Quote Originally Posted by sevver
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.