Salt levels increasing on their own

[suzook]

So I have never had an issue like this on my previous pool that had pavers. My brand new build, and my levels keep rising. I have had it tested at a store, using reputable test strips, and my SWG level indicator. They are all withing 3% of each other. I went from 2800 2 mos. ago, to 4600 at its peak 1 week ago, prior to a big rain producing 4 inches of rain. That brought it back down to 3400, but its slowly creeping back up. Wondering if it could be caused by the brand new Kool decking? Its still "shedding" small tiny particles into the pool. They are fine pieces coming off, and you can see them in the pool. My buddy had same issue with the "shedding" its 1st season, then it stopped. Could it be from the Kool deck??? I dont see what else could be causing the increase. Any thoughts?

 

[Bperry]

So I have never had an issue like this on my previous pool that had pavers. My brand new build, and my levels keep rising. I have had it tested at a store, using reputable test strips, and my SWG level indicator. They are all withing 3% of each other. I went from 2800 2 mos. ago, to 4000 at its peak 1 week ago, prior to a big rain producing 4 inches of rain. That brought it back down to 3400, but its slowly creeping back up. Wondering if it could be caused by the brand new Kool decking? Its still "shedding" small tiny particles into the pool. They are fine pieces coming off, and you can see them in the pool. My buddy had same issue with the "shedding" its 1st season, then it stopped. Could it be from the Kool deck??? I dont see what else could be causing the increase. Any thoughts?

What does the Taylor salt test kit say? Strips go bad over time (assuming they were god to start with) .

 

[suzook]

What does the Taylor salt test kit say? Strips go bad over time (assuming they were god to start with) .

That's what i used for test.

 

[Mdragger88]

Not sure about the decking but other things add salt as well like liquid chlorine, other forms of chlorine, muriatic acid, calcium chloride and people
Strips & meters have a +- factor of 500ppm
The Taylor k1766 has a +- factor of 200pm
We suggest using the taylor k1766 test kit
Your cell will fluctuate- it may never match your actual salinity

 

[suzook]

Not sure about the decking but other things add salt as well like liquid chlorine, other forms of chlorine, muriatic acid, calcium chloride and people
Strips & meters have a +- factor of 500ppm
The Taylor k1766 has a +- factor of 200pm
We suggest using the taylor k1766 test kit
Your cell will fluctuate- it may never match your actual salinity

My cell is actually within 100 ppm of the taylor K1766 test every time I measure. Only thing i added recently was a gallon of bleach to raise chlorine level, due to me slacking on checking levels. I bet there is calcium chloride in the kool deck. Who knew I had an automated salt adder.

 

[JamesW]

Get a K-1766 and a good salt meter.

List all chemicals added including amount.

 

[JamesW]

It is not from the deck.

100 ppm is 12 lbs of salt.

The deck did not add 143 lbs of salt to the pool.

 

[suzook]

Get a K-1766 and a good salt meter.

List all chemicals added including amount.
It is not from the deck.

Sorry, I meant i have the K-1766. I typo'd strip. So then where is the salt coming from???? ONLY thing i added since opening was 12 bags of salt to bring it to 3000ppm, 1 jug of 7.6% bleach when 1st filled, and another jug last week. NOTHING else. Although......The 2 foot back wall of my pool had added calcium chloride added when temps were borderline when poured. Don't think that could be the culprit. Its not like it in the water.

 

[JamesW]

Salt does not increase by itself.

Maybe test error or something being added.

Fill water usually contains a low level of salt like about 200 ppm and evaporation and refill will slowly raise salt levels but not as much as you indicate.

Test the fill water and pool water with a K-1766 and a good calibrated meter and report the levels.

Test at least weekly to get a better assessment of how levels are changing.

PC60 Premium Multiparameter (pH/EC/TDS/Salinity/Temperature) Pocket Tester/Meter Kit-Apera Instruments

The Apera Instruments PC60 Multi-parameter Tester/Meter simply tests pH/EC/TDS/Salinity/Temperature for regular aqueous solutions such as hydroponics, aquaculture, pools& spas, tap/drinking water, water treatment, cooling towers, etc.

aperainst.com

 

[JamesW]

ONLY thing i added since opening was 12 bags of salt to bring it to 3000ppm

12 x 40 = 480 lbs.

480 lbs increases salt by 4039 ppm for 14,200 gallons.

What was the salinity before adding the salt?

 

[suzook]

12 x 40 = 480 lbs.

480 lbs increases salt by 4039 ppm for 14,200 gallons.

What was the salinity before adding the salt?

View attachment 637812

I must have not had enough coffee today. I bought 12 bags, put 9 bags in. I was at 3200 a week after dumping the 9 bags in. That was around Feb 24. Since then its climbed as high as 4600 PPM. Other than 1 jug of bleach added a couple days ago, NOTHING was added. I was as low as 3200 again, after 4 inches of rain last Sunday. I am back up to 3900 as of this morning. Where is this salt coming from? I figured I was out of the woods last week after the rain, and being back down to 3200ppm. I don't like being close to 4000ppm. Not the end of the world, but something is definitely odd with it rising on its own.

 

[JamesW]

Salt does not increase by itself.

Either someone is adding salt or something with salt or there is some sort of test error.

 

[JamesW]

I went from 2800 2 mos. ago, to 4000 at its peak

Since then its climbed as high as 4600 PPM.

Which is it, 4,000 ppm or 4,600 ppm?

 

[suzook]

Salt does not increase by itself.

LMFAO, That's why I am here asking for some possible reasons. I know my wife isn't throwing bags of salt in. How can I go from 3200 to 3900 in a week? Both tests were done comparing my SWG reading, Taylor k1766, and my local pool store. All within 100 ppm of each other.

 

[JamesW]

I bought 12 bags, put 9 bags in.

Do you still have the extra 3 bags?

 

[suzook]

Which is it, 4,000 ppm or 4,600 ppm?

4600

 

[JamesW]

How can I go from 3200 to 3900 in a week?

It is pretty simple; salt does not just magically materialize in the water from nowhere.

We are not there to see if anything is being added and we are not there to test the salinity, so we have to rely on what you report.

It is either test error and/or salt is being added.

 

[JamesW]

4600

First it is 12 bags added and then 9 bags.

First it is 4,000 and now 4,600 ppm.

Your reports are very inconsistent and indicate a lack of precision and accuracy.

In any case, either salt is being added or the testing is not accurate.

There are no other explanations.

 

[User777]

I wonder if the water temperature has something to do with this. Water solubility increases with its temperature, so if you put a ton of salt in when it was cold out, it might not have fully dissolved (even if you can't see granules with your naked eye). As the temperature increases, the undissolved salt dissolves and increases salt ppm. You might be able to experiment with this by taking a gallon of pool water and measuring the salt concentration while it's outside, and then bring it inside to warm up (or heat it on the stove).

Another thread on this: Salt level keeps rising

 

[JamesW]

Salt can lay on the bottom for days if it is added and not brushed in.

If it is brushed in completely, it should all dissolve.

Heavy rain can add a layer of fresh water on top.

If there is no circulation, the layer can sit for a while and read lower salt.

Good mixing is important when adding salt or during heavy rain.

Reaching down at least 1 foot helps get a good sample.