High salt causes?

[lightstamp]

We set up the pool a couple of weeks ago, added the proper amount of salt and everything went great until yesterday. The Intex set off the high salt warning. Where did more salt come from that would cause this if it'd not been high salt for weeks?? It's an EasySet pool 18'x4'.

I'm emptying a fifth of the pool and adding more fresh water. But if anything it seems the salt level would have gone down instead of going up. Anyone have this same problem??

Thanks

 

[tdi_jim]

Did you check your fill water before adding salt? My fill water (aka tap water) had 680 ppm salt.

 

[ping]

Welcome to TFP!

My guess is the following:

You might have raised the salt level near the high salt limit when you added the salt, tdi_jim's explanation, and as the water has warmed up the SWG thinks you have a higher salt content than what it is. The SWG doesn't actually measure the salinity of the water, it measures the conductivity of the water and as the water warms up it is more conductive which has led to the high salt error.

Have you had the water tested for the salt content other than by the SWG?

 

[pooldv]

Welcome to TFP! Test first, use Poolmath, http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html to figure out what to add and then verify. It takes about 24 hours for salt to fully dissolve and show up.

 

[lightstamp]

The high salt warning went off after two weeks of basically doing nothing to the pool - so the conductivity thing seems plausible. Thanks. What's a good salinity test kit to get?

the pool place test came back showing Salt at 1900 or low from the 2500-3500 ppm range so I added more salt not quite the 40lbs suggested by them but probably a good 30 lbs and today low and behold the high salt warning sounded. The remedy for high salt is draining 1/5 of the water and refilling......guess I just need to get my own accurate salinity meter

 

[jeffchap]

Get the Aquachek strips. The other kind that rely on color matching the little blocks to a chart are worthless, IMHO.

Amazon.com : AquaChek Salt Swimming Pool Test Strips : Patio, Lawn Garden

 

[ping]

I use the Taylor K-1766 test kit for salt, TFTestkits.net. It seems more accurate than the Aquachek strips but all of these tests are +-400ppm. I've had so so results with the Aquachek strips and after more than a year of having the K-1766 I would not get the strips again.

 

[jblizzle]

I agree with ping. I prefer the K-1766

 

[lightstamp]

I've already ordered this tester - is it accurate?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002C0A7ZY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

 

[jblizzle]

Doubtful. Plus it reports TDS which is meaningless. We care about what makes up TDS.

 

[lightstamp]

I've ordered the Aquachek strips too. Just added about 20 lbs of salt since another pool company also reported the 2300. Shocked it with a lb of shock. and going to add 12 oz of phoshFree

 

[jblizzle]

Well phosphates are meaningless, so no point in reducing them.

Why did you add shock powder? Do you know if you need the CH or CYA?

 

[lightstamp]

algae was the reason for the Shock along with the .14 FAC and .27 TC. cya was 27. if CH is calcium hardness then it was 200.

 

[jblizzle]

I suggest you take a look at the SLAM process article in Pool School. One bag is not going to help.

 

[lightstamp]

Thought it was weird that Leslie's Pools said the ideal range for CYA was 60-99 ppm and Pool and Spa Depot say the ideal range is 20-50 ppm.
What should it be and if I need to add some is there a generic CYA instead of the Conditioners branded product?

 

[jblizzle]

With a SWG, we recommend 70-80ppm for CYA.

But you need to SLAM before raising it that high if there is any algae or cloudiness.

 

[lightstamp]

Thanks! i'll look at the Slam

 

[lightstamp]

so my CYA level was 27. How do I get it up to where I'll know how much chlorine? in the shock column it just lists a number like 10 - how does this equate to gallons of Clorox?

 

[jblizzle]

You use PoolMath. See my signature or tabs at top of page.

 

[PAGirl]

Was that the pools tore's testing of the CYA? They aren't usually too accurate. Did you order a good test kit yet? You may want to before you start the SLAM.