Dirty Morton Pool Salt

[Loren42]

I just dumped 7 bags ofMorton's Professional Pool Salt from Home Depot into my pool and was surprised to see black dirt (or something) on the floor of my pool. Is this normal?

Is there better salt I should have used?

 

[ajw22]

That is disappointing. I have used Mortons Pool Salt in the past without any problems. Diamond Crystal is also good. Stay away from Clorox Pool Salt.

Lately I have been using Aquasalt from a local pool store...

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Most pool salts are labeled “high purity” but in reality are never more than 99.5% pure without some seriously expensive processing. At 99.5% pure, 240 lbs of added salt will have 1.4lbs of impurities in it - sand, silt, pebbles, insoluble debris, etc. So your black dirt is not at all surprising.

 

[Mdragger88]

I had the same experience this year w/ the Morton’s professional- it’s been disappointing because it’s easily available on grocery pickup for me & it dissolves very quickly. Not had any issues in the past with the aqua salt or the diamond crystal but they are not as easy to aquire
But Definitely steer clear of the clorox salt

 

[johnnydot]

I just dumped 7 bags ofMorton's Professional Pool Salt from Home Depot into my pool and was surprised to see black dirt (or something) on the floor of my pool. Is this normal?

Is there better salt I should have used?

I had used Morton Salt a few years back and had a ton of debris in the pool after it dissolved. I called Morton and complained. They told me that the salt comes from various sources and asked me for the lot number on the bag. They then sent me vouchers for 8 free bags.

 

[hwy17]

Well that was not a fun way to start my salt pool conversion. Luckily I only bought one bag.

Dirty morton pool salt here too.

 

[JamesW]

This is my pool guy adding salt to my pool.

He's expensive, but it's always good salt.

 

[hwy17]

Looks like he grabs from my other bag of Diamond solar pool salt.

I guess when I think about it, what really bugs me about seeing the dirty salt go in is the idea it gives me that there are also soluble impurities in it. But soluble impurities would carry themselves through the solar process too. Still sticking with solar salt anyway from now on.

 

[Mdragger88]

I was able to get the diamond crystal stuff that I like this year. Ran the bot the next morning- empty basket

 

[Davegnh]

Crud I ordered Morton salt this year..

Morton® Pure and Natural - Morton Salt

Hopefully these come from a different source as they are for portable water. Opening the pool this weekend so crossing my fingers. Amazingly I could order these from Walmart for 7 bucks and change with free shipping.....

 

[Newdude]

I used fancy pool store salt for the first time last year and it was just as filthy.

I will add mine before the spring cleaning.

 

[Davegnh]

Thinking about it most salt is a natural product no matter who the supplier is I would assume there's always some variability in the purity. I probably have more dust and dirt leaves grassb and other unmentionables get into the pool that this probably is not too much to worry about.

 

[Saturn94]

I tried Morton salt but it had a bunch of pebbles and debris. I also tried Aquasalt, but it released a lot of grey scum and no one could tell me what “natural stain fighters” are added to the salt (I don’t like adding mystery chemicals to our pool).

This was my favorite salt; very clean, fine grained so dissolved fast, and reasonably priced. It was sold by a local pool store, but unfortunately they went out of business (owner retired) a few years ago and I can’t find it anywhere else.


The past few years I’ve used Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals water softener salt. It’s reasonably clean with no additives and easy to find locally.

 

[hwy17]

I saw at costco today food salt is only $6/25lbs. That's cheaper than Diamond solar pool salt at $13/40lb and might be what I switch to from now on.

 

[Mdragger88]

I saw at costco today food salt is only $6/25lbs. That's cheaper than Diamond solar pool salt at $13/40lb and might be what I switch to from now on.

Food salt for human consumption often has things in it to keep it free flowing that you don’t want in your pool, you also don’t want iodized salt or rock salt.

Salt - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[magiteck]

Added 160lbs of diamond crystal solar salt (the water softener kind, not the labeled pool kind). Dissolved quickly, nothing visible left behind.

It’s cheaper and hasn’t let me down yet.

 

[Mdragger88]

Where I live (in the mid south) we are on the memphis aquifer- there’s not alot of people with water softeners so softener salt isn’t as readily available or as cheap as pool salt so I have never had the opportunity to try any.
I would imagine for the op in Florida that pool salt is also much more readily available. I think florida is like 90% pools lol

 

[bbillingsley1985]

As magiteck was saying, last year when I added salt for the first time someone on this board recommended the same diamond crystal solar naturals for water softeners and it has worked perfectly. Seems clean, dissolves easy, and pretty cheap. It's usually between $5-6 per bag and at least in my area it's easy to get at home depot. Specifically for me, I only needed about 4-5 bags but they have a bulk deal where if you buy 6 or more its $5.28 per bag vs $5.87. You'll end up using it eventually so you may buy at least 6 to get that discount if its in your area as well. I used it this season when I opened a few days ago and it's worked great.

Here's a home depot link so you can check prices/stock in your area: ( Diamond Crystal Solar Naturals Water Softener Salt Crystals 100012454 - The Home Depot ). Note they have one from the same brand that say "splash ready" for pools and it's $2 more. I don't see how its worth another 40% or so in cost.

 

[Newdude]

Note they have one from the same brand that say "splash ready" for pools and it's $2 more. I don't see how its worth another 40% or so in cost.

In the spring, I have time to shop around. Mid season, if I only need one bag, the one already in front of me is worth the $2 to save a side mission to Walmart (etc).

 

[JoyfulNoise]

On the plus side of living in an arid, hot desert that makes Hades look like chilly mountain resort - I never have to add salt to my pool. The salinity stays pegged at whatever value I set it.

But it’s a dry heat …