Can you tell me how to treat my salt water pool? We just moved…

Hi, I see that your question has been around for a longer time than it should have been without an answer and the Moderators have released the lock from only experts in the Pool & Spa cat. I will therefore, try to assist you.

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I could type for hours and not cover this subject as well as if I simply steered you to some great publications on the subject. I am therefore, going to include herein, several links to publications that will help you understand the basics of salt water pool care and salt generation and then throw in some tips of my own.

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A basic overview & Introduction to Saltwater pools from the world directory:

Many homeowners love how easy saltwater pools are to take care of. For those that want to spend more time in the water and less time caring for it this is a great option. Of course it does cost more to get this type of swimming pool installed. However, it will pay off over the course of time.

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For example you won't need to pay for chlorine tablets to clean your swimming pool water. This can add up to quite a savings each month. The amount you will save will depend on the size of your swimming pool as well as the quality of the products you use on it. You may be skeptical of the pool without the chlorine but the fact is that it is made from the salt in the water. You definitely need to test your saltwater swimming pool though on a regular basis. If the system isn't regulated properly you can end up with too much or too little chlorine being produced. As a result some of the equipment could end up ruined. You don't want to be replacing things on your swimming pool for it to function properly all the time. The level of salt in the swimming pool should be from 2,500 to 3,000 parts per million.

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Many homeowners find this to be a worthwhile trade off though. In addition to the monetary savings on chemicals, they also don't have to handle them. They don't have to worry about getting the right amount of each one added or getting them on their skin and in their eyes. They also save time because they aren't mixing up these chemicals. For those with children and pets around it is also a relief not having to worry about them getting into such products as well. This isn't to say though that you won't ever need to add chlorine to your saltwater swimming pool already. Many individuals that live in areas where they get heavy rains need to add it. If the swimming pool is used all the time with many people in it then you may find you do need to add some as well. It is wise to not do so without consulting an expert first though. You don't want to throw everything off balance by adding chlorine when you don't need to. You also want to make sure you are adding the right amount of it.

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You do want your saltwater swimming pool to look inviting and refreshing all the time. Some of them that have been in place for years have discoloration to the bottoms of them. They can get a yellowish or brownish tint to them. This is the result of the salt settling on the bottom of the swimming pool. There are some effective chemicals you can add to your water on a regular basis to prevent this from occurring. Once the stains are in place they are almost impossible to remove so this needs
to be done as a preventative measure. Sometimes the salt can result in areas of your swimming pool such as the stairs and railings to rust. You want to protect them from doing so though as it will make your swimming pool appear dingy. There are plenty of preventative treatments you can use for this. Newer saltwater swimming pools are also made from materials that aren't very likely to rust.

To help save water you can put your backwash to good use. It won't harm your grass or your plants so use it to water them. Taking care of a saltwater swimming pool is different but it also seems to be easier. Take the time to learn more about the benefits as well as the disadvantages so you know
exactly what you are getting yourself involved with should you commit to buying one.

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Step by step instructions:

• Step 1 - Clean the pool filter from last season, if applicable, by soaking it overnight in a cleaner made especially for pool filters.
• Step 2 - Fill your pool with new, fresh water. If your pool is brand-new, check with the plasterer as to how many days you need to wait before you can add salt to the pool water. Most suggest 30 days, while some may require up to 60 days.
• Step 3 - Calculate your pool volume. Reference the owner's manual you received with the salt system as to how much salt per liter or parts per million you will need to add to your pool.
• Step 4 - Turn off the salt-generated system. Turn on the pool filter.
• Step 5 - Add salt to the pool per the manufacturer's specifications. Pour the salt into the deep end of the pool. If possible, divert the flow to the main drain.
• Step 6 - Brush the pool with a nylon or plastic wall brush until the salt is dissolved. Eliminate any leftover bits of debris by adding a clarifier.
• Step 7 - Wait a full day by allowing the system to run its first 24-hour cycle. Make sure you get an accurate salinity reading according to your owner's manual. (Typically, 32 parts per million will be enough salt to run your generator.)

• Perform Weekly Maintenance

  Step 1 - Empty out the skimmer basket and sweep the pool.
• Step 2 - Maintain your total alkalinity by testing it at least once a week. Add muriatic acid when needed so that the total alkalinity range is between 80 and 100.
• Step 3 - Test the pH. Maintain pH levels between 7.2 and 7.8. Adjust levels up or down as necessary.
• Step 4 - Check the sanitizer level. Sanitizer should read between one to three parts per million. Maintain accordingly.
• Step 5 - Towel off the water line and any pool debris

Helpful tips for taking care of a salt water pool:

One of the primary additives used in a chlorine filtration system is cyanuric acid. Cyanuric acid is necessary to prevent the active component in chlorine from being destroyed by the sun. Unfortunately in high doses this additive is known to have toxic side effects to humans. These range from reproductive toxicity, developmental toxicity, neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity.

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Monitor Salt Level

The first key to success with a salt water swimming pool is to always maintain the minimum salt level required for your automatic chlorine generator. If the salt level is not properly maintained, no chlorine will be produced which will lead to pool water problems quickly. Check salt levels regularly. In these, it is important to understand what your salt levels should be and how you can remedy it if there is a problem. Most companies recommend that salt concentration should be at 2,500 to 3,000 parts per million. This is where the chlorination comes from, so if you levels dip too low, the pool water will be unhealthy.

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Never use more chlorine as needed. Occasionally, you may have to add a bit of granular chlorine to the pool. This is only necessary in your daily salt water pool care routine if you have excessive rain or a large number of swimmers. Under normal circumstances, you shouldn't use chlorine at all.
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Maintain Proper pH

The pH with salt water pools is consistently higher than that of pools using conventional chlorine. Test the pH once or twice a week and add muriatic acid as needed in order to keep the pH between 7.4 and 7.8.
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Don't Skimp on Filtration Time

Remember that chlorine is only being added to a salt pool when the filter is running. One of the biggest mistakes made with salt water swimming pools is trying to save money by reducing the filter run time. Reduced filtration time means reduced chlorine and if enough chlorine is not being added to the swimming pool, frequent algae problems will persist.
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Maintain Stabilizer Level

Cyanuric Acid, otherwise known as stabilizer or conditioner, is necessary in order to protect the chlorine from the sun. Without stabilizer, it will be difficult to maintain the proper level of chlorine to sanitize the pool. Test for cyanuric acid levels every few months to make sure a cyanuric acid level of 20 - 60 ppm.
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Clean the Salt Cell

It is very important to keep the salt chlorinator cell clean. Check the cell regularly and if there is visible calcium build up on the cell plates, clean the cell as recommended by the owner's manual of the salt chlorinator. If the cell is not kept clean, the salt chlorinator will stop producing the necessary level of chlorine.
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Read salt instructions carefully. These products are all meant to be used a bit differently. In a normal one, you have to use salt regularly. Most manufacturers recommend that you dump this salt directly into the deep end of the pool. However, this is not how every product is used. Read the back label of the salt water pool care product before just dumping it into the pool.

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Use products to remove salt from the bottom of the pool. As the salt settles to the bottom, it can create a brownish or yellowish look to your pool. Commercial pool care products can be used to remove these stains.
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5. Seal your pool steps to prevent rusting. The salt in the water can cause rusting, especially in pools that are converted from typical water to salt. First, use commercial care product to remove the rust. Then, you can use protective and restorative products to seal off the steps so that this doesn't happen year after year. This salt water pool care tip is best done at the end of the swimming season, when you can partially drain your pool in order to apply the sealant.

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Understand that Salt Swimming Pools are NOT Maintenance Free.

Salt water pool systems are often sold as "maintenance free" leading pool owners to believe that the only thing necessary to maintain their pool is to keep the salt level in check. This couldn't be further from the truth. The pool water chemistry still needs to be tested weekly in order to keep the pH, alkalinity, stabilizer level, and salt levels in check. Without routine and proper maintenance, a salt water pool like any other pool will quickly turn into a maintenance nightmare.
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Care is extremely important if you want to ensure that your pool continues to run optimally. While there is tons of information regarding typical pool care, it can sometimes be a bit more difficult to learn about pool care. Many of the products available for pool care are not made for a salt water pool. Before using products and certain care methods on your pool, make sure you take some time to learn proper care tips like those listed above.
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External Links:

Pinch-A-Penny Salt Pool page:

http://www.pinchapenny.com/pool-care-guide/8-salt-pools.cfm

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Water Quality Fact Sheet: (This covers the very basics in case it might be helpful to you) http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/PDF-files/ph-factsheet-swimming-pools.pdf

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Wikipedia on Saltwater Chlorination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_water_chlorination

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Here is a great brochure about starting and ending the season and interim maintenance by GLB.

http://www.glbpoolspa.com/data/Brands/2/Collateral/GLB_Saltwater.pdf

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