Does any one have experience with converting an existing saltwater swimming pool to a “Natural Pond”? We don’t use our pool, although the frogs and occasional snake or lizards love it. The Chlorinator died a couple of years ago and now our filtration system has had it. The decking is falling apart.
Now is the time to make big changes and let the frogs have it. I would envisage adding a pond filtration area (frog friendly) and keep the pool clear for humans. There might be an option to put a bio filter on in place of the chorinator and leave it as is. I looked at one, but the reviews were scathing.
Choice did an article on it - 2018 https://www.choice.com.au/outdoor/pools/cleaning-and-maintenance/articles/natural-swimming-pools
Anyone “been there, done that”?
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Not exactly what you are looking for - but potentially an idea…
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I’d check with your local council to see if it is possible and also if there are any specific requirements.
I suspect if it is possible and they have specific requirements, they will want to ensure safety (fencing etc), environment (odours, discharges, wildlife, pest species such as cane toads etc) and health (water quality, mozzie/insect borne diseases etc) is protected.
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Worth looking to ones local council for resources. If not ours has this to say.
As far as I can tell the question around pool fencing is not considered. Although the SCC is remarkably pedantic about many regulations. As we are in a rural zoned area our Olympic pool sized and deep in ground dam has no requirements re fencing. Requirements for management of the wildlife (mosquitoes included) imposed by council are limited to state regulation. The latter much to the occasional annoyance of the neighbours. To suggest that as a deep water source the dam is more frog, toad and fish friendly than mosquito luxury resort. Our local mosquitoes routinely breed in the pools of water in the ephemeral wetland areas of the property and in the moist ground under the leaf litter of the sandy soil. Occasional excursions of salt water estuarine mozzies which will some up the creek lines another source.
For those in a high density urban areas YMMV.
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I converted my pool from mineral salt to a Naked Pool system 9 months ago and my need for chemicals and salt reduced dramatically (see below), although you still need to check water quality regularly.
Levels for Naked Pool system
Total Chlorine: 0 - 0.5 ppm
Free Chlorine: 0 - 0.5 ppm
Salt: 500 - 700 ppm
Total Dissolved Salts (TDS): 800 - 1,200 ppm
pH: 7.2 - 7.4
Total Alkalinity: 80 - 120 ppm
Cyanuric Acid: 0 - 5 ppm
Calcium Hardness: 150 - 190 ppm
Phosphates: 0 - 0.2 ppm
Total Copper: 0.2 - 0.5 ppm
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