SantaMonica

But crypto requires higher phosphate to survive longer, correct? I'm not looking for anything in particular; I'm checking into the currently accepted filtration methods, because I have a new entry that I'd like to introduce soon.

Any opinions on the barley?

I found something similar to moss, for ponds: "If algae problems persist, adding small amounts of straw to the pool will help. For full details, visit the Institute of Arable Crops Research Web site at www.iacr.bbsrc.ac.uk/pie . Go to the Center for Aquatic Plants". From here... www.motherearthnews.com/Do-It-Yourself/2002-08-01/Natural-Swimming-Pool.aspx?page=6 "Control of Algae Using Straw; barley straw sources", from here: www.naturalsolutionsetc.com/garden-pond-algae-control.htm www.ianr.unl.edu/pubs/wildlife/nf429.htm "[Natural Algae Treatment] Add 1 Barley Straw Bundle per 1000 gallons of water. Keep submerged but do not let them sink to the bottom of the pond. They need light and oxygen to break down." www.naturalsolutionsetc.com/barley.htm

Doesn't ammonia and urine get eaten by bacteria, thereby breaking it down into N and P?

So on other natural pool methods, like this one... http://www.naturalswimmingpools.com/pdfs/r...otop%20pool.pdf ... they are not doing anything about sanitizing, correct?

I found this: "The moss readily absorbs heavy metals, including iron, which often encourages microbial growth. Without any iron in the water, microbes can't grow." here: http://news.discovery.com/earth/swimming-p...moss-green.html Would this be accurate?

The DBP's.... are they really from sanitizing, or from oxidizing?

Does any person or site know how many private pools and spas are in the U.S. and the world? I think this is the crux of a pool/spa marketing problem. However many pools and spas there currently are, there are probably two or three times that many people who would like to have a pool or spa (and who have the money and the space), but can't tolerate even the thought of the chemicals. And with the green movement in general, this has not gotten any better. Consumers, of course, make buying decicions based on perception. Does this still get disinfection byproducts?

And how about this: Being dead organic matter, wouldn't the moss slowly decay like leaves or anything else, and add nutrients to the water?

I guess my question was, chemically, how the moss works. After all, it is dead moss, right? Maybe the "substance" put into the water is it. I read that the moss is not compatible with baqua, and maybe that is why.

Do you happen to know what mechanism moss uses for filtration?

Is this correct that this cloudiness is algae in the water column, and the water-line films are bacteria? In other words, these two things are not made of organics; just cause by organics.

Some great advice, thanks. The moss technique is news to me. Sounds like it could be made into a natural habitat looking setup. Will search for more info about it. As for the sanitizers, looks like nature has no good options. Interesting that the main concern is the disposal of the water; I would have thought that the main concern would have been potential pool/spa owners who did not want chemicals on their skin and in the air. I see how chlorine helps do both, and I personally like chlorine, but I am keeping in the back of my mind a sizable percentage of people who won't go the chlorine route because of their unfounded perceptions. How do these organics display/reveal themselves in the water? How do you know they are there? Lastly, if someone came along and said, "I'm getting rid of my pool (or spa) unless you can show me how to operate it with far less chemicals", or "I'll install a pool (or spa) if you can show me how to operate it with far less chemicals", what could they be told?

I would later like to contribute to the knowledge of pool/spa filtration; but first I need to make sure I understand how it currently works: Is there a large movement to go "green" and use no chemicals at all? What sanitizer would be considered the most "green" and "non-chemical"? Do pathogens use ammonia, nitrate and phosphate? Will keeping phosphate less than .125 ppm prevent bacteria, even if FC is zero? Do bacteria eat CYA, and convert it to ammonia? What is the main thing that prevents metals from depositing on surfaces? Does algaecide dissipate (degrade) on it own? Since "the overall net reaction of adding sodium hypochlorite to your pool and having it used up in its most typical ways is simply to produce salt", does salinity slowly increase over time with this? What things build-up in pools, and especially in spa's, so as to eventually require pumping out water, and replacing with new water? How much chlorine ppm is needed in pools/spas for just sanitation, vs oxidation? 1 ppm FC with 50 ppm CYA? What happens to the carbon, after waste has been oxidized? Thanks in advance if anyone can help here!