- Aug 25, 2011
- 594
- Pool Size
- 15500
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Suspecting that my LaMotte kit was off or the pool store was, I decided to get a couple of samples and test them. I went down with a few empty water bottles and filled completely and capped each of them under the water (nothing escaping into the air, etc). I then wrapped them in a black garbage bag (to minimize the sun messing with the chlorine) and off I went.
First, I went to a different pool store. These were the numbers I got:
FC: 2.91
TC: 2.91
TA: 177
pH: 8.0
CH: 108
CYA: 29
Then I headed off to my regular store, which was only about 5 minutes away. This time I get this set:
FC: 2.6
TC: 2.6
TA: 121
pH: 7.8
CH: 92
CYA: 72
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to test my kit at that point, but a little later I test with a 3rd bottle I got at the same time with the ColorQ:
FC: 1.5
TC: 2.1
TA: 148
pH: 7.5
CH: 87
CYA: 32
The chlorine numbers I kinda get from the ColorQ. I don't get them between the two stars (2.6 vs 2.9). I really don't get any of the other numbers.
I consistently get right around 30 for CYA at home. And I'm positive I haven't put enough CYA in to raise the levels as high as 72 (from 0). How could TA and pH be that far off between all the measurements?
Am I not doing something right in transport or something? Is there a better way to make sure the testing is accurate? I had heard that ColorQ was decent at least not horrible. I called LaMotte and they are sending me "known concentration" sample (TA, pH and CH, I think). Is there a decent "over the counter" set of tests I can buy that aren't a zillion dollars? I'm struggling with balancing the water because I can't trust any of the tests I have...
Thanks!
Don
First, I went to a different pool store. These were the numbers I got:
FC: 2.91
TC: 2.91
TA: 177
pH: 8.0
CH: 108
CYA: 29
Then I headed off to my regular store, which was only about 5 minutes away. This time I get this set:
FC: 2.6
TC: 2.6
TA: 121
pH: 7.8
CH: 92
CYA: 72
Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to test my kit at that point, but a little later I test with a 3rd bottle I got at the same time with the ColorQ:
FC: 1.5
TC: 2.1
TA: 148
pH: 7.5
CH: 87
CYA: 32
The chlorine numbers I kinda get from the ColorQ. I don't get them between the two stars (2.6 vs 2.9). I really don't get any of the other numbers.
Code:
#1 #2 ColorQ
FC 2.91 2.6 1.5
TC 2.91 2.6 2.1
TA 177 121 148
pH 8 7.8 7.5
CH 108 92 87
CYA 29 72 32
I consistently get right around 30 for CYA at home. And I'm positive I haven't put enough CYA in to raise the levels as high as 72 (from 0). How could TA and pH be that far off between all the measurements?
Am I not doing something right in transport or something? Is there a better way to make sure the testing is accurate? I had heard that ColorQ was decent at least not horrible. I called LaMotte and they are sending me "known concentration" sample (TA, pH and CH, I think). Is there a decent "over the counter" set of tests I can buy that aren't a zillion dollars? I'm struggling with balancing the water because I can't trust any of the tests I have...
Thanks!
Don