Salt, Magnesium & Mineral Systems and the Truth About “Chlorine-Free” or "Non-Chlorine"
A lot of people assume Salt, Magnesium & Mineral Systems are chlorine-free. This is a very common misconception. Most of the time, they're not.
- In pools, and some older spas, salt water systems use a chlorinator to convert salt into chlorine.
- Magnesium or “mineral” pools and spas often use salts like magnesium chloride or potassium — but if there’s a chlorinator, they’re still generating chlorine.
- In almost all spas, minerals are just additives to make the water feel better, lower incidences of irritation, and may even have some health benefits — but they don’t kill bacteria and other microbes on their own.
- Note: There are currently no approved salt or mineral chlorinators suitable for spas at the moment. Pool chlorinators and mineral systems are likely to overdose and cause damage to your spa and equipment and should not be used.
Basically, if there’s no separate sanitiser, there’s no disinfection. Minerals alone aren’t enough. You absolutely need to (and are required by law) to have an APVMA-approved sanitiser to ensure all microbes are destroyed. These approved sanitisers include chlorine, bromine, biguanide, and hydrogen peroxide. They are all proven to destroy harmful microbes and are generally safe for humans.
Why Do Chlorinated and Brominated Spas Sometimes Irritate Skin, Eyes, or Smell Harsh?
Chlorine and bromine are effective sanitizers that help keep your spa water safe and clean. However, many people experience skin or eye irritation—or notice that strong, harsh smell often associated with public pools. Surprisingly, these issues usually aren’t caused by the chlorine or bromine themselves, but by improper water balance and overuse of chemicals.
That intense “pool smell” that hits you in the face? It’s not actually chlorine—it's chloramines. Chloramines form when chlorine binds with sweat, body oils, and other contaminants. They’re a sign that the chlorine is used up and the water quality needs attention! The same goes for bromine systems, which can also form unpleasant-smelling byproducts when out of balance.
If you're noticing irritation or strong smells, it usually means your spa needs a water balance check, and likely needs a good chlorine-free shock. Maintaining proper pH, alkalinity, regular shocking, and sanitizer levels is key to a comfortable and clean spa experience.
Genuine Non-Chlorine Options:
1. AquaSpa (Biguanide)
- Chlorine- and bromine-free
- Gentle on skin, no chlorine odour
- Works differently: removes bacteria without oxidising
- Must be used with a chlorine-free shock
- Needs consistent upkeep
We stock LoChlor AquaSpa as a non-chlorine alternative — ideal for sensitive skin, if you’re happy to maintain it properly.
2. Hydrogen Peroxide (Poppits, Sanosil, etc)
- Used in some chlorine-free systems
- No strong smell, but:
- Can burn skin on contact (it often doesn't hurt until minutes after)
- Instantly can damage eyes on contact.
- Not spa component-friendly long-term
- Can easily result in water that smells like dirty socks!
- Classed as Dangerous Goods — we don’t stock it for safety and shipping reasons.
Want to Lower Chemical Use?
You can’t skip sanitising — but you can reduce how much chemical you need.
Adding a system like ozone or, better yet, the Ultrazone UV & Ozone combo can dramatically reduce the amount of chlorine or sanitiser required. These systems help break down organics, kill bacteria, and keep water clearer for longer — with less effort and fewer chemicals.
We recommend the CSN Ultrazone for the best results in cutting back chemical use while still maintaining safe, clean spa water.
The Bottom Line:
There’s no “chemical-free” spa (even water is a chemical!) — just other ways to sanitise. Whether it’s traditional chlorine, a non-chlorine system like AquaSpa, or a hybrid approach using UV and ozone, the goal is the same: clean, healthy, safe water.
Spa Sanitising Systems:
Chlorine & Bromine plus Minerals:
-
Lochlor Iluka Sea Mineral System - uses Sea Salts (Magnesium + Potassium) with a chlorine-based sanitiser.
- Spacare Mineral System - uses Magnesium minerals with a chlorine-based sanitiser.
- Theralux Mineral System - uses Magnesium minerals with a chlorine-based sanitiser.
- Zodiac Magnaspa - uses Magnesium minerals with a chlorine-based sanitiser.
- Zodiac Brominating Granules - uses a combination of bromine and chlorine.
Non-Chlorine based plus Minerals:
- Lo-chlor Aquaspa (aka Aquafresh) - uses biguanide and sea minerals
- Hydrogen peroxide (aka Poppits, Sanosil, etc) - not recommended.