Salt Question

[BPool18]

Once my SLAM is complete, I’ll be turning on my SWG. Somehow, I only have 300 salt (confirmed reading) in the pool from last year. About 1.5 months prior to closing, SWG died and I went LC rest of year. But, at peak summer, I had 3300 or so salt. Not sure how I have 300 - perhaps too many backwashes over the course of the summer.

Anyway, I need about 10 40lb bags. I’m Trying
to prep for that ....been reading on here that the salt for the Water softener is cheaper but just larger crystals. If you go this route, is brushing required to dissolve etc? I have 10 bags worth - so not sure if it’d be worth to get the smaller crystals or if the dissolve rate is the same.

Thanks

 

[YippeeSkippy]

First question is how did you test for salt? Please don't just trust the reading from the SWG itself. You don't want to risk adding more salt than necessary, so testing it yourself is really important. The devices get "confused" sometimes and read way off.

Yes you can use water softener salt. Just brush it around till dissolved. Make sure the SWG itself is turned off that day. You don't want to turn it on until the next day and all the salt is dissolved and well mixed in the water.

Maddie

 

[BPool18]

First question is how did you test for salt? Please don't just trust the reading from the SWG itself. You don't want to risk adding more salt than necessary, so testing it yourself is really important. The devices get "confused" sometimes and read way off.

Yes you can use water softener salt. Just brush it around till dissolved. Make sure the SWG itself is turned off that day. You don't want to turn it on until the next day and all the salt is dissolved and well mixed in the water.

Maddie

I have neighbor that used a digital reader - are these accurate? It matched what the board was showing.

I am going to be purchasing the K-1766

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Ok, good deal as long as they keep it calibrated it should be fine. You sure lost a lot of salt there....whew!

Sometimes the SWG reads one number and the test reads another. I personally only trust my test kit.

Maddie

 

[BPool18]

Ok, good deal as long as they keep it calibrated it should be fine. You sure lost a lot of salt there....whew!

Sometimes the SWG reads one number and the test reads another. I personally only trust my test kit.

Maddie

Yeah, I’m having a hard time understanding how I lost that much salt....

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yeah, I’m having a hard time understanding how I lost that much salt....

Was your pool left uncovered over the winter? Did you get a lot of water in and drained some out during that time??

Maddie

 

[BPool18]

Was your pool left uncovered over the winter? Did you get a lot of water in and drained some out during that time??

Maddie

Nope, mesh cover.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Uhhhhh... don't mesh covers let water in/out? I don't have that type so am not positive but....?

Maddie

 

[BPool18]

Uhhhhh... don't mesh covers let water in/out? I don't have that type so am not positive but....?

Maddie

Good question. Water level was a few inches higher than when we closed it but nothing drastic.

 

[ajw22]

If you have a salt pool you really should have the K-1766 Taylor Salt Test

It is the gold standard way of measuring salt.

 

[BPool18]

If you have a salt pool you really should have the K-1766 Taylor Salt Test

It is the gold standard way of measuring salt.

Just purchased

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I recently did 10 bags of softener salt (Diamond Crystal Solar Water Softener Salt from HD) and it took about about 45 minutes to an hour to dissolve with some aggressive brushing. Arms and back were a bit sore, but beer and Motrin took care of that. Still sore the next day so more beer. Anyways, let the water circulate for about 24 hours before testing.

 

[BPool18]

I recently did 10 bags of softener salt (Diamond Crystal Solar Water Softener Salt from HD) and it took about about 45 minutes to an hour to dissolve with some aggressive brushing. Arms and back were a bit sore, but beer and Motrin took care of that. Still sore the next day so more beer. Anyways, let the water circulate for about 24 hours before testing.

Looks like there’s about a $5 difference between HD’s pool salt and water softener salt. At 10 bags, a savings of $50....

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Yes..and a bulk rate price break after 6 bags (here anyways).

 

[BPool18]

Yes..and a bulk rate price break after 6 bags (here anyways).

Just curious...if you’re adding 10 bags, you must have lost all your salt like me. What was the reason for your loss?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I had high Ch and CYA. I did a 2/3 drain and refill. A few weeks later I drained another 20% to have my tile blasted for calcium deposits.

 

[BPool18]

I had high Ch and CYA. I did a 2/3 drain and refill. A few weeks later I drained another 20% to have my tile blasted for calcium deposits.

Yeah, I’m still dumbfounded. I have a vinyl liner so no Calcium concerns. I backwashed and drained occasionally after heavy rains but nothing I would consider out of the ordinary...and certainly not draining 2/3 of the pool. If I can recall last year (first year in the house/pool), I think I only added 5-6 bags of salt over the course of the summer...but it was never as low as 300. admittedly , I didn’t have the salt test kit and was going off of the board reading & pool store reading (digital reader) and always kept it at 2800-3300. I have no idea how I have 300.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You'll have a better idea of where your really at when you get your salt test kit. Keep us posted and good luck.

 

[BPool18]

You'll have a better idea of where your really at when you get your salt test kit. Keep us posted and good luck.

Thanks. It arrives tomorrow, so I’ll post results here. Thanks!!

 

[BPool18]

You'll have a better idea of where your really at when you get your salt test kit. Keep us posted and good luck.

Well, I’ll be.....

Salt kit arrived and I did the test. Came to 3200.....

I’m shocked.