An estimate using salt at 8.34 lb per gallon of water. Add over the deep end with the pump running, and retest after it fully dissolves and circulates (about 24 hours).
You need
75.1lbs of salt
About 1.9 forty-pound bags to go from 2,600 to 3,200 ppm.
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To raise salt, the pounds to add equal your pool's gallons times the ppm increase you need times 8.34, divided by one million. Most salt chlorine systems run best around 3,200 ppm. If your salt is already above target, you lower it by draining and refilling with fresh water, not by adding a chemical.
How it works
Using the pool salt calculator
What salt level you are aiming for
Most salt chlorine generators run best between 2,700 and 3,400 ppm, and 3,200 ppm is a common target. Check your generator's manual, because the right number is set by the equipment, not the pool. Running low makes weak chlorine; running high can trigger a high-salt warning and corrode metal.
How the dose is calculated
Pounds of salt equals gallons times the ppm increase times 8.34, divided by one million. The 8.34 is the weight of a gallon of water in pounds. So a 15,000-gallon pool that needs to come up 600 ppm takes about 75 pounds of salt. Add it over the deep end with the pump running.
When salt is too high
You cannot remove salt with a chemical. The only fix is to drain part of the pool and refill with fresh water, which dilutes the salt. Drain a portion, refill, retest, and repeat if needed. This is the one case where the calculator points you to dilution instead of an addition.
FAQ
Common questions
How much salt do I add to my pool?
Pounds of salt to add equal your gallons times the ppm increase you need times 8.34, divided by one million. For example, raising a 15,000-gallon pool by 600 ppm takes about 75 pounds. Add salt with the pump running and retest after it has fully dissolved and circulated.
What is the ideal salt level for a saltwater pool?
Most salt chlorine generators target around 3,200 ppm, within a working range of about 2,700 to 3,400 ppm. The exact number depends on your generator, so check its manual. Too little salt produces weak chlorine output; too much can corrode metal fittings and trip a high-salt alarm.
How do I lower the salt level in my pool?
Drain part of the water and refill with fresh water. There is no chemical that removes salt, so dilution is the only method. Drain a portion, top off with fresh water, let it circulate, then retest. Repeat in stages until you reach your target rather than draining a large amount at once.
How long after adding salt can you swim?
You can usually swim once the salt has fully dissolved and circulated, which takes about 24 hours with the pump running. Brush any salt that settles on the floor to help it dissolve and avoid staining. Salt itself is gentle, but waiting lets the level even out before you retest.
