Leslie's vs Taylor

[tcat]

I go to Leslie's about every 6 months "just to see". I went today since a new one just opened 2 miles from home. I expected high phosphates, since 6 months ago they tested over 1000. I usually just ignore, but loads of oak pollen this year made me wonder. They were only 524. I did order a small bottle of PR-10000 yesterday just in case, I may drop 2 pence in.

TA they claim is 38, Taylor says 60 or 70, probably 65. My reagents are probably 3 years old, which to trust? Can't believe what they try to sell you. 30# TA Up, $65, (said I needed 14#); 13# baking soda is $10 at the grocery. All other numbers are within .5. Guess I'll order some new reagents and find out before adding a ton of baking soda.

 

[Newdude]

TA they claim is 38

Is it 'total' or 'adjusted' ? Adjusted is lower and i've seen it lower a bunch of times when they claimed to be using total alkalinity like we do.

Either way, it doesnt matter what they think and asking them serves no purpose but to confuse you.

Taylor makes a phosphate test kit with drops. Buy that once every couple of years if you feel they are getting unreasonably high. The stores phosphate test exists to sell remover, so trust it as such.

 

[tcat]

Says "total", no way it's adjusted, my CYA is 70 (they say 74, I say 65). Will test again after I get new reagents.

 

[Donldson]

Says "total", no way it's adjusted

Very odd, since your adjusted alkalinity would be right about 38 based on the values you provided...

 

[tcat]

Very odd, since your adjusted alkalinity would be right about 38 based on the values you provided...

Sorry, took a second look. Says Total, but has *fine print "adjusted for CYA". Didn't realize that was a thing. Maybe I'll stretch my reagents until next spring sale, they still seem good.

Curiosity. They say 38 adjusted, and should be 80-120. I say 65 total (I typically shoot for 70). If I adjusted their number per their recommendation (add 14# TA Up), my total would be off the charts. A Taylor test number of "total" 70 is good, no adjustment necessary, right?

 

[Newdude]

A Taylor test number of "total" 70 is good, no adjustment necessary, right?

Correct. They advise for heavy puck use. Not using pucks should change the equation, but doesn't. So do they even know the equation ?

 

[Katodude]

Most of the world fights to lower TA. I would love to have mine at 50 or 60, but it seems to bounce to 70.

Be happy and enjoy your pool.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

I would not trust 3-year-old reagents. Get fresh ones. If they match the old ones, you can finish off the old ones and keep the new ones for later.

 

[tcat]

I would not trust 3-year-old reagents. Get fresh ones. If they match the old ones, you can finish off the old ones and keep the new ones for later.

Just ordered a Pro case, Pro refills, short CYA tube, vial, and book. Free shipping!

 

[A1Somebody]

I too double check my reading with Leslie's. In the old days they had a test kit. Now they have a machine. Makes me wonder. If the accuracy is better with the machine.

 

[Donldson]

I too double check my reading with Leslie's. In the old days they had a test kit. Now they have a machine. Makes me wonder. If the accuracy is better with the machine.

It's not and you shouldn't.

 

[taylortechnologies]

You want to be sure to 1) use fresh reagents, and 2) adjust your Total Alkalinity reading by taking into account your CYA levels to find your Carbonate Alkalinity levels. [Calcium Hardness and Carbonate Alkalinity get together to form Calcium Carbonate.] Carbonate Alkalinity also is the buffer that helps keep your pH steady. A "healthy" carbonate alkalinity level also makes reading your pH levels easier. [Low Carbonate Alkalinity levels can make the pH readings fluctuate depending on the cleanliness of your sample tube. Try adding a drop of acid demand reagent into a water sample with a Carbonate Alkalinity of 40 ppm and then adding that same drop into a water sample with a Carbonate Alkalinity of 100 ppm. The 40 ppm sample changes much more dramatically - probably goes yellow.]

Thank you for your trust in Taylor reagents and kits! We have a great production staff here in Sparks, MD, working hard to bring you the best in the industry!

 

[proavia]

You want to be sure to 1) use fresh reagents, and 2) adjust your Total Alkalinity reading by taking into account your CYA levels to find your Carbonate Alkalinity levels. [Calcium Hardness and Carbonate Alkalinity get together to form Calcium Carbonate.] Carbonate Alkalinity also is the buffer that helps keep your pH steady. A "healthy" carbonate alkalinity level also makes reading your pH levels easier. [Low Carbonate Alkalinity levels can make the pH readings fluctuate depending on the cleanliness of your sample tube. Try adding a drop of acid demand reagent into a water sample with a Carbonate Alkalinity of 40 ppm and then adding that same drop into a water sample with a Carbonate Alkalinity of 100 ppm. The 40 ppm sample changes much more dramatically - probably goes yellow.]

Thank you for your trust in Taylor reagents and kits! We have a great production staff here in Sparks, MD, working hard to bring you the best in the industry!

Or just use PoolMath - which takes that into account.
Much easier than manually calculating it.