Hi, folks! Need your feedback / advice.
Received my very first test kit today. Results were:
FC= 6.8
CC= 1.2
TA= 80
CH= 360
But when I did the pH test, the color of my water didn't match any of the guide colors on the comparator tube. My sample was pinker / darker... nothing close to the guide colors. Repeated the test, and achieved a similar result. (I'm not color-blind, but also had the wife take a looksy and she thought the same.)
Also, when I did the CYA test, the sample volume didn't reach any of the CYA values on the comparator tube. My volume was way below the first mark (100).
So I got out an AquaChek test strip, and got results indicating the Total Chlorine was 5 to 7, FC was 3 to 5, pH > 8.4, and TA was 100.
Then I decided to take a sample to the local Leslie's for comparison, and the store manager (who has mentioned he has significant experience) came up with:
FAC= 5
TAC= 5
CH= 310
CYA= 60
TA= 110
pH= 7.6
TDS= 1300
Phosphates= 0
Water looks good. Have had lots of rain in the past week.
A week ago, I emptied the inline chlorinator (chlorine levels were very high), and decided to go with the TFP method.
I'm a new pool owner (18 months), and was using the trichlor tabs up until now... without apparent issues.
How did I screw up the pH and CYA tests? What do you make of the above? I know the Leslie results seem pretty good.
All your thoughts / comments are appreciated.
Thanks!
/Larry
Received my very first test kit today. Results were:
FC= 6.8
CC= 1.2
TA= 80
CH= 360
But when I did the pH test, the color of my water didn't match any of the guide colors on the comparator tube. My sample was pinker / darker... nothing close to the guide colors. Repeated the test, and achieved a similar result. (I'm not color-blind, but also had the wife take a looksy and she thought the same.)
Also, when I did the CYA test, the sample volume didn't reach any of the CYA values on the comparator tube. My volume was way below the first mark (100).
So I got out an AquaChek test strip, and got results indicating the Total Chlorine was 5 to 7, FC was 3 to 5, pH > 8.4, and TA was 100.
Then I decided to take a sample to the local Leslie's for comparison, and the store manager (who has mentioned he has significant experience) came up with:
FAC= 5
TAC= 5
CH= 310
CYA= 60
TA= 110
pH= 7.6
TDS= 1300
Phosphates= 0
Water looks good. Have had lots of rain in the past week.
A week ago, I emptied the inline chlorinator (chlorine levels were very high), and decided to go with the TFP method.
I'm a new pool owner (18 months), and was using the trichlor tabs up until now... without apparent issues.
How did I screw up the pH and CYA tests? What do you make of the above? I know the Leslie results seem pretty good.
All your thoughts / comments are appreciated.
Thanks!
/Larry