rocks in salt?

[JoanC]

I posted this in another thread from May and got no response so thought I'd post it here.

I'm adding the Diamond Crystals from Home Depot to get up to level for my new SWG. I have a vinyl liner so haven't been excited to find lots of rocks/pebbles from the bags I've added so far. I used net to get the ones pictured out. I hope vacuum gets the rest. MITBeta f( in another thread) gave me an idea . Instead of hanging a bucket like he did, I'm going to line up all the buckets I have alongside the pool and dissolve my next 10 bags that way. Any better ideas? The last thing I need is a leak
.

 

[Texas Splash]

Well that stinks. That's what I've been using as well. Time to do some more shopping I suppose, or be very careful after dumping to see what's left behind.

 

[Newdude]

The bucket thing sounds like way too much work. Dump the bags in the shallow end and brush a little keeping it all in the shallow end. Return every 30 mins for another light brushing. Really you're just moving the residuals around. Then hop in with a snorkle mask and hand pick the few stones. That particular batch has way more than I've ever seen. With any luck you have none or only a couple going forward.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I'm adding the Diamond Crystals from Home Depot to get up to level for my new SWG

That was my recommendation...sorry Joan. This brand has been pretty solid in the last few years. I just added a couple bags of their pool salt recently since pricing flip-flopped with softener salt now costing more. I saw a very recent post reporting iron stains from the softener salt.

 

[PoolStored]

Sorry, it is also my recommendation, frequently. This is the first and only post on this salt. Until there is a trend, I believe it is a one off...and given the plethora of problems with the other salt brands, I'll continue to recommend and use Diamond Crystal Solar Salt.

If you put it in the shallow end and brush, it should not cause a leak if there are a few rocks. Knowing they might be there, you can look for them with the first brush.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Water softener salt is a natural product made from brine ponds where the saline water is allowed to evaporate until all the salt is left behind. There is a lot of sand, silt, and pebbles caught up in the harvesting process and while the salt is washed to remove the debris, it’s simply impossible to refine it any further and keep the cost down to ~$8 per 40lbs bag.

My whole house water softener has a separate brine tank and I use Diamond Crystals salt granules for brine creation. I have to empty and clean the tank at least twice per year as it accumulates a lot of dirt. I have often found small stones in the bottom of the tank.

The only other option would be to purchase “pool salt” from the pool store as it is processed more thoroughly to remove the dirt. But it will likely cost upwards of $12-$15 per bag.

 

[pjt]

haven't been excited to find lots of rocks/pebbles from the bags I've added so far

That's unusual. I've used ~25 bags of DCSN and haven't encountered anything except pure salt. I guess rocks/debris happens, but it's very rare.

 

[JoanC]

Well that stinks. That's what I've been using as well. Time to do some more shopping I suppose, or be very careful after dumping to see what's left behind.

Those were from my first 6 bags so not a huge amount but it only takes kids stepping on one to cause a leak in vinyl.
I did the bucket thing and it worked well for finding the stones which were far less than the first 6 bags had. I also got my cheap white Dollar General colander out to sift through them. It was a lot of trouble. Two of the last bags had dirty or discolored crystals. I put those in a bucket more to rinse. I threw the dirty water out and only dumped those crystals in. I realize I was throwing out some of the salt but I didn't want any more of that dirt in the pool.
I just wondered if anyone else had the same and had a less back breaking way to sort out the stones.

 

[JoanC]

The bucket thing sounds like way too much work. Dump the bags in the shallow end and brush a little keeping it all in the shallow end. Return every 30 mins for another light brushing. Really you're just moving the residuals around. Then hop in with a snorkle mask and hand pick the few stones. That particular batch has way more than I've ever seen. With any luck you have none or only a couple going forward.

You are spot on! Way too much trouble and my back is done from bending so much. I did all of the deposits into the shallow and rounded up the ones left in the pool. I'll try vacuum tomorrow and if that doesn't get them I'll go in and get them. Thankfully as I said above, the following 5 bags didn't have as many but two bags were very dirty. I'll continue with this brand until some of you tell me of a better brand.

 

[PoolStored]

The only other option would be to purchase “pool salt” from the pool store as it is processed more thoroughly to remove the dirt. But it will likely cost upwards of $12-$15 per bag.

. I'll continue with this brand until some of you tell me of a better brand.

It boils down to this. Pay the $6 for the Solar Naturals or $111-15 for pool store salt.

 

[JoanC]

That was my recommendation...sorry Joan. This brand has been pretty solid in the last few years. I just added a couple bags of their pool salt recently since pricing flip-flopped with softener salt now costing more. I saw a very recent post reporting iron stains from the softener salt.

It's ok Mike. Not the end of the world. Price was still same or few cents lower than the pool salt. As I stated above, last 5 bags had far less stones but two bags were really dirty. I rinsed those and tossed out the nasty water. I already have issues with iron so I hope I don't get iron staining. I actually put Metal Magic in this morning and the pool looks great. Maybe it will take care of any stain that might occur from the salt. It will all be ok. Just wanting to know any shortcuts to my plan.

 

[JoanC]

Sorry, it is also me recommendation, frequently. This is the first and only post on this salt. Until there is a trend, I believe it is a one off...and given the plethora of problems with the other salt brands, I'll continue to recommend and use Diamond Crystal Solar Salt.

If you put it in the shallow end and brush, it should not cause a leak if there are a few rocks. Knowing they might be there, you can look for them with the first brush.

I have 5-6 more bags to go. I may just add them as is but will most likely use the buckets and colander again. This is my start up so I won't have so many bags for a while. If you say these are the best offerings then I will continue to use this brand.
Your other suggestion of the pool store salt is appreciated. I'd have to think on whether I would want to spend that much.

 

[JoanC]

Water softener salt is a natural product made from brine ponds where the saline water is allowed to evaporate until all the salt is left behind. There is a lot of sand, silt, and pebbles caught up in the harvesting process and while the salt is washed to remove the debris, it’s simply impossible to refine it any further and keep the cost down to ~$8 per 40lbs bag.

My whole house water softener has a separate brine tank and I use Diamond Crystals salt granules for brine creation. I have to empty and clean the tank at least twice per year as it accumulates a lot of dirt. I have often found small stones in the bottom of the tank.

The only other option would be to purchase “pool salt” from the pool store as it is processed more thoroughly to remove the dirt. But it will likely cost upwards of $12-$15 per bag.

I like knowing the background and your experience Matt. Thank you. Maybe on the pool store salt but most likely I'll stick with these.

 

[PoolStored]

I have 5-6 more bags to go. I may just add them as is but will most likely use the buckets and colander again. This is my start up so I won't have so many bags for a while. If you say these are the best offerings then I will continue to use this brand.
Your other suggestion of the pool store salt is appreciated. I'd have to think on whether I would want to spend that much.

Given my experience and recommendations here, the Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals is just fine. Yours is the first post of an issue. I have bought pool store salt, just because the drive is 30 minutes.

 

[JoanC]

That's unusual. I've used ~25 bags of DCSN and haven't encountered anything except pure salt. I guess rocks/debris happens, but it's very rare.

I'm glad for you. It's just my lucky day Ever since I got up this morning it's been one odd, aggravating thing after another . Full moon is a coming!

 

[MDRetirement]

I had a very small amount of pebbles in the 10 bags I dumped in of the diamond solar salt. I just brushed to center and made the robot deal with them. Wasn’t bad and saved about $6-$8/bag over what the pool company wanted for pool salt. Wasn’t a bad trade off.

I got diamond from Home Depot instead of Morton from Sam’s club due to recommendations here that Morton’s had a bunch of rocks and quality went downhill. Both surely have pebbles but I think it’s likely pretty minimal.

 

[JoanC]

I had a very small amount of pebbles in the 10 bags I dumped in of the diamond solar salt. I just brushed to center and made the robot deal with them. Wasn’t bad and saved about $6-$8/bag over what the pool company wanted for pool salt. Wasn’t a bad trade off.

I got diamond from Home Depot instead of Morton from Sam’s club due to recommendations here that Morton’s had a bunch of rocks and quality went downhill. Both surely have pebbles but I think it’s likely pretty minimal.

Sorry you had them too. Glad you have a robot to get them out. A robot isn't in our budget at present but we'd love to have one!!!! Our Polaris died many years ago. I'll get the stones out one way or another and we'll hope this is the worst of it.

 

[JoanC]

Thank you all for your knowledge and help. You are appreciated!

 

[wireform]

I've been using this by the skid and find it has almost no junk.
Diamond Crystal Splash Ready 40 lb. Pool Salt 110002702 - The Home Depot

 

[Newdude]

Ive been at this 12 years and I've had bags that were filthy (dirt not iron thank goodness) and bags with a couple rocks with both versions of salt. Other times either version was clean and rock free. And with a big pool, I go though some salt, so I've got a decent sample size of various brands.

The only difference is the size of the crystals and the bigger ones take a little longer. I buy whichever bag is cheaper (last year pool salt was the cheap one in the spring) and vacuum as needed after without harm.

I do however avoid chlorox salt for the amount of folks who got bit with iron, and now Mortons because they had other issues last year with something not salt like in the bags.