SWG Salt ?

[chrisjb8685]

For the last few years I have been using EcoWater Solar Salt which lists itself as 99.7 % pure. I use the same salt in our softener and have noticed that there have been some contaminants or something in the salt that has left a dirty ring in the brinewell and filthy water when the salt has gotten really low. Supplier couldn't really explain other than maybe a bad bag of salt, (although it has happened on two separate occasions.)

Last year I had a real issue with some type of soil bacteria "eating" up my CYA and really struggled all summer with minimal satisfaction. I am wondering if it came via my salt.

Is there a recommendation on what kind of salt to use for the SWG? Pool store has some but it is really pricey.

Salt is getting low and I need to add some but am a little nervous as I've just gotten the pool cleared up.

Chris

 

[mas985]

I use Morton salt in the blue bag from Home Depot. It is about $4 for 50 lbs.

 

[chrisjb8685]

I use Morton salt in the blue bag from Home Depot.

Have you or anyone else had issues with "dirty salt?"

Is the pool store salt that is supposed to be "super" pure really worth the price?

 

[Melt In The Sun]

Some people have had issues using salt with additives, but the rule of thumb here is anything over 99.4% pure and w/o any additives should be fine. Your issues last summer were related to something else; dirty salt could not possibly cause that. Your softener issues are likely not related to dirty salt either.

 

[JasonLion]

Pool store salt comes from the same salt as water softener salt. It is ground finer, and run through a sieve to make sure there aren't any large bits, but otherwise it is the same. In practice people sometimes find a pebble or two in several hundred pounds of water softener salt that wouldn't have been in pool salt, but otherwise there is no detectable difference.

 

[chrisjb8685]

Thanks! I'll just stick with water softener salt then and make sure the purity is above the 99.4% recommended.

Also, should I delete a post like this now that my questions have been answered?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[JasonLion]

No, we prefer to keep things visible. That gives you some history the next time you ask a question, and lets others with the same question find their answer by searching and seeing what we told you when you asked, without us having to answer all over again.

 

[cheddar85]

I know you already have your answer, but I wanted to say that the what you're seeing in the brine tank is most likely from the water, not the salt. Normally the only additive in water softener salt is rust remover, which will not cause what you're describing.