Which Test Results to Believe?

[joeyparrot]

I use Taylor's K-2005 and TFTestkit TF-100 to test my pool water daily/weekly. I do the weekly test on Saturdays. Through June and so far this month my test results have been very consistent.

After yesterday's, weekly test I took a sample to the pool store for a "professional" water test. The results of their test amazed me!

Here are the results: Mine: FC 3.5 Theirs: FC 2.42
TC 3.5 TC 2.42
CC 0.0 CC 0.0
pH 7.6 pH 7.8
CH 280 CH 215
ALKc 58.5 ALKc 61
CYA 50 CYA 73
Borate 50 Borate 50
Salt 3200 Salt 2900

As you can see, only two of their tests matched mine; CC and Borates.

The pool store uses a computer program to do the test, it is called Waterlink Datamate 10 by LaMotte. A small water sample is injected into a plastic wheel which is then put into a test box which analyzes the water.

Which results do you suggest I use, Taylor's K-2005/TF-100 or Waterlink Datamate 10?

 

[Richard320]

Yours.

Check this thread: inconsistency-in-readings-t61728.html

Edit: check out the bouncing CYA readings down near the bottom of the first post! :lol:

 

[FamilyGuy]

I will always trust your test results over a poolstores test results any day of the week

 

[FamilyGuy]

If your concerned run your tests twice you might get slightly varying results but they are within the accuracy limits of the test.

 

[duraleigh]

One of the most important rules of BBB is to always trust your own testing.

That rule assumes you have a good kit with good reagents, of course, but you should have confidence in your own test results.....that's why you bought the kit.

 

[doncaruana]

This is just my opinion...

The "good" range for any test is a lot smaller than the bad range. If a pool store's tests aren't accurate, it's extremely likely that result will fall in a "bad" range. If something is in the bad range, that's an opportunity for them to sell you something to "fix" the bad result. So pool stores don't *care* if their results are accurate or not.

Trust your own results.