I currently run my pool using liquid chlorine but am soon making the switch to SWG.
I’ve read many of the threads that mention “all chlorine pools are already salt pools” and so wondered what I would run into when I finally got a salt test Kit. Last Oct I bought a SWG. Near the same time I ordered a Taylor salt test kit and received some free salt test strips with the SWG.
In Dec when I got more serious about installing the SWG I finally ran the test…Taylor: 4600ppm…strips: ~500 ppm. unfortunately the Taylor kit had an expired regent, should have checked when I received it. Just recently I ordered a brand new replacement TFT Test Kit that included the Taylor Salt regents. New Taylor result: 5400 ppm.
WOW, I thought the first Taylor kit was defective…turns out it wasn’t (it still tests about 4600ppm). The last time I drained and refilled my pool was almost exactly 3 years ago. Since that time my pool has been chlorinated using liquid chlorine; also, my pool has always taken quite a bit of acid since I replastered in 2014.
I didn’t expect a salt level of ~5000 ppm , I was expecting half or less than that based on comments I have read. Is that number consistent with expectations?
In any case, before I activate the SWG I needed to drain/refill anyway because the calcium level in my pool here in the desert has reached catastrophic levels (800+). I have been putting off this entire project to first install a new water softener (done), a new soft water tap for pool fill (done), installation of SWG (done). I also want to fix some tile grout while the pool is drained (not done), so just one last barrier to eliminating jugs of chlorine this summer.…whoo hoo!
I’ve read many of the threads that mention “all chlorine pools are already salt pools” and so wondered what I would run into when I finally got a salt test Kit. Last Oct I bought a SWG. Near the same time I ordered a Taylor salt test kit and received some free salt test strips with the SWG.
In Dec when I got more serious about installing the SWG I finally ran the test…Taylor: 4600ppm…strips: ~500 ppm. unfortunately the Taylor kit had an expired regent, should have checked when I received it. Just recently I ordered a brand new replacement TFT Test Kit that included the Taylor Salt regents. New Taylor result: 5400 ppm.
WOW, I thought the first Taylor kit was defective…turns out it wasn’t (it still tests about 4600ppm). The last time I drained and refilled my pool was almost exactly 3 years ago. Since that time my pool has been chlorinated using liquid chlorine; also, my pool has always taken quite a bit of acid since I replastered in 2014.
I didn’t expect a salt level of ~5000 ppm , I was expecting half or less than that based on comments I have read. Is that number consistent with expectations?
In any case, before I activate the SWG I needed to drain/refill anyway because the calcium level in my pool here in the desert has reached catastrophic levels (800+). I have been putting off this entire project to first install a new water softener (done), a new soft water tap for pool fill (done), installation of SWG (done). I also want to fix some tile grout while the pool is drained (not done), so just one last barrier to eliminating jugs of chlorine this summer.…whoo hoo!
Last edited:
