By Justin D. • August 21st, 2024
Hey there, and welcome back to the Pool Nerd. I’m Justin, your resident pool aficionado. And today I’m talking about something a little different: the Spectralight Pool Ultraviolet system. This may have been the best upgrade I have ever made to my pool. I can’t think of another product that saves money, saves time, reduces the need for chemicals, and creates healthier pool water. If you’re obsessed with keeping a clean pool like me, you will want to add a UV system to your pool.
What is a Pool UV System?
But what exactly is a pool UV system? A UV system disinfects and sanitizes your pool water with ultraviolet light, getting rid of more than 60 viruses, pathogens, algae, etc. that can be found in your pool water. But why would you need this? While the many pool chemicals you likely use will get rid of most of these as well, studies show they also pose harmful side effects such as eye and skin irritation, allergies and asthma, and even stomach issues. This is why this technology is used by almost every large aquatic center in the US. It’s also used by water bottlers, Olympic swimming pools, and even the US Navy to ensure clean and safe pool water.
Benefits of Spectralight Pool UV System
Spectralight reduces the need for these harmful chemicals, meaning you’ll use about 90% less chemicals. According to the World Health Organization, they recommend a chlorine concentration of around 0.5 parts per million when UV is used, which is the same amount found in tap water. Compare this to a standard pool range of about 2-4 parts per million, the difference is huge.
In an age where we are becoming more and more aware of what we put in and around our bodies, it is surprising that pool chemicals haven't been scrutinized more as they can lead to a variety of health risks, such as skin and eye irritation, allergies, asthma, and more, as well as the fact pool chemicals are bad for the environment. With a Spectralight UV system, though, you will be helping keep you and your family safe, as well as the environment. So let's look at how the Spectralight works and how easy it is to install.
How Spectralight Works and Installation
Typically, I thought UV light was what you grow plants with, but actually, it has a myriad of uses, one of which is to disinfect surfaces and water. The type of UV light used in the Spectralight is a germicidal ray that targets algae, bacteria, and viruses, as well as harmful chlorine by-products. Spectralight is completely safe, as it’s not possible for the UV light to exit the chamber.
Within 24 hours after installing it, the water clarity in my pool was the best it has ever been. One of the first things I noticed was how the burning feeling in the eyes went away. I instantly needed fewer chemicals in my pool as well, using only about 70-80% less chlorine than I used to need.
Not only is the Spectralight better for you and the environment, but it's also super easy to get set up. Spectralight is designed to be as easy to install as possible and comes in a variety of sizes. You’ll want to check the flow rate of your pump, as it correlates to what size you’ll need. I went with the SL-500, as it is used for pools 55-110 GPM. Of course, though, you can go oversized as any additional UV won’t be harmful or have any negative effects on your pool water.
Spectralight is ideally installed on your filtration pad near your pump and filter and is recommended to be placed after the filter. Spectralight is compatible with most existing pool systems, even saltwater systems. Its SmartConnex ports can be rotated 360 degrees as well, to make pool installation easier. In fact, it can be installed in about 30-45 minutes, and I am glad to say that is about what it took. This could vary depending on your exact setup though.
Running Spectralight and Pump
So how long should you run Spectralight and your pump? Spectralight recommends running it at least 12 hours per day. But if you look at commercial aquatic centers, they all run their pumps 24 hours per day. I found that a variable speed pump, such as the Leaf Pump, is a great addition to a Spectralight unit, as it allows you to operate Spectralight for 24 hours per day. You might think this would be very expensive, but it’s actually less expensive. The upgrade to a variable speed pump, such as a Leaf Pump, can lower your pool’s electric consumption by over 80%. These savings have paid for my Spectralight and Leaf Pump many times over. I cannot recommend both of these upgrades enough.
Final Verdict
So what’s my final verdict on the Spectralight Pool UV System?
It’s Pool Nerd approved!
The Spectralight is definitely one of the most innovative pool products to hit the market in the last 50 years. The advanced UV technology will keep your pool free of algae, bacteria, and other pathogens, all while cutting down on your chemical usage, making your pool healthier, safer, and less expensive to maintain. With its forward-thinking design, installation is easy as well, making it a no-brainer addition to your pool system.
Conclusion
If you want to keep nerding out over your pool, be sure to hit that subscribe button to keep learning how to make pool maintenance way easier. Head on over to thepoolnerd.com to view my comparison page and see all the differences between the many robotic pool cleaners out there. Until then, enjoy that pool and check back soon for more pool maintenance tips and insight.
Your resident pool aficionado.
For over 4+ years, The Pool Nerd has been a leading source in the swimming pool industry. With years of experince owning a swimming pool, our hope here is to guide and help making owning a swimming pool easier.
