EcoFusion™
Revolutionizing Natural Pool Filtration
Fresh Water Bio-engineering Inspired by Nature
Traditional natural pools often rely on large gravel beds and expansive planted wetlands to maintain water quality. While effective in the early years, these systems can be cumbersome, costly, and require significant space. The EcoFusion™ System introduces an innovative alternative: advanced bio-remediation and biochemical technologies that bind nutrients to inert media, creating what is essentially a “wetland in a box.”
With the EcoFusion™ System, plants then become an aesthetic choice, and ecosystem / wildlife benefit rather than a functional bio-filtration necessity. Whether you prefer small decorative plant zones or larger naturalized features, the system adapts seamlessly to your vision. This approach eliminates the need for deep gravel beds and complex reticulation systems, significantly reducing construction costs, time, and disruption. So essentially this means you can have no wetland (plants) in the pool or as many as you like.
Why Choose EcoFusion?
Developed by Leaf & Stone after years of refining natural pool filtration, the EcoFusion™ System addresses common challenges and limitations with gravel wetland filtration such as algae blooms and eventual clogging and poor performance after a few years. Not only is this system more cost-effective, but it also delivers cleaner water with less intervention and maintenance.
High clarity and stability
EcoFusion is built for consistent water quality with less intervention.
KEY BENEFITS
Reduced maintenance burden
The biology is housed in serviceable vessels, making long-term care more predictable and less messy than gravel wetlands that clog over time.
Flexible design
You are no longer forced into a 30 to 50% wetland footprint. Add plants where you want them, or keep the design clean and minimal with no plants.
Compatible with modern pool convenience
Works seamlessly with mechanical filtration, automatic cleaning, and a professionally engineered hydraulic design. A clean, modern natural pool look with no required wetland. Best for clients who want chemical-free fresh water swimming with a simple, pool-like aesthetic and minimal space taken by plants.
High clarity and stability
EcoFusion is built for consistent water quality with less intervention.
Power Usage Comparison
The only trade-off is a slightly higher energy consumption. A typical EcoFusion™ System operates at approximately 6.7 kWh per day, costing around R15 daily—comparable to a conventional swimming pool. However, this energy supports the operation of a glass filter, automatic pool cleaner, and the delivery of exceptional water quality and stability.
By contrast, gravel wetland systems, while often low-energy, lack the mechanical filtration needed to clean water and the pool floor effectively. Manual cleaning with a pond vacuum or similar tools becomes necessary, adding time and effort. Where the context and client design requirements are better suited to gravel wetlands we often develop hybrid systems. So we still love and value the gravel wetland where it is better suited.
Simplified installation
No need for large, 1 m deep gravel beds and complex wetland reticulation. This often reduces construction time, cost, and disruption. The Ecofusion system requires just 1m x 2m footprint.
Exclusive to Leaf & Stone
To our knowledge, we are the only natural pool installers in South Africa offering this groundbreaking technology. With over eight years of experience building gravel wetland filters, we recognize their value in specific contexts. However, the EcoFusion System is the future of natural pool filtration for those seeking unparalleled convenience, performance, and design flexibility.
HOW THE ECOFUSION™ WORKS
This is not simply a collection of components. It is the promise of beautiful, fresh, natural water to swim in, supported by a professionally engineered EcoFusion system and a team that stands behind it. The goal is simple: water that feels clean and gentle, looks consistently beautiful, and stays stable with minimal fuss, without relying on harsh chemicals to force the water into submission.
Because EcoFusion is a living system, the end result is not achieved by installation alone. It is achieved by correct system design, careful commissioning, and a short settling-in period where the biology establishes and the operating settings are fine-tuned to your specific pool.
How EcoFusion replaces a traditional wetland
The EcoFusion system concentrates the work of a large gravel-and-plant wetland into a compact, engineered filtration zone. Instead of relying on vast areas of submerged gravel, EcoFusion uses a highly oxygenated bioreactor filled with specialised media that provides an exceptionally high surface area for beneficial bacteria to grow. This creates an efficient biological environment where nutrients are naturally broken down, without the need for a large planted wetland.
In practical terms, this means the entire EcoFusion footprint for a typical 37,000-litre pool is approximately 2 metres by 0.6 metres. For larger pools, the system scales accordingly. Pools in the 75,000 to 100,000-litre range generally require roughly double this space.
Because EcoFusion is a modular system, the pump and filtration components can usually be installed wherever it is most practical. In new builds, the system can be located almost anywhere, including under a deck or up to 30 metres away from the pool.
This flexibility allows natural pools to be created without sacrificing garden space, while still delivering stable water quality through a fully engineered biological process.