I am new to the site (yesterday). yesterday i bought a new pool tesitng kit form Leslie's so i can calculate both Total Chlorine and Free Chlorine. When i got the new kit, i tested for all number and they were off from my prior test kit. Old test kit (a Pentair kit i got with my pool but updated reagents last year) showed Chlorine of .3; ph of 8.2; alk of 80. My new kit form Leslies (not the $70 one but the $29 one) showed readings of FC - .5; TC - 3; ph -7.2; alk - 140.

Can anyone explain the discrepancy? Which one should i follow? Am i going to try to raise Ph or lower Ph?; raise alk or lower alk?

The Leslie's. Don't adjust ph or TA right now.

If your TC is 3 then your CC is 2.5 which means you need to shock the pool.

You need an FAS-DPD test to supplement your kit, its easier to use and more accurate, plus it can test FC/CC up to 50ppm, which is essential when having to shock.

Do you know your CYA level?

Read this article:
How to Shock Your Pool

Thanks. I thought the Leslie's one would be more accurrate also. I did not get a CYA level yet. I will bring my water to LEslie's this weekend and get it. Based on the numbers of CC i shocked the pool earlier this evening. I'm in NJ and just opned my pool last thursday. There was a lot of organic matter form the winter that is just now dissapating - thus the presnece of CC (i think). On friday morning i couldn't even see the main drains in the deep end, now the pool is relatively clear so i ahve a feeling the chlorine is "eating up" all of the organic matter. hopefully, it will level off now taht it is clearer.

this weekend i will get teh CYA level and then return here to figure out my apprpriate chlorine levels. hopefully by then teh TA and PH will have stablized with the chlorine