Below your range: add salt
If you read below the low edge of your brand’s row, add salt. For the pounds and 40-lb bags for your gallons, see how much salt to add to a pool.
Salt Water Pool Salt Level Chart
Ideal salinity, range and warning lights for the salt cell you own.
Every salt cell has its own low-salt line. On a Pentair IntelliChlor, the salt light turns red below 2,800 ppm and the cell switches off below 2,600 ppm. A Jandy AquaPure shuts its cell off below 2,000 ppm, and Jandy warns that low salt causes premature cell failure.
Pick your salt system below to see the target and range its manual sets, next to the 3,200 ppm ideal that pool guides give (2,700 to 3,400 ppm). Under the target you’ll see that brand’s warning lights and thresholds, with the ppm behind each one.
Pentair IntelliChlor · IntelliChlor IC15–IC60
Pentair IntelliChlor targets 3,600 or 3,400 ppm and its green-light band runs from 2,800 to 4,500 ppm.
- target ppm, English section
- 3,600
- target ppm, Spanish section
- 3,400
- green-light band, ppm
- 2,800–4,500
The Pentair IntelliChlor Installation and User's Guide, P/N 520589 Rev. R (2023) states 3,600 ppm in the English water-chemistry section and salt table, and 3,400 ppm in the table of contents and the Spanish section. Both languages share the low- and high-salt thresholds, so a reading from 2,800 to 4,500 ppm keeps the cell in its green band either way.
Pentair IntelliChlor salt level lights
- Green2,800–4,500 ppmGood salt. The cell produces chlorine.
- Green, flashingabove 4,500 ppmHigh salt. Corrosion and deterioration risk to equipment and surfaces.
- Redbelow 2,800 ppmLow salt. The cell produces chlorine at reduced efficiency.
- Red (very low)below 2,600 ppmThe cell is off. It produces no chlorine until salt is added.
SourcePentair IntelliChlor Installation and User's Guide, P/N 520589 Rev. R (2023)
Jandy AquaPure · AquaPure / PureLink
Jandy AquaPure targets 3,000 ppm and its range runs from 3,000 to 3,500 ppm.
- target ppm
- 3,000
- range, ppm
- 3,000–3,500
Jandy AquaPure recommended level and thresholds
- Recommended3,000–3,500 ppmThe salt level the Jandy manual recommends.
- Cell offbelow 2,000 ppmLow salt: the system turns the cell off (service code 144), and low salt causes premature cell failure.
- Power centerabove 4,000 ppmThe power center may be damaged (service code 145).
- Fixturesabove 6,000 ppmPool fixtures may corrode.
SourceJandy AquaPure Installation and Operation Manual, §4.7
Hayward AquaRite · AquaRite (TurboCell) / AquaRite S3
Hayward AquaRite targets 3,200 ppm and its range runs from 2,700 to 3,400 ppm.
- target ppm
- 3,200
- range, ppm
- 2,700–3,400
Hayward AquaRite salt level lights, classic AquaRite (TurboCell)
- Salt light, flashing2,400–2,700 ppmLow salt. The cell reports salt below the range; add salt.
- Salt light, solid2,300 ppm or lessChlorination is suspended until salt is added.
- High Salt light, solidset by cell amperage, not a ppmMaximum cell amperage reached: the control shuts down all chlorine production. Test with a calibrated meter and check the programmed cell type.
SourceHayward AquaRite Troubleshooting Guide TSG-AQR159d (2017) and AquaRite S3 Owner's Manual 092769 Rev D
CircuPool · RJ / Universal / CORE
CircuPool targets 3,500 ppm and its range runs from 3,000 to 4,000 ppm.
- target ppm
- 3,500
- range, ppm
- 3,000–4,000
CircuPool low and high salt
- Low saltbelow 3,000 ppmBelow the low edge of the CircuPool published range (manual excerpt).
- High saltabove 4,000 ppmAbove the high edge of the CircuPool published range (manual excerpt).
Published rangeCircuPool Universal / CORE manual · published range (manual excerpt)
Intex Krystal Clear · CS8110 / CS8220 / CS15110 / CS20110 · ECO5110 / ECO6110
Intex Krystal Clear targets 3,000 ppm and its range runs from 2,500 to 3,500 ppm.
- target ppm
- 3,000
- range, ppm
- 2,500–3,500
Intex Krystal Clear low and high salt
- Low saltbelow 2,500 ppmBelow the low edge of the Intex saltwater system specification sheet (intexcorp.com) and the Intex Saltwater System with E.C.O. owner's manual, ECO5110/6110 (an Intex manual hosted by a retailer).
- High saltabove 3,500 ppmAbove the high edge of the Intex saltwater system specification sheet (intexcorp.com) and the Intex Saltwater System with E.C.O. owner's manual, ECO5110/6110 (an Intex manual hosted by a retailer).
SourceIntex saltwater system specification sheet (intexcorp.com) and the Intex Saltwater System with E.C.O. owner's manual, ECO5110/6110 (an Intex manual hosted by a retailer)
Your reading
What should the salt level be in a pool?
Your salt level should sit inside the range your salt system’s manual sets. Pool guides most often give 3,200 ppm as the ideal, within 2,700 to 3,400 ppm. The manuals set targets from 3,000 ppm (Jandy) to 3,600 or 3,400 ppm (Pentair), and each cell’s lights follow its own manual.
Above your range: drain and refill
No chemical takes salt out. The manuals we reviewed lower it by replacing part of the water. For the gallons and inches to drain, see how to lower pool salt.
Panel and test disagree: test again
Pentair rates its IntelliChlor sensor at ±500 ppm. Confirm a panel number with a strip, drop kit or meter first; see how to test pool salt level.
By brand and model
Pool salinity chart by salt system
This chart gives each manual’s own target, from 3,000 ppm for the Jandy AquaPure to 3,600 or 3,400 ppm for the Pentair IntelliChlor. The table lists all 5 salt systems with target, range and source document. The CircuPool rows show a published range (manual excerpt).
A salt system, also called a salt chlorine generator or saltwater chlorinator, turns dissolved salt into chlorine inside its salt cell.
| Brand | Model family | Target ppm | Range ppm | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pentair | IntelliChlor IC15–IC60 | 3,600 or 3,400 | 2,800–4,500 green-light band | Pentair IntelliChlor Installation and User's Guide, P/N 520589 Rev. R (2023) |
| Jandy | AquaPure / PureLink | 3,000 | 3,000–3,500 | Jandy AquaPure Installation and Operation Manual, §4.7 |
| Hayward | AquaRite (TurboCell) / AquaRite S3 | 3,200 | 2,700–3,400 | Hayward AquaRite Troubleshooting Guide TSG-AQR159d (2017) and AquaRite S3 Owner's Manual 092769 Rev D |
| CircuPool | RJ / Universal / CORE | 3,500 | 3,000–4,000 | CircuPool Universal / CORE manualpublished range (manual excerpt) |
| Intex | CS8110 / CS8220 / CS15110 / CS20110 · ECO5110 / ECO6110 | 3,000 | 2,500–3,500 | Intex saltwater system specification sheet (intexcorp.com) and the Intex Saltwater System with E.C.O. owner's manual, ECO5110/6110 (an Intex manual hosted by a retailer) |
Across brands, the ranges spread from 2,500 to 4,500 ppm, and no single salt system accepts all of it. The pool salt calculator fills in the target for the salt system you pick and gives pounds and bags for your reading. For each target’s first-fill price in 40-lb bags, see pool salt cost.
Panel lights
What do the salt lights mean on each salt system?
On a Pentair IntelliChlor, the lights tell you which of 4 salt bands the water is in, from green for good salt to red with the cell switched off. Pentair’s IntelliChlor guide defines each band. A Hayward AquaRite on the classic AquaRite (TurboCell) control has 3 salt lights of its own, shown in the second table.
| Indicator | Trigger ppm | What the cell does |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 2,800–4,500 ppm | Good salt. The cell produces chlorine. |
| Green, flashing | above 4,500 ppm | High salt. Corrosion and deterioration risk to equipment and surfaces. |
| Red | below 2,800 ppm | Low salt. The cell produces chlorine at reduced efficiency. |
| Red (very low) | below 2,600 ppm | The cell is off. It produces no chlorine until salt is added. |
Source: Pentair IntelliChlor Installation and User's Guide, P/N 520589 Rev. R (2023), Salt Level Status LEDs.
| Indicator | Trigger | What the cell does |
|---|---|---|
| Salt light, flashing | 2,400–2,700 ppm | Low salt. The cell reports salt below the range; add salt. |
| Salt light, solid | 2,300 ppm or less | Chlorination is suspended until salt is added. |
| High Salt light, solid | set by cell amperage, not a ppm | Maximum cell amperage reached: the control shuts down all chlorine production. Test with a calibrated meter and check the programmed cell type. |
A solid High Salt light on the classic AquaRite (TurboCell) control means the salt cell has reached its maximum allowable amperage, and the control shuts down all chlorine production. The AquaRite S3 shows a High salt warning instead, at 3,400 ppm by default (adjustable). Source: Hayward AquaRite Troubleshooting Guide TSG-AQR159d, Section 1 and High Salt steps 2A–2B.
Jandy shows an ADD SALT indicator and states damage thresholds in ppm
The Jandy AquaPure shows an ADD SALT indicator, and “HH” above the measurable range. Its manual gives damage thresholds in ppm: above 4,000 ppm the power center may be damaged, and above 6,000 ppm pool fixtures may corrode (source: Jandy AquaPure Installation and Operation Manual, §4.7). Below 2,000 ppm the system turns the salt cell off (service code 144), and Jandy warns that low salt causes premature salt cell failure.
CircuPool and Intex Krystal Clear publish ranges, not light thresholds
The documents we have give no ppm at which a CircuPool or Intex Krystal Clear light or code comes on, so this chart lists no light colors for them. Their published ranges are 3,000–4,000 ppm for the CircuPool and 2,500–3,500 ppm for the Intex Krystal Clear.
Different cells
Why do salt system manuals set different targets?
Most likely because each range is written for one cell design. That’s our reading; no manufacturer says so. The Hayward AquaRite range tops out at 3,400 ppm, below the 3,500 ppm target in the CircuPool published range (manual excerpt). Copy one brand’s target onto another brand’s cell and the cell can land in its low- or high-salt band while the water looks fine on a different chart.
Why does the Pentair IntelliChlor guide list two targets?
The Pentair IntelliChlor Installation and User's Guide, P/N 520589 Rev. R (2023) states 3,600 ppm in its English water-chemistry section and salt table, and 3,400 ppm in its table of contents and Spanish section. The low- and high-salt thresholds match in both languages.
We print both Pentair targets and keep the Pentair range at 2,800–4,500 ppm. That holds an IntelliChlor in its green band at either target.
Units and sources
What does pool salt ppm mean?
Pool salt ppm is parts per million, the same unit as mg/L. So 3,200 ppm is 3.2 grams of salt in each liter of water. Jandy AquaPure panels show g/L instead; multiply a g/L reading by 1,000 to compare it with this chart.
Every ppm figure here comes from the same sourced table the calculator uses. The methodology page lists each document and the date we read it.
Owner questions
Questions about pool salt levels
Each answer cites a manufacturer document or says the documents are silent.
Is a panel reading of 3,000 ppm close enough?
No. A 3,000 ppm panel reading isn’t close enough to dose from. Pentair rates its IntelliChlor salt sensor at ±500 ppm, so a 3,000 ppm readout can mean 2,500 ppm in the water. Hayward’s troubleshooting guide says the panel should read salt within 500 ppm of an independent test. Work out the dose from a separate test.
What salt level is too low for each salt system?
Anything below the low edge of your own system’s range is too low. Three manuals say what happens next. A Pentair IntelliChlor turns its light red below 2,800 ppm (chlorine at reduced efficiency) and switches the cell off below 2,600 ppm. On a classic AquaRite (TurboCell) control, the Hayward AquaRite salt light flashes at 2,400 to 2,700 ppm and stays solid at 2,300 ppm or less, with chlorination suspended. A Jandy AquaPure shuts its cell off below 2,000 ppm (service code 144). The CircuPool document (manual excerpt) starts its range at 3,000 ppm and the Intex Krystal Clear document starts its range at 2,500 ppm.