24 Oct Salt Chlorinator vs Mineral Pool: Which Suits You
Choosing between a salt chlorinator and a mineral pool system is one of the more common questions that comes up when pool owners in Melbourne are planning a new installation or replacing ageing equipment. Both systems automate chlorine production through electrolysis, but they use different mineral blends, require different filtration and produce a noticeably different swimming experience. Understanding those differences in practical terms makes the decision considerably easier.
How Each System Actually Works
A salt chlorinator dissolves sodium chloride in the pool water and a cell converts that salt into chlorine continuously as water passes through. The pool still needs pH and alkalinity adjustments, but manual chlorine dosing is replaced by automatic production.
A mineral system, such as MagnaPool, replaces sodium chloride with a blend of magnesium chloride and potassium chloride, operated at a minimum mineral level of 5,000 ppm. The central component is the Hydroxinator, which works on the same electrolysis principle to sanitise the water. Because the mineral blend is chemically different from plain salt, the water takes on a noticeably softer quality. The system also pairs specifically with glass media filtration rather than standard sand, and that filtration requirement is an important practical difference to understand before comparing costs.
What Does the Water Actually Feel Like?
The MagnaPool product information describes the water as having a mild, smooth sensation against the skin, with little or no eye irritation and no sticky salt feeling on hair after swimming. The magnesium chloride and potassium chloride blend is also described by the manufacturer as assisting in reducing pains and discomforts and relieving the skin. What most swimmers notice is that mineral water simply feels different to standard salt water, described in MagnaPool’s own literature as almost silky smooth.
Standard salt pool water is softer than a manually dosed chlorine pool and represents a genuine improvement in comfort for most swimmers. For the majority of households it is entirely comfortable, and any difference from a mineral system is subtle rather than dramatic. If water feel is the primary motivation for choosing a system, a mineral setup will likely satisfy that expectation more fully, but it comes with additional considerations around filtration and ongoing consumable costs that are worth weighing carefully first.
Hydroxinator Output Capacity and Pool Size
If you are considering the MagnaPool mineral system, the Hydroxinator comes in two sizes with meaningfully different output capacities. The Mid Hydroxinator produces 25 grams of sanitiser per hour and is rated for pools up to 70,000 litres. The Large Hydroxinator produces 35 grams per hour and is rated for pools up to 100,000 litres. Both ratings are based on a warm weather climate and the manufacturer recommends adjusting for cooler or hotter conditions. Matching the right output capacity to your actual pool volume is an important part of the selection process, because undersizing a chlorinator leads to inconsistent sanitisation and water quality problems.
Both Hydroxinator models use 40 mm or 50 mm plumbing with reducers provided. The system also carries a three year warranty on the power pack and cell, which is a concrete specification worth noting when comparing the total cost of ownership against a standard salt chlorinator setup. Pool owners in areas like Keilor, Taylors Lakes and Caroline Springs with larger residential pools should confirm their pool volume in litres before sizing either system.
Filtration Requirements: A Key Practical Difference
The filtration requirement is where the MagnaPool system differs most from a standard salt chlorinator.
A MagnaPool mineral system is designed to work with Zodiac glass media filtration rather than standard sand or zeolite. Zodiac Crystallite filter media is available in two grades, fine and coarse, and both grades are required to experience the difference the MagnaPool system is designed to deliver. According to the MagnaPool product information, glass media can save up to 65 per cent of water through more effective backwashing compared with standard sand, because the larger spaces between glass particles allow more efficient water flow. The smooth surface of the glass crystals also inhibits bacteria from attaching to the media, which contributes to a healthier filter environment.
For pool owners in suburbs like Greenvale, Burnside Heights or Taylors Lakes who are considering converting an existing pool, it follows from MagnaPool’s glass media requirement that a pool on sand or zeolite would need its filter media changed as well as the chlorinator. It is worth clarifying with your technician before committing to either system.
Ongoing Consumable Costs
Both systems need their salt or mineral level topped up from time to time as water is lost and replaced.
A standard salt chlorinator uses ordinary pool salt. A MagnaPool mineral system requires the specific MagnaPool mineral product, which is a different formulation from ordinary pool salt and not interchangeable with it. Budgeting for that ongoing consumable, alongside the glass media requirement, is an important part of comparing the real cost of each system over time. Neither comparison should be made on installation price alone.
Which System Suits Which Pool Owner?
For many pool owners, including those in Keilor East, Taylors Hill and Hillside, a salt chlorinator is the practical starting point. It carries no glass media requirement, it uses ordinary pool salt, and it delivers automatic sanitisation without requiring specialist mineral products. It is also the more straightforward replacement when an existing chlorinator fails and the pool already has a sand or cartridge filter.
A mineral pool setup tends to suit owners who place a high value on the swimming experience and are prepared to invest in a system built around it. It may appeal to households where someone finds traditional chlorinated water uncomfortable, given how the manufacturer describes the water. It is worth considering for a new pool build in suburbs like Caroline Springs or Burnside Heights, where the glass media filter and Hydroxinator can be specified from the start without any retrofit work on the filter.
Commercial pools should evaluate the mineral option carefully. The water quality benefits may represent a genuine point of difference for a health club or therapy facility, but the ongoing mineral product cost at higher turnover volumes is a real factor in any commercial calculation.
What to Ask Before You Decide
Before choosing between systems, clarifying a few practical points makes the process considerably more straightforward. What filter type is currently installed, and would it need to change if a mineral system were chosen? What is the pool volume in litres, so the correct Hydroxinator output capacity or salt chlorinator size can be matched accurately? Are there any bathers with skin sensitivities that would genuinely benefit from the mineral blend? And what is a realistic ongoing maintenance budget, not just for installation but for mineral or salt replenishment as water is lost and replaced over time?
The answers to those questions usually point clearly to one system or the other. At Aquatech Pool and Spa Solutions, equipment is assessed before any recommendation is made, so the starting point is always your actual pool rather than a general preference. For a full overview of the chlorinator options we recommend and install for Melbourne pools, visit our pool chlorinator installation page. You can also explore the MagnaPool mineral pool system page for more detail on how the Hydroxinator and glass media filtration work together, or visit our pool equipment repair, replacement and installation page for broader equipment guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert my existing salt pool to a mineral pool?
Conversion is generally possible, but as a practical matter most mineral systems, including MagnaPool, are designed to work with glass media filtration rather than standard sand. Because MagnaPool calls for glass media rather than sand or zeolite, a conversion from a sand filter includes a filter media change, which adds to the project cost. That additional step is worth clarifying with your technician before making a final decision.
Does a mineral pool still use chlorine?
It does. A MagnaPool mineral system uses the Hydroxinator to produce chlorine through electrolysis, the same fundamental process as a standard salt chlorinator. The difference is in the mineral blend used rather than the presence or absence of chlorine. Anyone choosing a mineral pool expecting a chlorine free swimming experience should understand this before making a decision.
How often do I need to add minerals or salt?
There is no fixed schedule for either system, for the reasons covered above. A MagnaPool mineral system requires the specific MagnaPool mineral product rather than standard pool salt, as the two are not interchangeable. For a MagnaPool system, the level to keep above is the 5,000 ppm minimum mineral level.
What warranty does the Hydroxinator carry?
The MagnaPool Hydroxinator carries a three year warranty on the power pack and cell. This applies to both the Mid and Large Hydroxinator models. It is a useful specification to compare against the warranty terms of any salt chlorinator you are also considering, particularly if you are making a long term investment in a new pool build or a full system upgrade.
Which system is better for a heated pool?
Both systems are compatible with heated pools, but water chemistry management becomes more important when pool water is warmer because chlorine demand increases and pH tends to drift faster. Either system needs to be sized correctly for the pool volume and usage. Regular water testing and balancing remains essential with both, regardless of how the chlorine is generated.
Is one system easier to maintain than the other?
A standard salt chlorinator is generally simpler to maintain day to day. The cell needs periodic inspection and cleaning, and pool salt is straightforward to source and replenish. A mineral system requires the same cell maintenance but adds the discipline of using the correct MagnaPool mineral product and monitoring the glass media filter. Neither system eliminates the need for regular water testing, pH and alkalinity balancing, or routine pool cleaning.
Sources
This article draws on the following pages.