My name is Chris, and my wife and I live on Long Island, NY. I've spent the past two summers reading posts every now and then, but it is finally time to join.
We have a 36 x 18 vinyl in-ground pool w/ steps (~26k gallons based on a calculator) that was built in '85 and the Hayward DE filter, Hayward 1.5 HP pump , SaniKing Perform-Max (3" slow tab TriChlor) dispenser, are probably from 2005+. We use a Dolphin Premiere robot to clean once or twice a week. We technically have a second pump for a basic leaf cleaner, but I do not use it after recommendations to use an electric bot instead.
We bought the house at the end of 2019, but since it was a foreclosure the pool was unused for many years. After having the pool inspected in November 2019, my wife and I spent a good two months in the spring of 2020 cleaning it out. It was dark and full of debris. We removed 11 landscaping bags worth of leaves. Plus, backwashing multiple times a day for well over a week. If there had been a body, I would not have been surprised.
My wife said let's just drain it, I said no, we are going to clean it out and "earn it." My avatar shows the before/after in 2020. In the end, I am glad we did so much work, I learned a lot about the system. Cleaning the DE filter myself was a feat in itself.
The past two summers have been great overall and our extended family and friends love it. Eventually we will get a heater and switch to salt water.
I recently put in a WaterGuru Sense to send daily reports on FC, pH and temperature, however, it seemed lower than what I was getting with a basic test kit, or what Leslie's AccuBlue report was saying. So, after reading the forums I decided to get a Taylor K-2006C. I have done a test today, all results within the same hour and area of the pool (well, WG is from the skimmer), but I tested the water at the same end/side of the pool. Below the pics below are the test results. I'd love some advice as I think the FC from the Taylor kit is way off.
Spring 2020 - Earning it

Summer 2021 - (Tree on the right is no longer there and the grass is a lot greener now)

Spring 2022 - LED light w/ new wiring

I'd love any suggestions as the results do not completely match:
WG
FC = 3.5
pH = 7.0
Flow = Normal (although often it says low. I've been trying to change how the cassette is positioned, which helps)
Leslie's AccuBlue
FC = 3.87
TC = 3.87
pH = 7.4
TA = 86
CH = 85 (They say I need 55 lbs 2 oz of their Hardness Plus, but they are out in store)
CYA = 46
Iron = 0
Copper = 0
Phosphates = 7 (It was 139 a few days ago, but I treated it with Leslie's No Phos)
TDS = 600
Taylor K-2006C -> First time used, brand new
FC = 5 (Took about 25 drops of r-0871 to be completely clear...did I do it wrong?)
CC = 0.04
pH = 7.3
TA = 80
CH = 80
CYA = 33
We have a 36 x 18 vinyl in-ground pool w/ steps (~26k gallons based on a calculator) that was built in '85 and the Hayward DE filter, Hayward 1.5 HP pump , SaniKing Perform-Max (3" slow tab TriChlor) dispenser, are probably from 2005+. We use a Dolphin Premiere robot to clean once or twice a week. We technically have a second pump for a basic leaf cleaner, but I do not use it after recommendations to use an electric bot instead.
We bought the house at the end of 2019, but since it was a foreclosure the pool was unused for many years. After having the pool inspected in November 2019, my wife and I spent a good two months in the spring of 2020 cleaning it out. It was dark and full of debris. We removed 11 landscaping bags worth of leaves. Plus, backwashing multiple times a day for well over a week. If there had been a body, I would not have been surprised.
My wife said let's just drain it, I said no, we are going to clean it out and "earn it." My avatar shows the before/after in 2020. In the end, I am glad we did so much work, I learned a lot about the system. Cleaning the DE filter myself was a feat in itself.
The past two summers have been great overall and our extended family and friends love it. Eventually we will get a heater and switch to salt water.
I recently put in a WaterGuru Sense to send daily reports on FC, pH and temperature, however, it seemed lower than what I was getting with a basic test kit, or what Leslie's AccuBlue report was saying. So, after reading the forums I decided to get a Taylor K-2006C. I have done a test today, all results within the same hour and area of the pool (well, WG is from the skimmer), but I tested the water at the same end/side of the pool. Below the pics below are the test results. I'd love some advice as I think the FC from the Taylor kit is way off.
Spring 2020 - Earning it

Summer 2021 - (Tree on the right is no longer there and the grass is a lot greener now)

Spring 2022 - LED light w/ new wiring

I'd love any suggestions as the results do not completely match:
WG
FC = 3.5
pH = 7.0
Flow = Normal (although often it says low. I've been trying to change how the cassette is positioned, which helps)
Leslie's AccuBlue
FC = 3.87
TC = 3.87
pH = 7.4
TA = 86
CH = 85 (They say I need 55 lbs 2 oz of their Hardness Plus, but they are out in store)
CYA = 46
Iron = 0
Copper = 0
Phosphates = 7 (It was 139 a few days ago, but I treated it with Leslie's No Phos)
TDS = 600
Taylor K-2006C -> First time used, brand new
FC = 5 (Took about 25 drops of r-0871 to be completely clear...did I do it wrong?)
CC = 0.04
pH = 7.3
TA = 80
CH = 80
CYA = 33
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