How many of you have a sacrificial anode installed, and do not have a heater?

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Whynotme

Whynotme

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2024
53
Pelham, NH
Pool Size
8800
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Autopilot Digital Nano+ PPC2
Our installer and pool company never told us anything about a sacrificial anode, and I'm finding out now the small rust on our ladder would probably not be there if we had the anode installed. Does anyone here recommend an anode for a saltwater pool even we don't have a heater?
 
A sacrificial anode does not prevent rust.

It is a myth that stainless steel does not rust.

You probably have waterline corrosion.

What material is your ladder made of?

Read Corrosion - Further Reading
 
Why,

I do not know the exact number, but my guess is that 98% of saltwater pool owners do not have an anode and that most of them have no corrosion issues..

Using an anode seems to be related to where you live.. More people in the North East, seem to think they are required, while people in Texas and Florida, do not.

Until recently I had three saltwater pools.. I had them for well over 12 years.. None of them had an anode, and I had zero corrosion on anything in or near the pools.

Thanks,

Jim R.
 
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Jimrahbe said:
Why,

I do not know the exact number, but my guess is that 98% of saltwater pool owners do not have an anode and that most of them have no corrosion issues..

Using an anode seems to be related to where you live.. More people in the North East, seem to think they are required, while people in Texas and Florida, do not.

Until recently I had three saltwater pools.. I had them for well over 12 years.. None of them had an anode, and I had zero corrosion on anything in or near the pools.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Click to expand...
Thank you Jim. I'm still undecided but the anode kit for my pool is only $125 and I think I can install it myself so I might just do it. I'm in northeast US, in NH.
 
e-John said:
I have had boats in salt water, and you definitely need an anode. I think the salinity in a salt water pool is very low, and thus not needed.
Click to expand...

3.000 in a pool; 30,000 in the ocean.

10X difference.
 
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Anodes have to be connected to the things that you want to protect. You can’t just install one somewhere in the pool plumbing and it magically makes all the corrosion stop. There is a very detailed science and engineering behind corrosion prevention and sacrificial anode design. The stuff made for pools are toys designed to make people think they are necessary in which case you and your money are more easily parted.

If you want to try an anode out, buy a magnesium anode and bolt it on to the ladder. See if it works. But you’ll need to clean up the corrosion that has occurred and repassivate the steel surface or else the corrosion will continue. Once a stainless steel passivation layer is damaged, the underlying iron is exposed and corrosion will continue. So if you don’t clean up and fix what’s there, it will simply continue to rust.

Featured - Pool Chemistry, stainless steel corrosion and prevention, long term study.

this may take a year or two to see if there is a case for this type of corrosion control. Backstory: Bought house with a pool in 2020. In June 2022, I bought a new ladder, because there was a little bit of rusting, so I bought a 316 SS Marine Grade ladder and installed. I bounced along with...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
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