What is up with my Salt readings??

[truckprank]

HI y'all! My salt readings via Taylor drop kit have been very wacky past two months or so.

02/26/2025, Salt reading is at 2800 - a little low but no biggie, coming off the off-season
02/28/2025, I added one 40lb bag of salt to pool to bump it up and get ready for warmer weather (it's a small pool, 7000 gallons or so)
03/02/2025, Salt reading is at 3400 - about what I expect after adding a bag of salt, all good so far
04/01/2025, Salt reading is at 4600 - without having added any more salt!! wtf?
04/04/2025, Salt reading is at 4600 - same as last reading
04/09/2025, Salt reading is at 3800 - OK cool I guess
04/15/2025, went to pool store to test water just as a control although I don't log those numbers in my PoolMath. Salt reading from pool store is 4000 - ok whatever
04/18/2025, Salt reading is at 5600 - seriously, WTF??

How is my SALT reading increasing and so high without me having added salt?????

Additionally, my SWG doesn't seem to be keeping up with FC production. I will be taking it apart to clean and look for scale very soon, but a dirty SWG shouldn't affect salt readings, right?

Other new items: I've been using about 6oz of The Purple Stuff for iron staining weekly, along with the Culator Egg 4.0 in pump basket. This is after doing the ascorbic acid treatment months and months ago for iron staining, and having brought FC back up very slowly. That process was all said and done probably 2 months ago.

Here are my full readings as of 60 minutes ago and see my profile for full historical PoolMath readings and notes if you're so inclined.

FC: 0.5
CC: 0.0
pH: 7.5
TA: 60
CH: 210
CYA: 30
SALT: 5600 (!!!!!?????)
TEMP: 89

Thanks!! -Dave

 

[PoolStored]

How old are your reagents?...I had the same thing happened, and even though my reagents hadn't "expired," I replaced them and my results were as expected.
Are you using a speedstir. If not, get one. (you didn't swirl enough to ensure the reaction)
Where do you store your reagents?

 

[truckprank]

Bought all new reagents one month ago from TfTestKits during the March sale as I do every year. All are brand new!
Yes - using the magnetic stir device and I go real slow when it gets close
I store my agents in the blue case from TfTestKits on my garage workbench

 

[PoolStored]

I store my agents in the blue case from TfTestKits on my garage workbench

Store it a cool dry dark location.

Try the test again.
Before you start, wipe both tips with a wet paper towel.
Hold the vial vertical.
SLOOOOWLY squeeze a drop, let it fall under its own weight.
Pause for 2 seconds, allow the mixture to swirl.
Then SLOOWLY squeeze a drop, let it fall under its own weight.
You get the idea. Go a bit slower and let the drop fall, and allow the reaction.

Try that.

 

[truckprank]

Thank you sir. I did the process just now exactly how you described. SALT tested at 4000. Better than the other day for sure but still baffling how it's so high. I'll keep testing in the next few days and report back.

Quick edit: I also took apart my SWG and cleaned, did a mild acid wash which brought the plates back to perfectly clean. Also took apart my filter assembly and cleaned the cartridges and put all back together (what a pain in the rear!!). Running like a champ afterward.

Somewhat unrelated question: When doing drop tests, should I be looking for the first change in color or the final? Meaning - often, TA and CH tests with my magnetic stirrer, I'll see the color change to end result. But if I let it sit for a while longer - let's say for 30-60 seconds - it'll go back to the previous color. Usually at that point, one (but sometimes two) more drop(s) gets it to final.

 

[PoolStored]

did a mild acid wash

Please don't do this, it shortens the life of the cell.
See cleaning section here:

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Drop test. Continue drops until the color does not change, subtract the last drop. Ignore anything after that point. Don't let it sit.

 

[truckprank]

Please don't do this, it shortens the life of the cell.
See cleaning section here:

SWG How It Works - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Wow, thank you for the light reading material there, lol. I just got through that article and I must admit, a lot or most is over my head. I won't do the acid wash ever again, but in my defense - I did read my manual for my Pentair iChlor15 and followed those instructions almost exactly which calls for acid wash (almost exactly - meaning I used a slightly less muriatic acid proportion to what they called for which was 1 to 5; I did about 0.85 to 5) and soaked for 30 minutes)).

Drop test. Continue drops until the color does not change, subtract the last drop. Ignore anything after that point. Don't let it sit.

Thank you for the tip on subtracting the last drop in the drop test for some of those tests! This is huge for me and makes a lot of sense.

I will report back on the salt testing going forward.

Thank you @PoolStored !

 

[PoolStored]

I did read my manual for my Pentair iChlor15 and followed those instructions almost exactly which calls for acid wash (almost exactly - meaning I used a slightly less muriatic acid proportion to what they called for which was 1 to 5; I did about 0.85 to 5) and soaked for 30 minutes)).

It is totally self serving. So, let's see; Manual says do acid wash regularly, not disclosing the degradation of the cell as a result of the acid wash. Given the degradation of the cell, you need to replace your cell more often. #PoolStored, #CellStored, whatever you want to call it it is fleecing the consumer. Welcome to #TeamPoolStored. Take the red pill.