Tonight I add salt to my non SWG above ground pool

[hulla]

Am I the only moron that can't feel the difference in salinity between 1000 to 3000?

My non-swg pool has a salinity of 1000. When I swam in a swg pool, I am not sure if I could tell the difference.

A whole house water softener however is very noticeable to me and is too slimy.

[waterbear]

Am I the only moron that can't feel the difference in salinity between 1000 to 3000?

My non-swg pool has a salinity of 1000. When I swam in a swg pool, I am not sure if I could tell the difference.

A whole house water softener however is very noticeable to me and is too slimy.

That is because adding salt to your pool DOES NOT soften the water. In a water softener salt is used to charge the ion exhange resin with sodium. When the water flows through it the resin exhanges the sodium for calcium and magnesium in the water. The resin is then recharged with sodium and the calcium and magnisium are washed out to waste so the process can start over. This is what softens the water. Just adding salt to water adds sodium in addtion to the calcium and magnesium already in the water. It has no softening effect whatsoever. The main advantage of adding salt to the pool is to raise the isoelectic point of the water closer to that of the human body. This makes the water less 'irritating".

[sevver]

That is because adding salt to your pool DOES NOT soften the water. In a water softener salt is used to charge the ion exhange resin with sodium. When the water flows through it the resin exhanges the sodium for calcium and magnesium in the water. The resin is then recharged with sodium and the calcium and magnisium are washed out to waste so the process can start over. This is what softens the water. Just adding salt to water adds sodium in addtion to the calcium and magnesium already in the water. It has no softening effect whatsoever. The main advantage of adding salt to the pool is to raise the isoelectic point of the water closer to that of the human body. This makes the water less 'irritating".

Would it be possible to soften the water in the pool? Could one rig up a water softener to the pool and let it cycle for a period of time in order to do this? I can only imagine that you would need to replenish the salt alot, but would anything else be necessary?

[waterbear]

Would it be possible to soften the water in the pool? Could one rig up a water softener to the pool and let it cycle for a period of time in order to do this? I can only imagine that you would need to replenish the salt alot, but would anything else be necessary?

It might not be desirable to soften the water in the pool. If you have a plaster pool you NEED the calcium hardness to protect the plaster. Also if you have grouted tilework or a heater you, once again, need some hardness in the water or the water will begin to leach out calcium and other metals from the pool, heat exchanger, etc. There is also some indication (but no conclusive data either way) that calium might be needed in a fiberglass pool to help prevent metal staining and damage to the gelcoat finish. Vinyl pools most likely do not need any calcium in them but the effects of totally soft water on the lines is, as far as I know, an unknown variable. Most fill water does have some calcium hardness to it. Water coming out of a softener might have none.

[csevel]

I LOVE the feel of the water. Less burning of the eyes. Hair easier to comb out. Slight salt taste...but I'm not into drinking pool water so I don't really care.

[hulla]

That is because adding salt to your pool DOES NOT soften the water. In a water softener salt is used to charge the ion exhange resin with sodium. When the water flows through it the resin exhanges the sodium for calcium and magnesium in the water. The resin is then recharged with sodium and the calcium and magnisium are washed out to waste so the process can start over. This is what softens the water. Just adding salt to water adds sodium in addtion to the calcium and magnesium already in the water. It has no softening effect whatsoever. The main advantage of adding salt to the pool is to raise the isoelectic point of the water closer to that of the human body. This makes the water less 'irritating".

Aha! So soft water doesn't have high salinity. It has low hardness (low calcium and magnesium). I guess now I finally realize why it is called soft water.

[GraceByDesign]

.................The main advantage of adding salt to the pool is to raise the isoelectic point of the water closer to that of the human body. This makes the water less 'irritating".

Same reason we add bath salts to the bath... while it does not actually soften the water, it makes the water feel good!

Grace

Avid reader of this forum
but alas, no pool... yet!