Ecological swimming pools - do they exist?!

[geegee]

Anyone had or know anyone that has had an eco-pool installed in Andalucia? One that does not use chlorine or other chemicals and is cleaned via a natural reed-bed filtration system or artificial oxygenation (if that's a word...). They are very popular in Germany and Austria I hear but has Spain ever heard of them? Speaking to builders and swimming pool suppliers here you get that 'who is this mad foreigner' look!

Any advice on suppliers, installation and maintenance would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance...

[LEONARDO]

Chris Stewart talks about one in his book Parrot in a Pepper Tree but i don,t know who could instal one for you and his description sounds very complicated and you have to enjoy swimming with frogs.

!! Personal reply to pwwm see you in september we have got your tea already.

Leonardo

[silver]

swimming ponds..lovely idea but very expensive to set up.
There is a brand new product soon available to make your water pure..if you are interested to know more mail me.

[Beachcomber]

I haven't come across any system yet that doesn't have to be supplemented with chlorine especially with pool temperatures as they are at the moment.

[silver]

Beachcomber could have some good news for you...soon...very soon.

[Jennifer]

I looked into this and didn't find any - except Chris Stewart's - in Spain. It was big at Chelsea Flower Show this year!

Several UK companies were prepared to design and oversee the project (remotely!) if I wanted to proceed. Temporarily we are using a different chemical that we put in once a week - I've forgotten the name since I'm in the UK just now - and it worked very well. My children have intollerances to chlorine - one gets excema (?) and the other gets breathing difficulties. We had no reaction to this other stuff - which I bought in the Mercadona.

I'd be very interested in Beachcomber's "secret formula"! Please pm me!

[Beachcomber]

Do I have a secret formula? Please tell me about it because I have no idea what it is. I think it is Silver who has the secret formula but because he didn't put a comma after my name in his post it made it look like it was me.

Is it possibly Baquacil that you are using. I had a friend who tried it and found it totally inadequate and you can't even supplement it with chlorine because the two chemicals are not compatible.

My pool is sanitised with chlorine (and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future) and I have no problems whatsoever. I have a nephew who suffers from eczema but, if anything, after swimming in my pool it is better not worse.

Unfortunately people tend to think that the magic solutions mean that they do not have to control the pH but this is not so. It is much more likely that bad reactions to bathing in chlorinated water (including green hair and stinging eyes) is cause by an improperly balanced pH or the use of hydrochloric acid to control it.

By the way, I have tried 'Barrie's' magic formula and it doesn't work.

[Guest]

Fair enough, the contact details were given to me an acquaintence who told me he was satisfied with the result, maybe he's a director of "Barries" company so it's good that you mention it!

[Beachcomber]

If you see the state of some people's pools it is totally amazing what they are 'satisfied' with.

I think these magic solutions are a bit like the king's new clothes, no-one wants to admit that they have been conned.

[mhic]

Beachcomber.

Before moving over here I kept koi carp and installed ponds and filter systems. You should see all the must have magic potions and gadgets koi keepers don't want to admit to being conned into buying. Bit like a lot of the people who come over here to buy and leave their brains behind.

Mhic

[geegee]

Thanks for all the tips guys, and to Topper esp. for the contact - will definitely try them... tried downloading their brochure but no joy - the vagaries of Spanish internet connections or lack thereof (now thats another story I am sure you are all familiar with!). Its a year-long build project at the design stage but hopefully my location is less of a problem re temperatures as its a fairly shaded valley. Will let you know if I have any joy... cheers!

[Beryl1914]

Is there anything I could put into my large tank of water which is left for months on end, this is the water we use for washing not drinking? As we use it to shower with I thought maybe it should be treated.

[hillybilly]

Just found this interesting site with an article about ecological swimming pools
http://www.ecohabitar.org/
Go to "archivo y articulos" then "tecnologías"
At the bottom of the article is a list of companies in Spain who specialise in these pools.

[jpinks]

Is there anything I could put into my large tank of water which is left for months on end, this is the water we use for washing not drinking? As we use it to shower with I thought maybe it should be treated.

Recirculating the water through a reed bed will make it fresh.

[Bongtrees]

Recirculating the water through a reed bed will make it fresh.

Pinks, do you have personal experience of this, if so maybe photos and write up could benefit some members.

Mike

[jpinks]

I'll have a rummage for photos, and do a write up - I have to do it for our local group anyway, and post it on the website.