Advice on opening salt water pool (like what test kit?)

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DeptOfMeteors

Well-known member
Jul 8, 2020
124
Ottawa
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Pentair Intellichlor IC-15
So the flip side to Looking for *objective* advice on closing salt water pool is that now I'm going to need advice on opening my pool. I can probably get advice from the nearby pool store about what materials to buy, but I'm especially interested in what test kit I should buy. Like I said in the fall, I have no experience w/any of:
  • Salt water
  • In-ground
  • Gas heater
  • Cartridge filter
I was reading Test Kits Compared and was surprised to see "salt" hardly mentioned. Does that mean the right kit for me will have nothing to do w/the salt?
BTW, notice I'm in Canada: this has cause a slight hiccup in acquiring test kits before.
 
Our recommendation for the 'best' test kit for a pool with a Salt Water Chlorine Generator is the TFPro Salt from TFTestkits.net.
However, they can not ship to Canada. You can use a mail drop on the US border and cross over to pick it up. Or, you can can get a Taylor K2006C, a SmartStir, and a K1766 test kit in Canada (varies on how to achieve that) for a lot more money.
See Pool Test Kits - Further Reading
 
300$ Holy frijoles! What if I don't need the best kit? I'm going to have to spend a bit of time confirming that I need that kit. How many decades does it last??!! I see the reagents only last about 12 months, but they can be replaced w/a measly 54USD. I hope they are the only things that expire.
 
Reagents will last two pool seasons if stored in climate controlled area.

Cost of a test kit is peanuts compared to what it will save in wasted pool chemicals, poor water chemistry, etc.

The TFPro Salt is $170 USD.
 
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They charge 170USD for the kit, but according to Order from TFTestkits.net into Canada (Step-by-Step) Canadians have to be willing to hemorrhage 300CAD and that was last year.
Oh and those reagents are 54USD for just the reagents. I'd probably prefer a set of reagents I can replace in Canada.
I'm hearing a fair bit of TF-100 talk. Maybe that's a more attractive compromise, in this economy, in this country.
 
I am in Ontario Canada also, and aquiring a TF Pro Salt was easy.

(get the XL option...better value in my opinion)

Follow the directions in this previous thread about shipping TF kits to Canada.

Order from TFTestkits.net into Canada (Step-by-Step)

Hey all, I wanted to document detailed steps for ordering items from TFTestkits.net into Canada using Shippsy to handle the cross-border stuff. This is a follow-up to these instructions so big thanks to @MostlyCanuck (I had never heard of Shippsy)! For cost, my TFTestkits.net order came to $200...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com

Easy.

The most testing I do is FC, and being a new pool owner I'm using more of this reagent compared to the rest. I'm in my second season now and anticipate I'll buy a refill kit next spring.

The Taylor R 0871 and R 0870 can be purchased on Amazon in Canada if you're in a pinch.

Taylor Replacement Reagent FAS-DPD Refill Kit (Large) - Over 100 Tests : Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Find products from Taylor at low prices. Shop online for barbecues, mowers, garden tools, generators, snow blowers and more at Amazon.ca
www.amazon.ca

For me, buying the TF Pro Salt was a no brainer as investing in a quality kit is essential in keeping my pool trouble free!

Hope this helps.
 
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DeptOfMeteors said:
They charge 170USD for the kit, but according to Order from TFTestkits.net into Canada (Step-by-Step) Canadians have to be willing to hemorrhage 300CAD and that was last year.
Oh and those reagents are 54USD for just the reagents. I'd probably prefer a set of reagents I can replace in Canada.
I'm hearing a fair bit of TF-100 talk. Maybe that's a more attractive compromise, in this economy, in this country.
Click to expand...
You could always order from TFTestkits and have it shipped to a mail drop in Odgensburg,NY. Then drive over the border and pick it up.

A quality test kit is a necessity. While you may think the cost is high, it will save you that cost many times over by not buying unneeded pool store potions.
 
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Looking at TF-Pro *Salt with SmartStir-for pools with SWG I see there are a few optional extras for the TF Salt Pro that no one mentioned. Most of them don't seem necessary, but since I have a salt pool, should I not be getting the "Salt Test Strips"?

Also, if someone could tell me what I'd be missing out on by getting the TF 100 instead of the TF Salt Pro, that would be helpful too. It seems everyone thinks the world of the Smart Stir, which I can get as an option w/the TF 100 and still save a good bit of money.
 
DeptOfMeteors said:
should I not be getting the "Salt Test Strips"?
Click to expand...
No need. The TFPro Salt comes with a drop based salt test kit.
DeptOfMeteors said:
It seems everything thinks the world of the Smart Stir, which I can get as an option w/the TF 100 and still save a good bit of money.
Click to expand...
You can of course get the TF100 and a K1766 salt kit. The SmartStir is a luxury, but you will find none of the members here that have one would give it up. Especially if they are testing salt levels, as that test is very fickle about how you swirl the tube, which the SmartStir does for you.
 
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mknauss said:
No need. The TFPro Salt comes with a drop based salt test kit.

You can of course get the TF100 and a K1766 salt kit. The SmartStir is a luxury, but you will find none of the members here that have one would give it up. Especially if they are testing salt levels, as that test is very fickle about how you swirl the tube, which the SmartStir does for you.
Click to expand...
I bought a speed stir a couple of years ago when I opened my new pool. I’ve never opened the box… I guess I should try it out but have never needed it.
 
chazas said:
I bought a speed stir a couple of years ago when I opened my new pool. I’ve never opened the box… I guess I should try it out but have never needed it.
Click to expand...

Open it, put new batteries in it and use it. Come back here and tell us what you think. While you may not "need" it, it makes testing so much easier and more consistent.
 
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Is driving south across the border not an option for you?
What about a friend or relative?
It's probably a little over a one hour drive.
 
FYI the best way to get these kits into Canada is to have them shipped to a friend or relative who is coming up to the Great White North. Or get them shipped to your hotel if you are down in the US for a few days.

You can buy the products in Canada from Lowry, but the prices are way, way higher than in the US. Lowry and Associates - Pool, Spa and Industrial Testing Products
 
The local pool industry has phased out the Taylor products altogether, replaced by the Lamotte Spinrite Waterlink system, much less error prone. The last time I saw Taylor reagent bottles in a store setting was 5 years ago. When you consider that OTO or phenol red are available locally at a cost of $0.07/ mL, there must be some liquid gold packaged along with the Taylor reagents.
 
Eauclaire said:
The local pool industry has phased out the Taylor products altogether, replaced by the Lamotte Spinrite Waterlink system, much less error prone. The last time I saw Taylor reagent bottles in a store setting was 5 years ago. When you consider that OTO or phenol red are available locally at a cost of $0.07/ mL, there must be some liquid gold packaged along with the Taylor reagents.
Click to expand...
I don't think that is the case in Ontario as I still see the basic Taylor OTO and pH kits at my local pool shop, or at least I did last season. I haven't been in yet this year. The Taylor OTO and Phenol red weren't too bad in terms of price - it is the FAS-DPD stuff that is more expensive than cocaine. (Not that I know how much cocaine costs!)
 
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