This is how I am testing chlorine. I add 2 scoops of the R-0870 to the 10 ml mark. I add the R-0871 until colorless. 2 drops has been 1 FC. Do I also need to test for CC? I have not done that before. Also, where is the CC located on the pool math?
FAS/DPD Chlorine Test
More complicated, but gives a wider range, more precision, and also separately measures FC/CC.
- Rinse and fill sample tube to 10ml mark.
- Use teeny blue scooper (hold the flat end) to put one heaping scoop R-0870 powder into sample, swirl to mix. (OK if not all dissolves.) Sample should turn pink. If it "flashes" pink then the pink disappears, add more R-0870. If there's never a hint of pink at all, skip step 3; FC=0.
- Add R-0871 one drop at a time, swirling the sample continuously, 1-2 sec between drops. Stop when sample turns colorless. Multiply #drops by 0.5 to get FC. (If it turns pink again after a few seconds, don't worry about it.)
- Add 5 drops R-0003, swirl to mix. If it remains colorless, CC=0. If it turns pink, again add drops of R-0871 (swirling continuously) until it turns colorless. Multiply drops by 0.5 to get CC.
- CC > 0.5 indicates a need to follow the SLAM Process.
For extremely high FC levels, you can use 5ml sample water alone or mix a 5ml sample water and 5ml chlorine-free water (e.g. distilled water) if the test is easier to view with a larger sample size; then each drop of R-0871 counts 1ppm FC/CC. This can save on test reagent.
R-0001/0002 and R-0870 powder are the same chemicals just in different forms and different concentrations. The R-0001/0002 is limited to FC levels below 10ppm while the R-0870 allows the test to be extended up to 50ppm FC. You can actually use the R-0871 drops to titrate the R-0001/0002 DPD test back to clear.
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How Much R-0870 Powder to Use?
The discussion of enough DPD powder in the FAS/DPD test seems interminable. It's been going on in this forum since 2007 and probably long before that.
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The simple answer (no overthinking required) is if the pool water sample turns pink or deep pink, you have enough powder. Done.
So, what if the solution Doesn't turn pink? Easy again.....you have no chlorine in your pool.
A seldom seen exception to the above is when you add the powder and the solution "flashes" pink but almost immediately turn back to clear. Now you know you have very high chlorine and will need to add another scoop so the solution stays pink, then conduct the test normally.
Very often, folks are inaccurate with this test when they fail to complete it properly. The dropper for the R-0871 solution must be held vertically, drops allowed to "fall" off the dropper tip, AND YOU CONTINUE TO ADD DROPS UNTIL THE LAST DROP RESULTS IN NO FURTHER COLOR CHANGE. Subtract that drop that made ABSOLUTELY no more change and the result is the end of the test.