Canadian looking for salt

[justawildchild]

Anyone know where I can get the salt (cheap) to start up my SWG.
Pool stores want $32 per 80lbs bag. I apparently need about 350lbs. Is that a reasonable amout to pay?

Thanks

[waterbear]

All you need is plain solar salt that is used in water softeners. It is 99.5% pure. You can also use the pellets but they take much longer to dissolve. It's usally 99.8% pure. Just make sure it has no additives for iron removal or anything added to clean the softener. It should be much less expensive than pool salt, which is usually just solar salt that is gound up finer.

[salinda]

I would just add that in the US, this is the salt you see in large bags up near the register in any grocery store. It is also sold at hardware stores.

[Spensar]

I haven't seen the term "solar salt" in Ontario. Isn't this the same salt that water softeners use? If so, any hardware store, CTC or big grocery store should have it.

This is listed on the Canadian Tire at $6 for 20 kilos (44 pounds).

Sifto Crystal Water Softener Salt

• Improved resin clean formula
• Inhibits rust build-up and stains
• Pure 99.8% evaporated salt
• High purity brine reduces maintenance

The purity looks right but I wonder abouth the "resin clean" formula? Do the chemical savvy here have any ideas if that is a no-no additive or just marketing hype?

[giroup01]

Anyone know where I can get the salt (cheap) to start up my SWG.
Pool stores want $32 per 80lbs bag. I apparently need about 350lbs. Is that a reasonable amout to pay?

Thanks

Rona, Reno-Depot, Home Depot.
About $4.00 CDN for 20 kg of water softener salt.

[justawildchild]

Rona, Reno-Depot, Home Depot.
About $4.00 CDN for 20 kg of water softener salt.

Doesn't water softener salt come in crystal form? How long would it take to disolve? Does it come finer?

[Spensar]

Saw it at today at Home Dopet for $4.70 per 20 kilo, Costco for $4.45.

[giroup01]

Doesn't water softener salt come in crystal form? How long would it take to disolve? Does it come finer?

The salt I used was in pellet form, about an inch long. Threw the stuff in the pool, about 6 bags, jumped in the pool and stirred things up. Took about, maybe half an hour to dissolve.

That was last year, I don't have an SWG I just wanted to see if I liked the feel of salt water.

[waterbear]

Pool salt will dissove a bit faster than solar salt since the crystal size is smaller. Pellets dissovle slower but they all dissove farily fast so it's really a moot point.

[Spensar]

Waterbear, any idea wether "Improved resin clean formula" is an additive that should be avoided? One brand has that but the salt is 99.8% evaporated salt?