Leslie’s vs Taylor test

[poolgirltx01]

So the new test kit came in…. Y’all this CYA testing, WHEW. I’m getting 40!! I did the new reagents first, then old reagents, and then to compare I put the old reagents in the old test tube… 40,40,70.

View attachment 558314View attachment 558315View attachment 558316

And just Darns and gigs here’s the new reagent in the old test tube at 70.

 

[Newdude]

I've been so mad at the googely eye, at times I wanted to poke him with a stick. Did you ?

 

[poolgirltx01]

I have gone crossed eyed more times than I can count staring into that Dang googly eye. I have definitely wanted to throw it across the yard a few times.

 

[mknauss]

staring into

Don't do that ----
Once you have your solution ready, back to the sun, etc. Fill the vial to a line, say 80, lower the vial to your waist level and glance for the dot, you see it, add solution to the 70 line, glance, see it, repeat until you no longer see it with a glance. Then use the CYA value one step above the line you read. So if you stopped at 50, use 60 ppm CYA.

 

[Newdude]

+1. I use a lightning flash glance and call it yes no.

You can't stare because your brain lies to you. Wanna see ? Look at your nose. It was there this whole time. Maybe even all week. (Apologies you'll see it for the next 20 mins)

 

[Saturn94]

I only wish chlorine prices would plummet because at $3.99/gal for 10% this week ain’t gonna be cheap .

I wish it was only $3.99 here! Last I looked it was about double that here.

 

[BigInAz]

Leslies tests aren’t very accurate, no snark intended but they’ve been proven to be really bad with their testing.

I have to agree regarding Leslie's. When we moved to Arizona last year I went to Leslie's every week to have my water tested....I know, I know....after spending a boat load of cash I came here, and looked elsewhere and realized that their tests are 100% geared to selling product, not helping pool owners maintain their pools in a sensible way. With research and consistency I managed to get my pool in great shape and now feel confident maintaining my own pool.
I'm not an expert but I trust the folks here in this forum over Leslie's any day of the week.

 

[Newdude]

I trust the folks here in this forum over Leslie's any day of the week

We have nothing to sell you but good will. Y'alls do the math on that one.

And worse than their testing is their advice. Add FC to 1 to 4. Welp. The sun burns off 4 ppm per day for most during the peak season. Maybe up to 6 in the hot climates. You better be out there adding every other hour.

 

[cledee]

It’s pool opening time and I wanted to see if my reagents were accurate or not. Other than my chlorine I’m getting some vastly different results with my Taylor K2006 test kit compared to what Leslie’s got today. Is it my reagents or something else?

This has probably been answered but the only test from Leslie I would take into consideration are the metal test. Those did show up on their reading and could cause you issues down the road.

 

[Newdude]

the only test from Leslie I would take into consideration are the metal test.

They ruined that too when they published their tolerances. At .3, the accepted threshold where staining becomes more likely for copper and iron, they were +/- .3

If you're .3 it might read 0 or .6. Or 0 reads as .3.

 

[Bperry]

This has probably been answered but the only test from Leslie I would take into consideration are the metal test. Those did show up on their reading and could cause you issues down the road.

+1, their metals tests are a joke.

 

[cledee]

@Bperry @Newdude I've never gone to Leslie's for a water test. My local pool store was enough of an adventure for me. But I always thought the metal test was the only reliable test. lol

 

[Newdude]

But I always thought the metal test was the only reliable test. lol

We knew it wasn't perfect but figured it was better than nothing as the only free option. As it turns out, again per them, it's not better than nothing.

If you're much above .6, there is probably serious staining that is hard to argue. Anybody on the fence, or wondering of they're on the fence won't be helped if an OK .2 reads as bad .5 or vice versa.

 

[rjb1211]

Here’s another Leslie’s story. Back in 2017 I had the pool replastered. In order to keep the warranty valid I needed to have the water tested monthly and to get a print out of the results. The manager knew why I was there and didn’t push anything but occasionally I would get one of the extras for the test. One of those times I was told that the phosphates were high and that I needed $80 of something to get it down. The manager overheard the conversation and told the employee to drop it because I knew what I was doing.