CYA confusion... (Pool store vs. Taylor K-2006)

Allaboutjeeps

Active member
Jun 3, 2019
33
Kansas City, MO
Alright, I installed my new (to me) 24'x42" above ground pool last summer. Had no idea what we were doing so we pushed the 'easy' button and went to Leslie's. Spent several hundred bucks on chemicals last summer and thought there had to be a better way. Talking to a co-worker, I became convinced that TFP & Pool Math would be revolutionary, so we ordered our K-2006 test kit at the end of last summer. We got busy and the weather cooled off early, so I never broke out the kit. Fast forward to this spring.

Opened the pool, hauled in 1400 gallons to get it above the skimmer, let the filter do it's job for a couple of days and then broke out the kit. Seemed straight forward enough. The test was pretty straightforward, slow the first time through, but seemingly simple. Got to the CYA test and was surprised to see that my level tested at 90-100. Typed it into PoolMath and I was shocked to see that it told me to drain half my water to get it in range!!!! I thought surely that can't be right, but after reading on here, we used tablets last season (a 3 gallon size pail total over 4 months) so I started believing it.

So here comes the confusion. I thought, before I drain half my pool and haul 12 loads of city water in, I would run by Leslie's for a quick test, what could be the harm. They tested it and there numbers were close to mine on everything EXCEPT for CYA! They said I had Zero (compared to my 90-100). I tested again and got 90-100.

So what gives? Is my 8 month old test kit suspect/expired? Is Leslie's that far off? How do I break the tie? Any help for this rookie would be appreciated. Thanks!
 
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:wave: Welcome to TFP!

The CYA reagent is the most stable, so I would not think your test would be wrong. And this is the test that pool stores get wrong the most.

To be clear, you only added a little of the mix to the tube and could not see the dot?
 
:wave: Welcome to TFP!

The CYA reagent is the most stable, so I would not think your test would be wrong. And this is the test that pool stores get wrong the most.

To be clear, you only added a little of the mix to the tube and could not see the dot?
Correct, relatively little. If I stared hard enough, I could convince myself that I could still see the black dot at 60, but I think that was me seeing what I wanted to see!
 
Welcome to the forum!
Believe your own testing. Getting a pool store test was the first mistake.

I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.
Thanks, and I am coming around quickly to your point of view on the pool store. I will read up on those. Hoping they give some insight onto the importance of the CYA level.
 

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I’m going to just say this. Leslie's- most of them have kids working there for the summer. Leslie's near me told me I had no CYA. They sold me stabilizer- After I put in the stabilizer my Taylor kit came in. My CYA was over 300. Stay away from them !! My 2 cents
 
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