Anyone here tried those mineral sticks you drop in the skimmer?

[syedsam]

I saw these mineral cartridges that claim to reduce chlorine use. You just drop them in the skimmer and they last a few months. Curious if they actually help or just another gimmick.

 

[Manikshaw]

I used one last season and it did keep my chlorine levels more stable. Not a total replacement but I definitely noticed less fluctuation. Just keep in mind you’ll still need chlorine as the main sanitizer.

 

[Ella Robinson]

I tried those mineral sticks last summer, and honestly, they did seem to make a difference. The chlorine levels were more stable, but it wasn’t a full replacement. I still had to use chlorine regularly. But if you're looking to reduce chlorine use a bit, I’d say they’re worth a try. Just don’t expect them to work miracles!

 

[Mason Blake]

I’ve used those mineral sticks for a season. They definitely help keep chlorine from spiking and dropping too quickly, especially on hot days, but they don’t sanitize on their own. You still need a baseline chlorine level, but the sticks can make maintenance a bit easier and the water feels softer. I’d say they’re a helpful supplement, not a replacement.

 

[Lily Allen]

I’ve tried the mineral sticks they smooth out chlorine swings and the water feels a bit ‘softer.’ But they’re not a replacement; you still need a base chlorine level. Treat them as a supplement, not a magic fix.

 

[Irfan Zainal]

I’ve used those mineral sticks too, they help keep chlorine levels more stable, but you still need to use chlorine as the main sanitizer. They’re more of a maintenance helper.

 

[Nathan Parker]

I tried one out last season mostly out of curiosity, not because I thought it would replace chlorine. For me it fell into the “helpful but not magic” category. The biggest thing I noticed was stability. On hot weeks when chlorine usually burned off fast, the swings were less dramatic. I wasn’t chasing FC every other day, which was nice. Water also stayed clearer after heavy use, especially when bather load was high and sunscreen oils were a mess.

That said, it absolutely didn’t sanitize on its own. I still kept a normal chlorine residual and tested weekly. Think of those sticks more as a support player. They seem to slow things down, not solve problems. If pH drifted or circulation wasn’t great, the stick didn’t save me. Filter pressure, brushing, and flow still mattered way more.

Long term I ended up leaning more on enzymes instead of mineral sticks. I’ve had better luck using aquadoc weekly enzyme treatment to deal with oils and gunk that eat chlorine, especially during swim season. That combo, enzymes plus a steady chlorine level, worked better for me than relying on the mineral cartridge alone. Anyone else notice these things help most when the pool is already mostly dialed in, not when it’s struggling?

 

[Rayyan Goh]

Most “mineral cartridges” use a copper and silver mix, so you and I might see algae stay away a bit better and the water feel a little “softer”, but it’s not a chlorine replacement because it doesn’t provide a strong enough residual sanitizer for the whole pool, and there’s staining risk if metals build up or pH runs high, so I’d treat it as an optional add on only if you’re disciplined with testing and still keep FC matched to CYA, not a way to run near zero chlorine.

 

[Zuzanna Dabrowski]

I used one last season and it did keep my chlorine levels more stable. Not a total replacement but I definitely noticed less fluctuation. Just keep in mind you’ll still need chlorine as the main sanitizer.

I’m with what Manikshaw mentioned. From what I’ve seen too, those things act more like a stabilizer than a replacement. If you’re looking for smoother day-to-day balance, they can help, but you shouldn’t expect them to take over the main job without keeping your basics in check.