What's *wrong* with salt?

[mabrolat]

We're in the prep phase for building our own 18x36 IG diving pool in So Cal. I keep reading raves about SWGs and my own sister raves about her "salt water pool." So -- what's the negative? For a new installation, is there any reason NOT to install a SWG?
-M

[waterbear]

other than the initial cost, non whatsoever IMHO. I have an Aqualogic PS-8 on my pool/spa combo and I love it. The biggest downside seems to be the necessity to keep adding acid since a constant upward pH creep is a byproduct of electrolytic chlorine generation but practicacly eliminating the formation of chloriamines in the water far outweighs it! (I know I will get blasted for THAT comment!)

[SJohnson]

That pretty much covers it, price and acid demand . . . Lots of negatives for the pool stores . . . just those two for us . . .

SJohnson

[mwsmith2]

Agreed, they are expensive, but can be found for a good price on fleabay. Acid addition for me is about 1 qt a week during summer for a 20K/gal pool. There is additional power requirements to make the Cl, although I haven't taken the time to calculate how much that really is. The biggest savings is that I spend about 20 minutes a month fiddling with the chemistry of the pool.

Michael

[estermer]

I heard from a friend that because salt is corrosive, it can damage your coping and deck. Anyone have any experience with that?

[mwsmith2]

Not at the concentrations used with a SWC. It's around 3200 PPM, which is barely detectable by taste.

Michael