Clinobrite®, an all-natural Zeolite filter medium that can remove 40% to 50% more physical dirt, is a direct substitute for ordinary pool-filter sand or outdated glass filter mediums. “It is a far more cost-effective option for pool maintenance this summer,” comments Pratley Minerals Sales Manager Rudi Coetzee.

Unlike ordinary filter sand, Clinobrite® granules have a rough surface to attract and entrap extremely fine dirt particles and algae onto their surface, and not just between the granules like ordinary sand or glass. An added benefit is that Clinobrite® is even able to entrap minuscule diarrhoea-causing cryptosporidium cysts, a major health problem in global municipal water supply.

Clinobrite® scavenges unwanted ammonia from swimming pool water to subsequently reduce a pool’s chlorine demand, translating into a direct cost-saving. Ammonia and nitrates in pool water react rapidly with pool chlorine to form highly undesirable and odour-causing Chloramines. Known as monochloramine and dichloramine, these can result in lung issues, itching skin and red, burning eyes.

Removing ammonia from the water effectively eliminates these harmful chloramines. What’s more, the chlorine is then more effective at sanitising the pool water. Since Clinobrite® is lighter than ordinary sand, it lifts better during backwash cycles, which are therefore much shorter, thereby also saving precious water and more cost.

Unsaturated Clinobrite® never stops working. It absorbs ammonia from your pool water on a 24-hour basis. Consequently, over time the Clinobrite® becomes saturated with ammonia and needs to be regenerated using a very simple salt solution procedure about once a year for normal bathing loads to maintain optimal ammonia removal.

For normal swimming pool use, Clinobrite® only needs to be replaced every three years or more. The average-sized pool filter tank uses the same quantity of Clinobrite® bags when compared to bags of sand, translating into 2 x 25 kg bags of Clinobrite® (if using a two-bag filter tank).

Finally, you can save yet more costs by recycling your old ammonia saturated Clinobrite® and using it as a slow-release fertiliser on your lawn or in your flower beds. “That’s many reasons to make the switch to a more modern, cost-effective pool filter medium,” concludes Coetzee.