Salt water pool chemistry is the key aspect aspect of pool ownership that ensures your pool is safe for swimming and is properly balanced. There are several key components of balancing your water that you’ll need to become familiar with but the good news is that management of water chemistry tends to be easier with a salt water pool than with a regularly chlorinated pool.
Salt water pool chemistry involves balancing salt level, pH, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric Acid and Total hardness while keeping chlorine levels between 1 ppm and 3 ppm.
Your salt water chlorinator will help to manage the water chemistry and once you have it under control it tends to run fairly consistently except when events occur such as heavy rainfall or water loss through evaporation which requires you to add water. Once you put one chemical in your pool, it may throw another one out of whack so before you do so, check with your pool company for their advice.
Here are tables for the most critical aspects of salt water pool management for the most common pool sizes in gallons of water:
- Salt level
- pH level
- Total Alkalinity (TA) level
- Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) level
- Total hardness
Depending on whether your levels are low or high, you might need to make an adjustment and add something to the water to bring the level inline.
Salt required to achieve 3200 ppm
Below are popular pool sizes in gallons of water in the left hand column. In the columns left to right are current salt levels measured in parts per million (ppm) along with the amount of salt you typically need to add to your pool to get the salt to 3200 ppm which is considered ideal.
If you currently have a reading from 3100 ppm – 3400 ppm you don’t need to do anything. If your salt is 3500 ppm or over you’ll need to dilute the water to reduce salt content.
| Pool volume (gallons) | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level | Current salt level |
| 2400 ppm | 2500 ppm | 2600 ppm | 2700 ppm | 2800 ppm | 2900 ppm | 3000 ppm | 3100 ppm | |
| 10,000 | add 67 lbs | add 58 lbs | add 50 lbs | add 42 lbs | add 33 lbs | add 25 lbs | add 17 lbs | add 8 lbs |
| 12,000 | add 80 lbs | add 70 lbs | add 60 lbs | add 50 lbs | add 40 lbs | add 30 lbs | add 20 lbs | add 10 lbs |
| 16,000 | add 107 lbs | add 93 lbs | add 80 lbs | add 67 lbs | add 53 lbs | add 40 lbs | add 25 lbs | add 13 lbs |
| 18,000 | add 120 lbs | add 105 lbs | add 90 lbs | add 75 lbs | add 60 lbs | add 45 lbs | add 30 lbs | add 15 lbs |
| 20,000 | add 133 lbs | add 117 lbs | add 100 lbs | add 83 lbs | add 67 lbs | add 50 lbs | add 33 lbs | add 17 lbs |
| 22,000 | add 147 lbs | add 128 lbs | add 110 lbs | add 92 lbs | add 73 lbs | add 55 lbs | add 37 lbs | add 18 lbs |
| 24,000 | add 160 lbs | add 140 lbs | add 120 lbs | add 100 lbs | add 80 lbs | add 60 lbs | add 40 lbs | add 20 lbs |
| 26,000 | add 173 lbs | add 152 lbs | add 130 lbs | add 108 lbs | add 87 lbs | add 65 lbs | add 43 lbs | add 22 lbs |
| 28,000 | add 187 lbs | add 163 lbs | add 140 lbs | add 117 lbs | add 93 lbs | add 70 lbs | add 47 lbs | add 25 lbs |
| 30,000 | add 200 lbs | add 175 lbs | add 150 lbs | add 125 lbs | add 100 lbs | add 75 lbs | add 50 lbs | add 25 lbs |
pH level chart to achieve a range of 7.2 – 7.8
The proper pH for your pool is between 7.2 and 7.8. If the pH measures below 7.0 it can sting your eyes and when it’s over 8.0 it can irritate your skin. Adding sodium carbonate (soda) raises pH and adding muriatic acid lowers it.
Here is a chart showing what needs to be added to get the pH to 7.4.
| Pool volume (gallons) | Current pH (low) | Current pH (low) | Current pH (low) | Current pH (high) | Current pH (high) | Current pH (high) |
| 6.7 | 6.9 | 7.1 | 8.0 | 8.2 | 8.4 | |
| 10,000 | add 15 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 11 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 7 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 17 ounces of muriatic acid | add 23 ounces of muriatic acid | add 30 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 12,000 | add 18 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 13 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 9 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 20 ounces of muriatic acid | add 28 ounces of muriatic acid | add 36 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 16,000 | add 23 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 18 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 12 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 27 ounces of muriatic acid | add 37 ounces of muriatic acid | add 48 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 18,000 | add 26 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 20 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 13 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 30 ounces of muriatic acid | add 42 ounces of muriatic acid | add 54 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 20,000 | add 29 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 22 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 15 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 33 ounces of muriatic acid | add 47 ounces of muriatic acid | add 60 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 22,000 | add 32 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 24 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 16 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 37 ounces of muriatic acid | add 52 ounces of muriatic acid | add 66 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 24,000 | add 35 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 26 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 18 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 40 ounces of muriatic acid | add 56 ounces of muriatic acid | add 72 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 26,000 | add 38 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 28 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 19 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 43 ounces of muriatic acid | add 61 ounces of muriatic acid | add 78 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 28,000 | add 41 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 31 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 20 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 47 ounces of muriatic acid | add 66 ounces of muriatic acid | add 84 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 30,000 | add 44 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 33 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 22 ounces of sodium carbonate | add 50 ounces of muriatic acid | add 70 ounces of muriatic acid | add 90 ounces of muriatic acid |
Total Alkalinity (TA) chart to achieve a range of 80 ppm – 120 ppm
Total Alkalinity (TA) measures the alkalinity in the water. Improper levels can damage metal in the pool such as the ladder, burning eyes, cloudy water and lower chlorine efficiency among other problems.
You add sodium bicarbonate to increase alkalinity and add muriatic acid to lower it.
The ideal range is 80 ppm – 120 ppm so the table below shows what to do when it’s outside this range.
| Pool volume (gallons) | Current Total Alkalinity (low) | Current Total Alkalinity (low) | Current Total Alkalinity (low) | Current Total Alkalinity (high) | Current Total Alkalinity (high) | Current Total Alkalinity (high) |
| 50 ppm | 60 ppm | 70 ppm | 130 ppm | 140 ppm | 150 ppm | |
| 10,000 | add 7 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 6 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 4 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 78 ounces of muriatic acid | add 104 ounces of muriatic acid | add 130 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 12,000 | add 8 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 7 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 5 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 94 ounces of muriatic acid | add 125 ounces of muriatic acid | add 156 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 16,000 | add 11 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 9 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 6 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 125 ounces of muriatic acid | add 167 ounces of muriatic acid | add 208 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 18,000 | add 13 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 10 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 8 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 141 ounces of muriatic acid | add 188 ounces of muriatic acid | add 235 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 20,000 | add 14 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 11 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 8 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 156 ounces of muriatic acid | add 208 ounces of muriatic acid | add 261 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 22,000 | add 15 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 12 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 9 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 172 ounces of muriatic acid | add 229 ounces of muriatic acid | add 287 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 24,000 | add 17 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 13 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 10 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 188 ounces of muriatic acid | add 250 ounces of muriatic acid | add 313 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 26,000 | add 18 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 15 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 11 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 203 ounces of muriatic acid | add 271 ounces of muriatic acid | add 339 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 28,000 | add 20 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 16 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 12 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 219 ounces of muriatic acid | add 292 ounces of muriatic acid | add 365 ounces of muriatic acid |
| 30,000 | add 21 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 17 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 13 lbs of sodium bicarbonate | add 235 ounces of muriatic acid | add 313 ounces of muriatic acid | add 391 ounces of muriatic acid |
Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) chart to achieve a range of 60 ppm – 80 ppm
Stabilizer is added to the pool water and effectively acts like sunscreen for the chlorine which is damaged by the sun’s rays. Some crystal and puck chlorine has stabilizer included but salt water pools use salt to chlorinate so we need to add stabilizer manually.
The ideal stabilizer range for a salt water pool is 60 ppm – 80 ppm so the table below shows what to do when the level is lower than the range. If your level is higher, speak with your pool company for advice.
| Pool volume (gallons) | Current Cyanuric Acid | Current Cyanuric Acid | Current Cyanuric Acid | Current Cyanuric Acid |
| 20 ppm | 30 ppm | 40 ppm | 50 ppm | |
| 10,000 | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 1 lb of cyanuric acid |
| 12,000 | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 3 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 1 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 16,000 | add 5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 3 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 1.5 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 18,000 | add 6 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 5.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 3 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 1.5 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 20,000 | add 7 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 4.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 3.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 22,000 | add 7 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 6 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 24,000 | add 8 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 6 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 26,000 | add 9 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 6.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 4 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 28,000 | add 9 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 7 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 2.5 lbs of cyanuric acid |
| 30,000 | add 10 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 7.5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 5 lbs of cyanuric acid | add 3 lbs of cyanuric acid |
Total hardness table for salt water pools
Total Hardness measures the hardness of the water which is determined by the amount of minerals found in the pool. Many jurisdictions have particularly hard water and if you’re using your own tap water to fill your pool, your pool water may be very hard to begin with.
When minerals (calcium) are too high, scaling will occur in the pool just like you may see on faucets inside your home. When there are too few minerals in the water, it will become corrosive which is damaging to pool equipment.
Raising your water hardness involves adding calcium chloride to your pool. Lowering your water hardness is more difficult since there is no chemical that can do that effectively. Instead, you should take a water sample to your pool company to get measured and ask them what to do rather than trying to figure it out yourself.
Below is a table explaining what to do when water hardness is low.
The ideal Total Hardness range is 200 ppm – 400 ppm.
| Pool volume (gallons) | Current Total Hardness | Current Total Hardness | Current Total Hardness | Current Total Hardness |
| 180 ppm | 185 ppm | 190 ppm | 195 ppm | |
| 10,000 | add 14 lbs of calcium chloride | add 14 lbs of calcium chloride | add 13 lbs of calcium chloride | add 13 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 12,000 | add 17 lbs of calcium chloride | add 17 lbs of calcium chloride | add 16 lbs of calcium chloride | add 15 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 16,000 | add 23 lbs of calcium chloride | add 22 lbs of calcium chloride | add 21 lbs of calcium chloride | add 20 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 18,000 | add 26 lbs of calcium chloride | add 25 lbs of calcium chloride | add 24 lbs of calcium chloride | add 23 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 20,000 | add 29 lbs of calcium chloride | add 28 lbs of calcium chloride | add 26 lbs of calcium chloride | add 25 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 22,000 | add 32 lbs of calcium chloride | add 30 lbs of calcium chloride | add 29 lbs of calcium chloride | add 28 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 24,000 | add 35 lbs of calcium chloride | add 33 lbs of calcium chloride | add 32 lbs of calcium chloride | add 30 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 26,000 | add 37 lbs of calcium chloride | add 36 lbs of calcium chloride | add 34 lbs of calcium chloride | add 35 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 28,000 | add 40 lbs of calcium chloride | add 39 lbs of calcium chloride | add 37 lbs of calcium chloride | add 35 lbs of calcium chloride |
| 30,000 | add 43 lbs of calcium chloride | add 41 lbs of calcium chloride | add 40 lbs of calcium chloride | add 38 lbs of calcium chloride |
