Leslie's now has this electronic test tool, looks like LaMotte.

[nikon5400]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned before, sorry if it was.

I tested water at two locations and reading were almost identical.

However, some readings on this tool are very different from Taylor - CYA is about 30-40% higher, CH 30-40% lower.

I think the reason they switched to this tool is for testing to be consistent across stores. I just don't understand how the readings can be so different from Taylor

 

[setsailsoon]

nik,

You won't ever get consistency across the pool stores because they lack uniform training, equipment, and equipment maintenance. There are a few stores that have one or two that really know what they're doing. Problem is you never know who this is or what location it is. And even then the good ones often have to rely on other's "daily" calibration that may or may not be done. I could go on but I think you get the point. This is why we recommend using the test kits we use. Your results will be far more reliable and accurate than any "free" pool store test. If anything you could check them against your results. But why do this anyway?

I hope this helps.

Chris

 

[nikon5400]

nik,

You won't ever get consistency across the pool stores because they lack uniform training, equipment, and equipment maintenance. There are a few stores that have one or two that really know what they're doing. Problem is you never know who this is or what location it is. And even then the good ones often have to rely on other's "daily" calibration that may or may not be done. I could go on but I think you get the point. This is why we recommend using the test kits we use. Your results will be far more reliable and accurate than any "free" pool store test. If anything you could check them against your results. But why do this anyway?

I hope this helps.

Chris

I know. I use Taylor myself. I was out of CYA reagent (had old one), so I tested water at 2 Leslie's locations. To my surprise the results were identical. I guess this tool is too new and didn't need calibration, that's why results are the same. But why their results are so different than mine (Taylor ) is a mystery to me. Maybe it needs to be calibrated before first use. I was suspicious of inaccurate CYA reading because of high chlorine usage... and after confirming with new fresh Taylor I'm adding stabilizer.

I just wanted to warn everybody about Leslie's readings, which are now consistent but wrong.

 

[Donldson]

I think the reason they switched to this tool is for testing to be consistent across stores.

You give them far too much credit...

The reason they switched to that tool is to sell the aura of elitism. It is implemented to give the impression that you can't get the accuracy or precision of their testing at home so you must bring your water in to get tested. And thus they accomplish the goal of having it: to get you in the door and talking to a salesperson. Worked twice on you, yeah? Maybe you didn't buy anything, but you talked to two of their salespeople so you were in a position to buy something that you wouldn't have been if they hadn't gotten these shiny new things.

As you noticed, neither accuracy nor precision are in the cards. Nor are they necessary to accomplish the goal of bringing in potential customers. Calibration is not important, pushing sales are. So there's no difference between this and any other pool store testing. Unreliable and not to be trusted.

 

[Fishy1234]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned before, sorry if it was.

I tested water at two locations and reading were almost identical.

However, some readings on this tool are very different from Taylor - CYA is about 30-40% higher, CH 30-40% lower.

I think the reason they switched to this tool is for testing to be consistent across stores. I just don't understand how the readings can be so different from Taylor

I use Taylor k2006 and compared my reading to Leslie's and another place that has the electronic kind.
Leslie's repeated told me my alkalinity was 120-140, when my kit is showing 70-80.
The digital readout was conflicting as well. I bought the lamot digital kit and tried to make it work but after 3 meter replacements due to bad readings I had to give up and buy a Taylor kit.

 

[Mr. Haney]

I didn't have a fresh test kit at the beginning of this pool year, so I went to Leslie Pool and had them test my pool water.
To my surprise, they had this gizmo that tested the water. I never trusted the summer help. They ran the test, and of course I needed a few things to balance my water.
I decided to buy the product. I then went back each week, minor adjustments, and after the third week, my pool was perfect.
My pool has been trouble free the whole summer and very little chemicals used, I have a salt pool and conditioner was the only thing I had to use regularly.
I'm a believer it the system Leslie employs.

You give them far too much credit...

The reason they switched to that tool is to sell the aura of elitism. It is implemented to give the impression that you can't get the accuracy or precision of their testing at home so you must bring your water in to get tested. And thus they accomplish the goal of having it: to get you in the door and talking to a salesperson. Worked twice on you, yeah? Maybe you didn't buy anything, but you talked to two of their salespeople so you were in a position to buy something that you wouldn't have been if they hadn't gotten these shiny new things.

As you noticed, neither accuracy nor precision are in the cards. Nor are they necessary to accomplish the goal of bringing in potential customers. Calibration is not important, pushing sales are. So there's no difference between this and any other pool store testing. Unreliable and not to be trusted.

 

[duraleigh]

I disagree with you, Mr Haney. Time after time, year after year Leslies testing has been unreliable and inaccurate. That scenario repeats over and over with the unsolicited anecdotal reports that are simply undeniable after 14 years and thousands upon thousands of posts.

You are free to be as satisfied as you like with Leslies testing but it flies in the face of the overwhelming data we have on this forum

 

[Oly]

What exactly is the "conditioner" you bought and use regularly?

 

[CrystalRiver]

What exactly is the "conditioner" you bought and use regularly?

AKA stabilizer, CYA.

 

[joboo7777]

For what it’s worth, I just went to my local Leslie today to test my water just to see what their results would be. They just transitioned to this single device digital testing machine that is connected to a desktop. All the technician did was take my sample, fill a cartridge with water and insert in to the machine. Nothing else. Below are results from my Taylor testing and Leslie’s new digital testing.

Taylor:
FC: 3ish
CC: 0
PH: 7.6
Alkalinity: 70
CH: 430
CYA: 55

leslies new digital testing device
FC: 1.79
TC: 1.84
PH: 7.7
TA: 67
CH: 379
CYA: 49
Phosphates: 342ppb
Copper: .1
TDS: 800

Was particularly interested in CH results. Based on what I saw there doesn’t look like much room for testing error. They fill the disc with water and that’s it. Not sure if I will rely on these results but it definitely piqued my interest.

 

[setsailsoon]

If it ain't broke don't fix it. Taylor test kits have worked for thousands of TFP members.

 

[Newdude]

For what it’s worth, I just went to my local Leslie today to test my water just to see what their results would be

Nobody argues that they can be right. But overall and across the country every last machine needs to be frequently calibrated. Next week it could be off my a mile. And the sole purpose of that machine is to sell you products. The more off it is, the more they sell you and the more you’ll need after that to fix their ‘screwup’.

You can trust your own tests, with your own self interests at heart, 100% of the time. Sending a random member to a pool store is a crud-shoot that usually won’t work in their favor.

 

[joboo7777]

Thanks for the reply. The only concern I have is my CH readings from Taylor don't align with how much Calcium Hardness Product I used to raise it. I was expecting 370(ish) which is more in line with what the digital readings are showing so I'm a little concerned with the validity of my taylor readings . I could chalk it up to user error, however, I've owned Reef Aquariums for many years and have a lot of experience performing testing activities on water samples.