Every pool needs a sanitizer to destroy and remove bacteria, pathogens, organisms, algae spores, dirt, debris, particles, and other contaminates from pool water as well as to help oxidize organic matter in the pool water so that the end result is clean, clear, and safe water. Sanitizing the pool is a requirement for maintaining optimal water chemistry and the resulting water clarity.
For a pool, there are various sanitizer options:
- chlorine
- bromine
- salt
- co-sanitizers
- mineral chlorination
- ion-chlorination
- ozone
- biguanides
With the exception of biguanides, all of these sanitizer can be automatically sent to your pool water.
- A chlorinator erodes and sends chlorine tablets to sanitize the pool water.
- A brominator erodes and sends bromine tablets to sanitize the pool water.
- A salt generator converts salt to chlorine and then sends that onsite-manufactured-chlorine to sanitize the pool water.
- A mineral generator sends minerals to help sanitize the pool water; to be clear, mineral generators are proven successful when trace amounts of chlorine are also used.
- An ionizer sends ions to help sanitize the pool water; to be clear, ionizers are proven successful when trace amounts of chlorine are also used.
- An ozonator sends ozone to help sanitize the pool water; to be clear, ozonators are proven successful when traces amounts of chlorine are also used.
Unless you have chosen biguanides to sanitize your pool water, all of the other sanitizer options can be - and should be - automatically sent to sanitize your pool water.
You can read the Pool Manual for additional information about sanitizing pool water and the various automatic sanitizer options.