t be much of a magnesium mineral pool without magnesium minerals, right? And for the best performance, don’t just buy anything labeled magnesium from a local hardware or DIY store because magnesium pools require a unique blend of magnesium and potassium, without any sodium. While it is rare, unscrupulous dealers will cut their magnesium minerals with regular pool salt (yes, it happens) to save on costs and offer their magnesium minerals at a lower price point. This will cost you more than just headaches in the long run, trust us on this!
On the flipside, magnesium minerals in snazzy packaging tend to be overpriced and will cost double of what they truly are. When it comes to magnesium minerals, get one from a supplier that has a proven track record of only supplying the best pool supplies!
Third component: Sand Filter with Glass Media
Many pools nowadays already come with sand filters so you may or may not already have one of these installed. If you do, then great, tick it off the list! If you have a sand filter using regular sand media then all you need to do is to change out your media to glass. We have an in-depth guide on how to change your sand pool filter media here if you need help in changing your filter media from sand to glass.
That’s everything you’ll need to convert a traditional pool into a magnesium mineral pool!
Step-by-Step guide to converting your pool into a magnesium mineral pool
- Installing all of the equipment - All of the equipment required for magnesium pools are DIY-friendly and you can install all of them in an afternoon. Our blog section contains many helpful guides on how to install your own pool equipment. If you have trouble finding the specific guide, you can always reach out to our pool pros through our contact page and they’ll help get you sorted out in no time!
- Preparing your pool - If you want a really clean start then you can enlist the help of a pool professional to drain your pool, clean out all of the walls and do any minor (or major) repairs. But if you have a fairly new pool or if repairs aren’t necessary then you can skip this step.
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Balancing your pool chemical levels - Before adding your magnesium minerals and firing up your salt and mineral chlorinator, make sure to check and balance all your chemicals levels to where they’re supposed to be. Here are the recommended chemical levels that you should take note of:
- pH - 7.2 to 7.6
- Total Alkalinity - 80 to 120
- Calcium Hardness - 200 to 400
- Cyanuric Acid - 30 to 50
- Once those levels are where they’re supposed to be, it’s time to add your magnesium minerals! As a rule of thumb, to start off your new magnesium mineral pool, you’ll need to add 3 bags for every 10,000 liters of pool water. Pretty simple, just dump all of the bags into your pool and use a brush to spread it around and dissolve the minerals. Think of it as giving your pool a nice exfoliating scrub to get it all shiny and ready.
- Fire up your salt and mineral chlorinator and you should be good to go!
Notes: You may notice some strange stuff happening, but don’t worry, the following are normal when it comes to newly installed magnesium mineral pools:
- Cloudy pool water - This is completely normal upon first startup and it should last only a few days and it should clear up. While it is completely safe to swim in, we don’t recommend swimming in first-start magnesium mineral pool while it’s still cloudy. Just wait a couple of days until it clears up, trust us, it’s worth the wait!
- Your pool cleaners may not “cling” to your pool surfaces - Your pool surfaces will become “smoother” for the first couple of weeks, but this should resolve itself after a while.
- Strange chlorine readings - Don’t worry, your chlorine readings for the first week or two won’t look normal, but if you have a functioning salt and mineral chlorinator and you’ve added the requisite minerals then this should normalize within a couple of weeks.
Tip: After two weeks, don’t forget to backwash your sand filter to flush out any debris or undissolved minerals that are caught in your filter.
Converting your saltwater pool into a magnesium mineral pool
Now if you have a saltwater pool using the Water TechniX Atomic Salt and Magnesium Chlorinator then converting it to a magnesium mineral pool is pretty straightforward. Simply lower your salt levels by partially draining your pool and refilling it with fresh water (or completely drain it out with the help of a pool professional) balance your pool water to the specifications above, add your minerals and that’s it!
As you can see, there really isn’t much to converting ANY pool into a magnesium mineral pool! In fact, you may already have everything you need to turn your pool into a magnesium mineral pool (well, maybe everything except for magnesium minerals). Once you get past all of the hype and marketing around getting specialized equipment and how it’s really complicated to set one up without all of the latest and the greatest hydroxinator, it’s pretty straightforward.
Bonus: Keeping your Magnesium Mineral levels in Check
Unlike saltwater pools where you can get away with checking salt levels every quarter or only after heavy rains, you will need to check your magnesium minerals at least once a month. Not only that, but you should always keep your magnesium levels at around 4000-4500 ppm for the best mineral pool experience.
Need more information on magnesium pools? Drop us a line below and our pool pros will get you sorted right out!
Do you have any questions about this topic or the featured products? No worries, we're here to help! Drop us a question down below and we'll get back to you ASAP.
Happy swimming :)