Salt for 5,000 gallons
| Salt level | Pounds | 40 lb bags | Kilograms |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 → 3,200 ppm | 134 lb | 3.4 | 61 kg |
| 2,000 → 3,200 ppm | 50 lb | 1.3 | 23 kg |
| 2,500 → 3,200 ppm | 29 lb | 0.7 | 13 kg |
| 2,800 → 3,200 ppm | 17 lb | 0.4 | 7.6 kg |
| 3,000 → 3,200 ppm | 8.4 lb | 0.2 | 3.8 kg |
How much salt for a 5,000 gallon pool
A 5,000 gallon pool needs 134 lb (61 kg) of pool salt to go from fresh water to 3,200 ppm, about 3.4 bags of 40 lb. Each 1,000 ppm takes 42 lb. Check your salt cell’s manual: most want 2,700 to 3,400 ppm.
Run it with your numbers
Add
134lb
of Pool salt (sodium chloride 99%)
2,149 oz61 kg
Raises salt from 0 ppm to 3,200 ppm in 5,000 gal. That is about 3.4 bags of 40 lb.
- Brush the salt around until it dissolves, and keep the salt cell off for 24 hours.
- If you are unsure of your volume, add about 80% first, circulate for 24 hours and retest.
Check the product label. Strengths vary by brand, so enter the % printed on yours. Add one chemical at a time, into the water, and never mix chemicals.
Save this test and get reminded when it is time to retest.
Pool Calc for iPhoneComing soon to the App StoreAbout salt
Use plain pool salt, at least 99% sodium chloride, with no anti-caking agents or iodine. Pour it in the shallow end, brush it around until it dissolves, and keep the salt cell off for 24 hours so undissolved salt doesn’t reach it.
Too much salt only comes down by replacing water, so add about 80% first if you are unsure of your volume, wait a day and retest with a salt test or your cell’s reading.
Dosing a 5,000 gallon pool
That is about the size of a 15 ft round × 52 in above-ground pool (about 5,070 gal), or a 16 ft round × 48 in above-ground pool (about 5,260 gal). At 5,000 gallons, most doses are measured in fluid ounces or ounces rather than gallons or pounds. Above-ground pools of this size usually have vinyl liners, so keep calcium hardness modest and add everything in front of a return jet, away from the liner wall.
Questions
How much salt do I need for a 5,000 gallon pool?
From fresh water to 3,200 ppm: 134 lb, about 3.4 bags of 40 lb.
How long until I can turn the salt cell on?
Brush the salt until it dissolves and wait about 24 hours with the pump running before turning the cell back on.
Can I swim after adding salt?
Yes, once it has dissolved. Salt at pool levels is far below sea water.