Tonight I add salt to my non SWG above ground pool

[sevver]

Well I am interested, how do you add it, just pour the bag of pellets in? Then get in and stir them around? What do you get, just water softener salt? I have an 8000 gallon pool, how much would a bag raise it approximately? Would a pool store be able to test for it?

[The Raddish]

Well I am interested, how do you add it, just pour the bag of pellets in? Then get in and stir them around? What do you get, just water softener salt? I have an 8000 gallon pool, how much would a bag raise it approximately? Would a pool store be able to test for it?

That is exactly what we did. To find out how much you need, just download the bleachcalc by mwsmith2 and enter your numbers. Don't forget to change your units to imperial instead of liters. This calculator will also help you with your BBB pool maintenance.

A good source of water softener salt is Lowe's or Home Depot. I also believe that Wal-Mart sells it, too, as well as stores like Sam's and Costco. Try to get the purest salt you can find. In my case, we were able to find 99.8% pure salt.

[sevver]

Ok, it says that if I add 80# of salt, the level will go up by almost 1200ppm for my 8000 gallon pool. I am thinking that if I start off with between 40# and 60# then it should be a good start. How long does it take for the salt to disolve? Do I have to be in there mixing it around?

[The Raddish]

It took about 20 minutes to half an hour for my wife and I to dissolve two 40# bags. She had fun playing with the pellets, piling them up, moving them around with her feet, etc. The biggest thing was that we essentially were in the pool to help stir up the water. I'd recommend helping the salt dissolve.

What I did was take a bag and open it in the middle of the pool, and spread it around a bit from the middle. We then shuffled it around with our feet until it was pretty much dissolved.

1200ppm is about where we want to get to, so adding two bags will probably be perfect for your pool. If you aren't sure, then just get one bag and start with that. You can always add another later, but if you are happy with the results of just one bag, then there is no need. I did the same thing, I started with two bags, knowing that three or four would be what I ultimately will want to add. Two is nice, but I'll be adding one more sometime this week, and maybe one more after that.

Just remember though that like CYA, the only way to get the salt back out of your pool is to drain and refill, so it's better to use less than you think you need than to overshoot your goal.

[NWMNMom]

So, does adding this salt have any effect on PH, TA, TC/FC? Is the luxury of having softer skin/hair and nicer feeling water going to result in any additional chemicals having to be added or any more work maintaining? I'm reading these posts and really tempted to try it, but if its going to be more maintc work.......(not that its so much now with BBB and a bit of leaf skimmer/vac work) But I AM the only one here doing the work, so less is better!

[Rangeball]

So, does adding this salt have any effect on PH, TA, TC/FC?

Nope

Is the luxury of having softer skin/hair and nicer feeling water going to result in any additional chemicals having to be added or any more work maintaining?

Nope

I'm reading these posts and really tempted to try it, but if its going to be more maintc work.......(not that its so much now with BBB and a bit of leaf skimmer/vac work) But I AM the only one here doing the work, so less is better!

Dumping in the salt is the most work involved. After that, it's business as usual

[sevver]

Ok I am going to give it a go, why not. How long does the salt remain in the pool?