Do Naked Freshwater Pool Systems need Stabiliser/ Cyanuric Acid?
Ā
Do Naked Freshwater Pools Need Cyanuric Acid?
The short answer: No. Here's why stabiliser isn't required ā and why your pool shop might tell you otherwise.
ā The Quick Answer
Do NOT add cyanuric acid (stabiliser) to a Naked Freshwater Pool. The system is specifically designed to operate without it, and adding stabiliser would work against the technology.
What is Cyanuric Acid?
Cyanuric acid (CYA), commonly called "stabiliser", "sunscreen" or "conditioner," is a chemical used in traditional chlorine pools to protect chlorine from UV degradation. Without it, sunlight can destroy up to 90% of a pool's chlorine in just two hours.
In conventional salt or chlorine pools, stabiliser is essential ā it acts like sunscreen for your chlorine, helping it last longer in the water.
Why Naked Freshwater Pools Don't Need Stabiliser
The Naked Freshwater System works fundamentally differently from traditional chlorine or salt pools. Here's the key difference:
š¬ The Science Behind It
The Naked system uses a hybrid of oxidisation and copper/silver ionisation. The minerals (copper and silver ions) left in the water form a residual that continues to sanitise ā and unlike chlorine, this mineral residual is not affected by UV or heat.
This is why Naked states that although the system produces small amounts of chlorine for oxidising organic matter, without stabiliser you're not actually "swimming in chlorine" the way you would in a traditional pool.
The expected chlorine reading in a Naked Pool is just 0ā0.5ppm ā comparable to drinking water levels. The ongoing sanitisation comes from the copper and silver ions, not from maintaining high chlorine levels.
What Naked Pools Actually Need
The only chemicals required in a Naked Freshwater Pool are those nature uses to balance water:
Acid or alkali to maintain optimal pH levels (7.2ā7.6)
Sodium bicarbonate to buffer pH stability
To protect surfaces and equipment
500ā700ppm ā up to 80% less than traditional salt pools
That's it. No stabiliser. No clarifiers. No algaecides. The copper and silver ions handle algae prevention naturally.
ā ļø What If My Pool Shop Says I Need Stabiliser?
Many pool shops automatically recommend stabiliser because it's essential for traditional chlorine systems. They may not be familiar with how Naked Freshwater technology works differently.
Politely decline ā and explain that your system uses copper/silver ionisation for residual sanitisation, which isn't affected by UV light like chlorine is.
The Problems with Cyanuric Acid
Even in traditional pools, high cyanuric acid levels cause issues:
- Reduces chlorine effectiveness ā High CYA levels mean chlorine takes longer to kill bacteria
- Accumulates over time ā CYA doesn't evaporate or break down; levels only go down by diluting the water
- Expensive to fix ā The only reliable way to lower CYA is to partially drain and refill the pool
- Increasingly restricted ā Some parts of Europe and the USA are now banning or limiting cyanuric acid use in pools
By not requiring stabiliser at all, Naked Freshwater Pools avoid these issues entirely.
Benefits of No Stabiliser Required
The Bottom Line
If you have a Naked Freshwater Pool system, cyanuric acid is not required and should not be added. The copper and silver ionisation technology provides a UV-resistant sanitising residual that works completely differently from traditional chlorine.
This is one of the key advantages of the Naked system ā up to 50% fewer chemicals, simpler maintenance, and water that feels genuinely fresh.
Questions About Your Pool Chemistry?
Naked Freshwater Systems are complex and require regular testing. We're here to help with all your pool maintenance needs.
Contact Poolwise Padbury āArticle by Poolwise Padbury ā Perth's Naked Freshwater Pool Specialists
