6-Step Guide to Converting to a MagnaPool

Let’s face it, choosing the right sanitation system for your pool can be a challenge. While chlorine and saltwater systems are popular options, they aren’t always the best solution for your pool. In some cases, they can increase your energy bills, corrode your pool equipment and cause skin irritation.

But there is an alternative that can minimise or eliminate these issues altogether – a MagnaPool mineral system. Not only is it a gentle and energy-efficient pool sanitiser, but it also uses a patented blend of minerals that can relax your muscles, reduce stress and soothe skin conditions.

If you think converting might be too difficult or time-consuming, think again! Whether you’ve got a chlorine pool or saltwater pool, we show you why you should convert to a MagnaPool, how to do it correctly and what steps you need to take to keep it in tip-top condition all year round. 

Why should you convert to a MagnaPool?

MagnaPool is taking the pool industry by storm, and it isn’t hard to understand why. For a start, it uses a patented mineral blend of 30 per cent magnesium and 70 per cent potassium chloride – and it’s completely sodium-free. Combined with the use of glass filter media, this produces water that is cleaner, softer and silkier than other mineral systems. As a result, your skin and hair feel clean, moisturised and smooth, like you’ve just had a spa treatment. No rinsing required!

Second, MagnaPool Minerals are rich in magnesium. When absorbed through the skin, magnesium can provide a range of health benefits, such as reducing muscular aches, easing stress and hydrating skin. In fact, recent studies show that mineral baths containing magnesium can improve the skin barrier function and relieve inflammation in atopic dry skin conditions. 

But the benefits aren’t just skin deep. Magnesium can also filter out microparticles in your pool. This means your water stays cleaner without frequent use of flocculants or water clarifiers, keeping chemicals and maintenance to a minimum. 

Third, it reduces chloramine levels by up to 50 per cent. Chloramines are by-products of chlorine and ammonia (often found in sweat and urine), which not only reduce chlorine’s ability to disinfect water but also cause skin and eye irritation. In some swimmers, they can even trigger breathing difficulties or asthma. But MagnaPool keeps chloramines to a minimum, making it the pool of choice for people with dry skin conditions and chemical sensitivities. 

Last, MagnaPool is Climate Care Certified, which means that it passes energy-efficiency benchmarks set by the pool industry. This is due to the flocculating abilities of magnesium, which reduce the need for chemicals, and the use of glass filter media, which traps microparticles as small as 5 microns and minimises the use of pool cleaners. What’s more, glass media requires less backwashing than sand, saving you up to 65 per cent of water consumption each time. 

How is MagnaPool different from other mineral systems?

The biggest difference between MagnaPool and other mineral systems is that it’s free of salt (sodium). Not only does this make it gentle on your skin, particularly if you’ve got skin sensitivities, but it also reduces corrosion of pool equipment, handrails and even outdoor furniture (especially if you allow salt levels to get out of hand). 

Also, the backwash from your pool is full of minerals that can feed your garden. Just dilute it with 5 parts water and use it on your lawn or flower beds. Unfortunately, backwash that contains salt, which is often found in saltwater pools or other mineral systems, can harm your soil and plants, even if you dilute it with fresh water. 

What do you need to convert to a MagnaPool?

While there’s an initial set-up cost with MagnaPool, the benefits of enhanced filtration, lower chemical use and minimal backwashing will decrease your running costs in the long run, making it a good investment. To convert, you’ll need three key components: 

1. Hydroxinator IQ:The hydroxinator is a chlorine generator that uses electrolysis to convert water and magnesium chloride into magnesium hydroxide and hydrogen. This then produces active chlorine, which sanitises your pool water. You can contact one of our approved stockists to find the right size for your pool.

2. Crystal Clear Glass filtration media: Glass filtration media is made from recycled glass and provides advanced filtration and water clarity for your pool. For optimal filtration, you’ll need both coarse and fine crystals.

3. MagnaPool Minerals: MagnaPool Minerals contain a patented blend of magnesium and potassium chloride that work with your hydroxinator to generate water that is clean, silky and gentle on your skin and hair. 

Your step-by-step guide to converting to a MagnaPool

Step 1: Install the hydroxinator

Before you do anything, install your hydroxinator. This should be done by a pool technician to ensure correct installation. If you have a chlorinator, the hydroxinator can be fitted in its place and the electrolytic cell connected to the plumbing line. If this position doesn’t work or you don’t have a chlorinator, your technician will find a suitable place on the plumbing line to install it. Please note that this may incur an additional cost. 

Step 2: Add glass filtration media to your filter

If you’ve got sand in your media filter, swap it out for glass media. To do this, turn off the filter and drain the tank. Remove the multiport valve and cover the standpipe with tape (this keeps sand or glass out of the pool). Next, take out the sand with a scoop or a sand extractor (this is faster), then rinse the tank thoroughly with a garden hose. If you don’t have strong DIY skills or you’re short on time, contact a pool technician and they’ll do it for you. 

Once the filter tank is empty and clean, add the glass media. Remember to use two grades of media: coarse at the bottom to cover the laterals (i.e. the wheel-like tubes at the bottom) and fine for the rest. Stop when you’re 10–15 cm from the top. This will provide the best filtration for your pool. See the table below for recommended quantities based on your filter size.

Source: MagnaPool Retrofit Conversion Guide

Note: For those with a cartridge filter, conversion is a little trickier. You may need to purchase a larger filter to cope with the higher filtration load. Around 50 percent bigger is recommended. That’s because MagnaPool filters a lot of particles, which can clog your filter and lead to frequent cleaning. To replace your previous filter, just remove it and put a larger one in its place. 

Alternatively, you could ask a plumber or pool technician to install a backwash line and replace your cartridge filter with a high-performing media filter. While it may cost more, it’ll improve your pool’s water quality, reduce water consumption and keep filter cleaning to a minimum.

Step 3: Test the water

Before adding minerals, it’s important to check the water balance of your pool. This includes a salinity test for saltwater pools and a TDS (total dissolved solids) test. You can check these with a home test kit and digital test meter. Or take a water sample to your pool shop. Your results will determine what needs to be adjusted and how many bags of minerals you need to put in your pool. 

For a true MagnaPool experience, you may need to drain your saltwater pool and refill it with fresh water. If you’re worried about hydrostatic lift (i.e. your pool popping out of the ground) or the cost of refilling your pool, reduce your water by two-thirds and top it up with fresh water before adding the minerals. Then, reduce your water levels over the next 12 months until the salt is completely eliminated.  

Step 4: Add minerals to your pool

Now it’s time to add the MagnaPool Minerals. Calculate the number of bags you need by using the table below. Next, pour the minerals into the water, spreading them evenly for best coverage. Leave half a bag for your skimmer to supercharge your hydroxinator. 

Note: Don’t be alarmed if your minerals clump together or turn into a solid block. This can happen when they’re exposed to air or moisture. Clumped minerals are still effective, but they’ll take longer to dissolve. Move them around with a broom to help things along. 

Source: MagnaPool Retrofit Conversion Guide

FAQ: How much would it cost to convert my existing pool to MagnaPool and how long does it take?

Answer: It should only take at most a day to change over, the most extensive labour requirement is changing your sand filter to glass media. If it is already glass media, just a good backwash before and after adding minerals is all that is required. You will also need to add a Hydroxinator and electrolytic cell, then add the minerals to the pool, and you are good to go! The costs can vary greatly depending on the requirements, so best to consult with your local MagnaPool specialist to get an accurate figure: https://www.magnapool.com/find-a-specialist/

Step 5: Turn on the filtration system

Switch on your filtration system and hydroxinator to start the sanitising process. Allow the water and minerals to circulate for around 24 hours. At the start, you’ll notice some foaming, which is a normal part of the hydroxination process. This may take a day or two to dissipate, depending on the size of your pool. If you find a white residue along the waterline of your pool, wipe it off manually. 

Step 6: Your pool is ready for swimming

After 24 hours of running your filter, your MagnaPool is ready for use. Don’t worry if you’re not getting any active chlorine levels yet. Magnesium can mask these readings for up to two weeks. Also, your suction or robotic pool cleaner may have trouble clinging to the walls, but this will resolve in a couple of weeks too. After two weeks, backwash your filter to remove any undissolved minerals or debris that’s been flocculated by the magnesium. 

Final thoughts

If you’ve got a chlorine or saltwater pool, switching to a MagnaPool is easier than you think. The key to a successful conversion is getting the right equipment, checking your water balance, adding the right amount of minerals and running your filter for 24 hours. Saltwater pools will need to be drained or partially drained to remove all the salt, which can take a bit longer, but chlorine pools should be ready for swimming in 24 hours. 

Once your MagnaPool is up and running, maintenance is straightforward. All you need to do is backwash your filter, run your pool cleaner, empty the skimmers and top up the minerals when they run low. And keep your water chemistry chart handy to adjust imbalances as they arise.

Ready to feel the MagnaPool difference? Contact one of our mineral pool stockists to start the conversion process today. If you want to know more about MagnaPools, then dive back into our blog here.