Test kit battle!
- Thread starter oneinsider
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,908
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
ewkearns
0
Phhhhtttt.....
Complete K-2006C, separate vials and stirring magnet for each test, graduated cylinder, 50 ml vial and complete dropper test for borates, complete phosphates test, laminated cheat sheets, SpeedStir, Sample Sizer, Unit-dose tool, and it all fits and sits upright!
Complete K-2006C, separate vials and stirring magnet for each test, graduated cylinder, 50 ml vial and complete dropper test for borates, complete phosphates test, laminated cheat sheets, SpeedStir, Sample Sizer, Unit-dose tool, and it all fits and sits upright!
today my pool guy's OTO test said my FC level was 1.5, but my R-0870 DPD test said 4.0. his FC have always been lower than my readings. this is why i don't recommend OTO to anyone.
if one wants to just get a general idea of what the FC level is, why not use a dipstick test and get the same general idea in 2 seconds?
i like my Taylor K-2006C kit and recommend it to anyone who asks. Taylor's kit box is also well organized to help perform the tests quickly.
if one wants to just get a general idea of what the FC level is, why not use a dipstick test and get the same general idea in 2 seconds?
i like my Taylor K-2006C kit and recommend it to anyone who asks. Taylor's kit box is also well organized to help perform the tests quickly.
Last edited:
Remember the OTO tests for the PRESENCE of chlorine....it should not be used for a precise measure.
test strips have proven over and over to be potentially unreliable. On the other hand, OTO is one of the most reliable tests that we use. It is VERY repeatable as well. Besides, what if a TFP'r saw you using a test strip and reported you to the TFP police? :cop::cop: The humiliation alone makes it not worth the risk.
You people are all nuts. I love it. Thanks to you all for the valuable input.
I maintained eye contact with my wife throughout the entire process of emptying the liquid bleach yesterday, it was glorious. SpeedStir is already on my birthday wish list, lol.
I maintained eye contact with my wife throughout the entire process of emptying the liquid bleach yesterday, it was glorious. SpeedStir is already on my birthday wish list, lol.
Jaimslaw
LifeTime Supporter
Still trying to understand where exact FC numbers on a daily basis becomes that critical in a SWG set up if oto shows you are in a safe color zone (per Issac, not pale yellow or that scary looking safety orange color). If one has a predisposition to know things with that degree of precision, I can and do appreciate that whole heartedly. But I sorta view FC levels that are within that oto safe color zone to be all one needs to know to stay out of trouble.
Granted, I could be at 7, 8 9, or even 10 and not know it, but with a SWG, I dial back until OTO starts to lighten up a little below the 5.0 reading and I'm set. A 30 second oto test seems more than sufficient for a daily testing unless I'm missing something (being well within the realm of possibility).
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,908
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Jaimslaw. you're not missing much really - personal preference. If you are comfortable with knowing the "presence" of chlorine, and the shades of the OTO give you reasonable assurance of where you stand at a given time (i.e. FC of 6-9), then that's good. That's the case for both SWG and non-SWG pools really. A big factor in that rationale also is the difference between pools that are reasonably steady in their FC consumption (consistent drop) , versus those owners who are either still learning how to balance their water, or their pool FC fluctuates a bit more at that present time. Still, there are those (me for example) who simply don't mind taking an extra minute or two to dump the powder and count a few drops to know for sure their precise FC number. Experience, comfortability, water consistency, available time, etc all come into play.
ewkearns
0
To my mind, knowing that you just have chlorine in the pool serves little purpose. Knowing that you have "X" amount of free chlorine and "Y" amount of combined chlorine describes the health of your pool.
OTO tells you a generally meaningless thing like, "You have a security system." FAS/DPD tells you whether that security system is indeed armed and whether or not the area is secured of intruders. Don't assume that just because you "have chlorine in the pool" that you aren't an imminent victim of a nascent algae bloom. Sanitizer does NOT equal sanitary.
Basically, CC alerts you to what your chlorine is DOING. Without that key piece of information......
fortunately for me, test strips have proven reliable for 26 years and two pools and have saved me a LOT of time and trouble, as in trouble free.
however, i agree that they are no substitute for FAS-DPD when you need to know exact numbers.
ewkearns
0
fortunately for me, test strips have proven reliable for 26 years and two pools and have saved me a LOT of time and trouble, as in trouble free.
Nothing succeeds like success.......
2 second test strip = save 58 seconds over OTO test times 3 tests/wk times 52 wks/yr times 26 yrs divided by 60 seconds = 3900 hours of time savings. i hope i calculated correctly; this is why i didn't go into math. :jocolor:
I'm not going to check your math it is close enough! but, are 26 year old test strips really reliable??? 
but, are 26 year old test strips really reliable???
Drag that "dead horse" out of the barn once more.....I need to beat him.
1. We always understand that each pool owner can use our teachings and the experience of others in any way that suits them best
2. Over the years, this forum has documented hundreds if not thousands of errors testing with strips.
3. I have a dog in the fight, but we could have easily included strips in the TF-100, skipped the OTO and sold the kit cheaper.
4. TFP pool owners gravitate towards precision, dependability, dependability and dependability. Test strips just don't make the grade.
5. What we teach is not based on preference but rather solid science and thousands and thousands of anecdotal experiences.
1. We always understand that each pool owner can use our teachings and the experience of others in any way that suits them best
2. Over the years, this forum has documented hundreds if not thousands of errors testing with strips.
3. I have a dog in the fight, but we could have easily included strips in the TF-100, skipped the OTO and sold the kit cheaper.
4. TFP pool owners gravitate towards precision, dependability, dependability and dependability. Test strips just don't make the grade.
5. What we teach is not based on preference but rather solid science and thousands and thousands of anecdotal experiences.
since we're nerding out here, I DID check the math, and it's 3900 MINUTES saved, not hours. Which comes out to a bit over 65 hours saved. =)
Similar threads
