Why choose TF-100 or Taylor K2006? And, preview of the new TF-Pro and TF-Pro SALT

outdoorsgal said:

poolnoobgranda, u have the taylor 2006? on another note, i didn't know amazon offered 5% back for a credit card! I'll have to check into that!

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Yes, I have the Taylor 2006C, and bought the salt test too. If you have Amazon prime and their credit card, you get 5% back on everything you buy at Amazon. The 5% definitely adds up.

TishTash said:

In fact, both pictures of fishing tackle boxes -- Katodude's and CowboyCasey's -- have InstsTest test strips. What's that all about?

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I have chlorine test strips for COVID, they test big time chlorine levels up to 1000 ppm, anything over 500 ppm will kill COVID or just about any kind of virus on any surface

duraleigh said:

I thought chlorine levels in pools and municipal water supplies killed any virus........I don't think covid 19 is ANY different.

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I am talking on surfaces like doorknobs, countertops, desks, walls, keyboards. mouse, you name it in an office, let it sit for 1 minute and wipe up... In a pool it is in constant contact with the chlorine so a much lower level will kill it as it can not get to other people...

outdoorsgal said:

Katodude, box looks great, thx for pic. what's the instatest? if it measures FC, does it measure high levels? worth it?

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TishTash said:

In fact, both pictures of fishing tackle boxes -- Katodude's and CowboyCasey's -- have InstsTest test strips. What's that all about?

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The test strips are for Borates. They are not great, but accuracy is not that important there. Testing is a journey.

First you complain about spending $70 on a test kit when the pool store does it for free, and why isnt the TF-100 on Amazon so I can get it much easier.
Then you buy a SpeedStir because swirling by hand is just plain silly.
Then you buy a sample sizer, cuz its just cool.
Then you buy some electronic measures of pH because who can tell the difference after 7.6.
Then you buy a bigger bottle and start measuring TA down to 1ppm because why not, and I am pretty sure that my pool size is wrong
Then you read about the mannitol test for borates in @JoyfulNoise signature and go, ok fine I am already here.
And finally when you have completely lost your mind you have a private conversation with @cmc0619 and @MyAZPool about how to re plump your entire pad so we can figure out how to install a FC sensor that will hopefully cost less than $1000 eventually

Katodude said:

The test strips are for Borates. They are not great, but accuracy is not that important there. Testing is a journey.

First you complain about spending $70 on a test kit when the pool store does it for free, and why isnt the TF-100 on Amazon so I can get it much easier.

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Salt strips are the worst: What do you do when the top square says 4000, the middle square says 3500, and the bottom square says 3000? Thank goodness for the K-1766....

As an aside, I've found TFTestKits.net sends stuff just as fast if not faster than Amazon (even Prime).

My question is why does @outdoorsgal need a new test kit? She has a TF-100 and can just order a TF-100 refill. If ordered in the spring, there is usually a discount on the TF-100 refill offered by tftestkits.net.

In comparing the TF-100 to the K2006c, the TF-100 provides more reagents for the tests we do most often and it also costs less.

When ordering a Taylor K2006c from Amazon, is there a guarantee that the reagents are not close to expired? When ordering a testkit or refills from TFTestkits you get a guarantee that the reagents are good for 1 year. Couple that with the outstanding customer service that I and many, many others have received from TFTestkits and it's a no brainer for me. Bundle other items from them or talk to other TFP members who are local to you and get free shipping for orders over $100. If you store the test kit indoors, you can probably get 2 years from a full set of reagents. Even if you have to pay shipping, it's still a no brainer for fresh reagents and customer service second to none.

As for the box the TF-100 is stored in, maybe consider storing it vertically in an indoor cabinet (laundry room or kitchen maybe) or getting a small tackle or tool box as others have suggested. I see that there will be a TF-100 Pro kit also. This may negate the debate about the storage box. And buying from TFTestkits is supporting a small business instead of putting more money in the Amazon coffers.

Given that TFTestKits is now apparently including a salt drop test, when will they start includIng JoyfulNoise’s borate drop test?

New borate drop test at piscines-apollo vs. test strip

outdoorsgal said:

Hi Gene! Long time no talk. Well said, refill kit and support a small biz and if as it seems TF-100 is connected to TFP (still not clear on that), that would be nice to support them...

Admin, you've got em' all beat on the nice looking test kit! You're getting unsolicited advice after all this hard work and I'm not sure if you want it but I'd add that being able to see what the testers are without taking them out of the kit is a plus to me, which is one of the reasons I'll prob stick with the horizontal box. Although, with your nice set up it's prob easy to remember what's what. Or, if you stuck in a cheat sheat that showed the order of the regeants so that folks could keep that in the mesh area, that might help (you might already have done this). you'll sell a lot for sure! yep, successful people seem to be risk takers and Doers. Congrats on your endeavors! awsome.

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Hey Kim

Be sure that you get put on the TFTestkits email list if you aren't already. Usually each Spring they send out an email reminding everyone that they are having their Spring TF-100 refill sale/discount. That's the clue to check your kit to see if you need refills and reorder. If you think you may run low at some point during the year, order a full refill kit in the Spring. Having a fresh set of reagents is cheap insurance for your valuable asset (pool).

It sounds like there will be the standard TF-100 and the TF-100 Pro test kit offerings for those that are ordering a new test kit. Either will be a great value - great quality and reasonable cost - to help everyone manage their pools/spas and better protect their large investment in their pool/spa. Really cheap insurance in my book.

@OTPirate Love it. Very organized and requires less visual scanning for reagents. Also, I’m an OT as well!

I love the TFP box because it is slim and flat it fits in the drawer in my laundry room.

outdoorsgal said:

yes, i really like the speedstir, too. I was thinking about just ordering what i need, too. I've done that before. I tried to measure my CH today and got no color! I live i Phx and water is almost 2 yrs old. There's no way there's no CH in the water!

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Im in mesa and mine is 375 CH from the tap! lol

I guess I'm in the minority here. I like the TF 100 box because it is so easy to fit under a wire shelf in our cabana bathroom. I keep the digital pH probe small 2 oz wide mouth calibration fluid, fas-dpd chlorine stuff in a separate small container for weekly or more frequent tests.

CYA and salt tests are in another container I use about once per month and the rest of the TFP is only out once per quarter or less. This now includes my BMB, Mannitol, and 1/8 tsp measure. The digital pH probe is a Hanna Phep. It's now over a year old and absolutely no calibration problems. I check it almost every time I use it and needs calibration once per month or less.

We swim all year round several times per week and this works great for us. We test FC CC PH more than once per week most weeks but really don't need to. I especially like the new borate reagents in my monthly test regime since it uses several reagents in my TF 100 kit that never get used up even though I don't replace them until about 2 years or so. Since they're kept in cool dry place this is no problem.

Chris