Oceanwater pool?

[2airishuman]

Around here, the water conditioning places will deliver salt in 50 pound bags for $6 each.

 

[lowviz]

...//... Pool salt is what you want. Typically $5 for a 40 lbs. bag.

OK, that brings it into the realm of possibility. Thanks.

...//... You'll need a refractometer and calibration solution to ensure you get 35 ppm.

I'll do it on the stove as total solids. Big pyrex beaker and an accurate balance.

 

[CuzzA]

OK, that brings it into the realm of possibility. Thanks.

I'll do it on the stove as total solids. Big pyrex beaker and an accurate balance.

In the aquarium and brewing world we use $20 refractometers. Look up some videos. It's as simple as putting a drop of liquid on the device and looking through the lens... no stove needed.

 

[Steve_C]

One of my brothers lives on a hill top in Montana. He has had a small outdoor fish pond (like large bath tube size) that he has kept the same 12 goldfish in for 10 years. During the winter he just drops in a stock tank heater which keeps it from freezing solid. Once a year he drains the pond with a shop vac scooping up the gold fish as they appear in the several inches of mud on the bottom. Tosses them in a bucket of clean well water. One the pond is cleaned out he fills with fresh water from his cistern. Tosses fish back in. Forget things like temperature changes, ph changes, etc. He has lost only 2 fish in 10 years. Maybe a stock heater is a simpler solution. Used out west to keep stock tanks from freezing so cattle can drink during the winter.

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Sto...=1508161627&sr=8-1&keywords=stock+tank+heater

 

[lowviz]

A stock tank heater is indeed a simpler solution and far less expensive. I still really want to try an oceanwater pool, but the 3/4 ton of salt needed is daunting. My pool store won't move off $9.90USD per bag. ~40 bags needed. $400 for salt, wow. I'm looking for a cheaper salt supplier so I can compare real costs. I probably need a 1,000-watt stock tank heater and need to figure what it would cost to run during the colder days.

Thanks for that link, was unaware of stock tank heaters.

 

[CuzzA]

$6.28/ 40lbs bag. Probably will deliver for free.

Diamond Crystal 40 lb. Pool Salt-110002702 - The Home Depot

 

[lowviz]

So 40 bags (each weighing 40 pounds) would be roughly $250.

According to the net, I'm paying about $0.136 per KWH on my electric bill. So I'd pay $250 in about 1,800 hours of heater time. That is 75 days. Probably wouldn't need to keep the heater on full time through the winter so it looks like a two year break-even.

Stock heater is much more convenient but going seawater is more interesting...

 

[RainPilot]

Just remember that seawater is not just NaCl dissolved. There will be a huge difference between salty water at 35ppt and seawater. Not sure it will have any impact on what you want to do but worth remembering.

 

[ps444mike]

check with water softeners dealers.. I know they can delivery salt brine for water softeners maybe if you just add more water you can get the correct ppm

 

[lowviz]

Just remember that seawater is not just NaCl dissolved.

To your point, I'm not trying to make an aquarium, but the thought of the occasional clam and mussel depuration for personal use isn't lost on me. For those interested in such endeavors:

http://www.app.com/videos/news/local/monmouth-county-bayshore/highlands/2016/02/05/79843862/

http://www.state.nj.us/health/ceohs/documents/food-drug-safety/ch13 -nj_shellfish_rule.pdf

But cleansing shellfish is not anywhere near my main intent. "Train as you dive". Cold seawater. -along with a pool that won't freeze easily. Maybe salt AND a stock tank heater for the really cold stretches is the answer. (for me)

Winter is coming...