Is there a salt that’s better than others?

Nikilyn · Nov 8, 2021

We just refilled our pool and need to put more salt in. What do I need to look for when buying it? Is there a specific brand thats’s best or one to stay away from?

markayash · Nov 8, 2021

Some folks have had staining from Clorox brand salt. I like Morton but have good luck with the brand homedepot sells.

mknauss · Nov 8, 2021

Nikilyn said:
We just refilled our pool and need to put more salt in.

I use plain water softener salt. Walmart or Home Depot.

Newdude · Nov 8, 2021

+ 1. HD/Lowe’s have it by the hot water heaters year round. It’s $5-ish a bag instead of $8. The crystals are bigger so it takes a whopping 20 more mins to dissolve. You have to let it mix for a full day either way so it’s kinda a moot point.

I prefer the water softener salt but have bought the regular pool kind many times while I was already somewhere else that had it in front of me. No need to waste an hour leaving and going somewhere else to save $3 a bag when you only need one or two.

markayash · Nov 8, 2021

The pain in the butt to me was walmart has buggies and after 3 or 4 bags it doesn't push so well were Homedepot has flat carts

Newdude · Nov 8, 2021

The pain in the butt to me was having to take the truck to get 10 bags in the spring. The car is just SO much comfier. So last year I took the car and strapped 2 bags into every seat like they were 80 lb kids and 2 in the trunk like groceries. Problem SOLVED !!

markayash · Nov 8, 2021

Newdude said:
The pain in the butt to me was having to take the truck to get 10 bags in the spring. The car is just SO much comfier. So last year I took the car and strapped 2 bags into every seat like they were 80 lb kids and 2 in the trunk like groceries. Problem SOLVED !!

Our HD has the salt outside so its dirty. I will have to see if they have any by the hotwater heaters but we don't have hard water.

pjt · Nov 8, 2021

Home Depot sells Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals. It's perfect for your SWG and inexpensive.

sultanoswing · Nov 13, 2021

Sodium chloride all the way. Good old, plain NaCl. Accept no substitute or fillers, and the less H2O, the better.

gingrbredman · Nov 14, 2021

pjt said:
Home Depot sells Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals. It's perfect for your SWG and inexpensive.

+1 on the HD salt. By me I can order it online, pull up, have it dropped in the truck and I'm on my way. Not that picking up a few bags when I need them is all that tough, but if all I need are a few bags, the curbside pickup, along with the fact the price per bag is actually less than regular softener salt, is the way to go for me.

markayash · Nov 14, 2021

gingrbredman said:
+1 on the HD salt. By me I can order it online, pull up, have it dropped in the truck and I'm on my way. Not that picking up a few bags when I need them is all that tough, but if all I need are a few bags, the curbside pickup, along with the fact the price per bag is actually less than regular softener salt, is the way to go for me.

Good idea, if your doing a new startup might not be a bad idea to have it delivered

JoyfulNoise · Nov 14, 2021

Softener salt, in large quantities, can add quite a bit of dirt to a pool. You’ll want to sweep and vacuum after addition. If you ever looked at the brine tank of a household softener, they have to be cleaned regularly to remove all the sand and grime build up. Some types of softener salt also contain sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as an anti-scaling agent for iron and other dissolved metals. You want to avoid softener salts that have additives. Pool grade salt is more expensive, about $2-$3 more per bag but it is usually higher purity, contains less solids and is a finer grain than softener salt making it dissolve faster.

Saturn94 · Nov 14, 2021

gingrbredman said:
+1 on the HD salt. By me I can order it online, pull up, have it dropped in the truck and I'm on my way. Not that picking up a few bags when I need them is all that tough, but if all I need are a few bags, the curbside pickup, along with the fact the price per bag is actually less than regular softener salt, is the way to go for me.

HD’s curb side pickup has been lifesaver for me. Earlier this year I had a back injury (couldn’t even stand or walk for awhile) that even now prevents me from lifting 40# bags.

Saturn94 · Nov 14, 2021

JoyfulNoise said:
Softener salt, in large quantities, can add quite a bit of dirt to a pool. You’ll want to sweep and vacuum after addition. If you ever looked at the brine tank of a household softener, they have to be cleaned regularly to remove all the sand and grime build up. Some types of softener salt also contain sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) as an anti-scaling agent for iron and other dissolved metals. You want to avoid softener salts that have additives. Pool grade salt is more expensive, about $2-$3 more per bag but it is usually higher purity, contains less solids and is a finer grain than softener salt making it dissolve faster.

I wish we still could get a good quality pool salt around here.

I use to use Superior Crystal Pool Salt by US Salt. It was great! Very clean and fine grained for quick dissolving. But then everyone around here switched to AquaSalt. I tried that once and it released a bunch of awful grey scum into the water. It also says it has some kind of “stain fighters” additive, but no one, including the manufacturer, could tell me what “stain fighter” is added to this salt. I also tried Mortons from Walmart, but it was dirtier with a lot of pebbles in it.

So I’m using the Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals from HD. While not as good as the Superior Crystal Pool Salt I use to use, it’s better than the other pool salts available around here.

BowserB · Nov 14, 2021

I don't know how widespread its distribution is, but I bought a bag of AquaSalt LLC product from a Houston area (Katy) Ace Hardware, and assuming it remains available, it is my new salt. It's labeled Food Grade, and that may explain why it's very fine and dissolves rapidly. In fact, when I pour into the deeper end of the pool (5-6 feet) it never reaches the bottom. No brushing necessary, as it's just gone. The label further specifies it is just for chlorine generators and not for human consumption. I see the company is in Houston, so I don't know where else it's available. I don't remember what I paid, but it must have been reasonable...because reasonable is my price limit.

ajw22 · Nov 14, 2021

BowserB said:
I don't know how widespread its distribution is, but I bought a bag of AquaSalt LLC product from a Houston area (Katy) Ace Hardware, and assuming it remains available, it is my new salt. It's labeled Food Grade, and that may explain why it's very fine and dissolves rapidly. In fact, when I pour into the deeper end of the pool (5-6 feet) it never reaches the bottom. No brushing necessary, as it's just gone. The label further specifies it is just for chlorine generators and not for human consumption. I see the company is in Houston, so I don't know where else it's available. I don't remember what I paid, but it must have been reasonable...because reasonable is my price limit.

My local pool store sells Aquasalt in NJ. Works well.

I pay $12/bag for the convenience when I need a bag or two.

Saturn94 · Nov 14, 2021

ajw22 said:
My local pool store sells Aquasalt in NJ. Works well.

I pay $12/bag for the convenience when I need a bag or two.

Given TFP’s stance on knowing what one is adding to their pool, I’m surprised no one here seems to be bothered by AquaSalt’s mystery stain preventer additive. Not to mention the yucky grey scum it added to our pool, but perhaps I got a bad batch that caused that.

markayash · Nov 14, 2021

Morton from Walmart is the cheapest around here and great but they seem to only stock in in the spring/early summer

ajw22 · Nov 14, 2021

Saturn94 said:
Given TFP’s stance on knowing what one is adding to their pool, I’m surprised no one here seems to be bothered by AquaSalt’s mystery stain preventer additive.

I saw that, read the ingredients, and figured I would give it a try. I have not seen any ill effects.

However my pool takes 25 bags of salt. When I need to add salt from a fresh fill I use Mortons Pool Salt. To top it off with a few bags of salt I figured the added ingredients, if there are any, will be small and diluted in my pool.

Saturn94 said:
Not to mention the yucky grey scum it added to our pool, but perhaps I got a bad batch that caused that.

I never saw that.

BowserB · Nov 14, 2021

Saturn94 said:
Given TFP’s stance on knowing what one is adding to their pool, I’m surprised no one here seems to be bothered by AquaSalt’s mystery stain preventer additive. Not to mention the yucky grey scum it added to our pool, but perhaps I got a bad batch that caused that.

I hadn't noticed that "natural stain fighters" on the bag. I've only used one bag, and I haven't seen any sign of a grey scum in the water, on the waterline, or in my skimmer socks. Now I'm getting nervous about it. Anyone else have the scum problem or have any idea what the "stain fighters" are? The website says 99.9% sodium chloride, and the MSDS has no mention of anything but sodium chloride.

I've sent an inquiry to the company asking about the additive.

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