My pool is great chemically and is clear. I just loathe the CYA test. Just as the dot MAY disappear, I start to see my reflection on the surface of the testing tube. Hate that. I do the test with my back to the sun, waist level and all that... (And pour solution back in the bottle and retest). My reflected image is cute and all, but to check the dot, I have to lift the testing tube, shift it sideways, or bend forward. Then the dot faintly shows so I continue adding drops. Am I just a narcissist at heart, or is this normal?
CYA Test
- Thread starter Tanker
- Start date
there was a post a couple of years ago that i use
usual back to sun at waist height and minimum of room temperature water
but fill tube to 100 level then hold at waist level and have a quick look, dont stare at it for ages trying to decide if you can see dot
then fill to next level and hold at waist level and have a look
keep repeating until dot disappears with a quick look without staring
usual back to sun at waist height and minimum of room temperature water
but fill tube to 100 level then hold at waist level and have a quick look, dont stare at it for ages trying to decide if you can see dot
then fill to next level and hold at waist level and have a look
keep repeating until dot disappears with a quick look without staring
I get the reflection also. I like my CYA around 30 so the subjectivity of the test is especially bothersome because there's not much room for error.
If you move the bottom of the test tube around a little bit while you're taking a reading, you'll be able to perceive the movement of the dot below the reflections on the surface. Our eyes are much better at perceiving motion than perceiving subtle differences in shades of grey.
I too have trouble deciding whether or not it's a dot. When you pour it back in the bottle to retry, do you shake the bottle before retrying or just pour it back and retest ? (I sometimes wonder if it's my bald head I am seeing or the dot 
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I feel everyone's pain. The CYA test is the hardest.......but it gets better with practice.
Try taking an average....pour it in the first time and if you think the dot is gone, stop the test and note the level.
Then do the same a second and third time and then average it. I promise you will be surprised at how accurate you will soon be. Also remember to think of the results in terms of 10 ppm 30 ppm, 50 ppm, etc. No further precision is needed.
Take heart that there is NO better test. All the testing companies use it as the standard. The strips are pretty worthless and the digital testers (ColorQ) often fail badly
Try taking an average....pour it in the first time and if you think the dot is gone, stop the test and note the level.
Then do the same a second and third time and then average it. I promise you will be surprised at how accurate you will soon be. Also remember to think of the results in terms of 10 ppm 30 ppm, 50 ppm, etc. No further precision is needed.
Take heart that there is NO better test. All the testing companies use it as the standard. The strips are pretty worthless and the digital testers (ColorQ) often fail badly
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
It's still very frustrating; FC for CYA of 10 vs 30 vs 50... It makes a difference if you're keeping a tight rein, right?
The margin of error is as much as 15 PPM, so don't sweat anything with tight control. This is one test where you don't need extreme precision.
WOW I did not realize the tube had to be waist high! I've been looking at it from like 12 inches away. Good info.
I did not realize the tube had to be waist high! I've been looking at it from like 12 inches away. Good info.
here are some videos on how to do the tests.
https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit?feature=results_main
https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit?feature=results_main