Moved House - Now Have A Pool

Jump to latest Follow Reply
@jakeblat yeah, I’ve already got a hygrometer/thermometer combo unit which allows me to track the results in an app. Since yesterday it looks like the relative humidity is ranging between 50/60% with the dehumidifier on so I guess that’s good!

I was tempted by the pool lab 2.0 untill I found the K2006 on Amazon. Have you any experience with the 2.0 at all? How it compares to the Taylor sets for accuracy?
 
I bought a lot of different tests while trying to assemble my own comprehensive kit. I've got the PoolLab 1.0 and 2.0 and do quite like the PoolLab. I considered doing a side by side comparison of the Taylor and PoolLab but haven't got round to it, might be interesting to do.

I would probably recommend the PoolLab 2.0 as one of the best UK options at the moment (although the Taylor is good but expensive to refill if you can get it here). I used it for about 3 months and it's reasonably easy to use, the change to being able to run 3 tests at once instead of 1 that the 1.0 did is a good upgrade. It does take a bit of time to learn how to use it for multi-tests and it's shameful how many times I've crushed the reagent tablets in before I've zero'd it and had to start again :whistle: The cloud feature isn't particularly useful as I'd prefer to get the results into PoolMath. Only downsize is the testing range limitations which you can see in the manual online. It can only test to 6ppm chlorine unless you do some dilution with distilled water or you buy the £0.60 a test high-range chlorine test tablets (which you'd need a lot of if you ever SLAM).
 
@jakeblat I actually just bought a PoolLab 2.0 (found a shop with it reduced to £125 so seemed like a good deal).

I just tested it compared to my Taylor results and was getting virtually identical end points which seems to be a good start!

The real thing for me though was the CYA test as it reads from 0-100. As I’m aiming for CYA 20 (and the Taylor readings start at 30) this was worth it for me!

@PoolStored
Hey! After testing CYA in the poollab, I get a reading of 15. I read on the TFP CYA testing page (CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test) that you should round up your CYA results to the nearest 10. As I’m aiming for 20 and have a result of 15, I guess I don't need to add any CYA for now and can just add equivalent liquid chlorine for a reading of 20? Or should I top up CYA by 5 and try and hit 20?
 
@jakeblat Ive also just taken delivery of some ChlorDorce M15 liquid chlorine from the link you gave me.

Just checking, when you use Poolmath to calculate how much to add, do you say you have 14 or 15% strength (the listing says it’s 14/15%)?

And you definitely don’t dilute it first (e.g to reduce concentration to %10), you just pour it in neat?
 
SteveSwims said:
Hey! After testing CYA in the poollab, I get a reading of 15. I read on the TFP CYA testing page (CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test) that you should round up your CYA results to the nearest 10. As I’m aiming for 20 and have a result of 15, I guess I don't need to add any CYA for now and can just add equivalent liquid chlorine for a reading of 20? Or should I top up CYA by 5 and try and hit 20?
Click to expand...
I don't know the accuracy of the PoolLab. Typically with these photometric testers, errors can be 10-50% or more depending on the test. I would suggest maintaining the pool as is, and follow the FC advice for 20 CYA. If the water seems harsh on your skin, and bleaches your trunks, then raise your CYA by 10. @jakeblat may have better experience...
 
@PoolStored , the PoolLab specs say accuracy is +\- 10% of the end point reading. I know you might have to take that claim with a pinch of salt but given the other readings I’ve taken seem to match my Taylor results (for now at least) it’s the best I can go on.

Just to confirm, when you say maintain the pool “as is”, you mean don’t add any CYA for now right?
 
Great! I’m almost ready to get started, realised last night though that my pressure gauge was dead (didn’t realise it should go to 0 when the pump was off but it stays at the same reading all the time!).

New one is being delivered later though so will fit that, do a backwash/rinse and then get started !
 
SteveSwims said:
@jakeblat Ive also just taken delivery of some ChlorDorce M15 liquid chlorine from the link you gave me.

Just checking, when you use Poolmath to calculate how much to add, do you say you have 14 or 15% strength (the listing says it’s 14/15%)?

And you definitely don’t dilute it first (e.g to reduce concentration to %10), you just pour it in neat?
Click to expand...
Yes don't dilute it, it just makes everything more awkward. As previously mentioned you should add it in front of the return (don't pour it into the skimmer) with the pump running and it will mix very fast. If I add 500ml I would probably take up to a minute to pour it in, pretty much as slowly as you can without it stopping.

In PoolMath enter the % as 14%. I've found it does tend to be this strength fresh but over time (especially if stored in a warm place) will drop. The chlorine I have left over from last year has dropped to around 7-8% (this is worked out on expected increase in FC from PoolMath vs actual measured increase after 30 minutes).

In general I've found the PoolLab 2.0 CYA test to be accurate and more clear-cut than the Taylor or other brand of CYA tests. I do however find that once you get close to 6ppm FC it will not give accurate results. It does however tell you you're out of testing range depending on the particular test.
 
Last edited:
Well, added my first dose of liquid chlorine this afternoon (1.3L according to Pool Maths calculation for targeting FC 4ppm, starting at 0, with 20ppm CYA and 14% concentration). Retested after an hour and got a reading of 3.4ppm

Figured that was a good start and actually had my first swim in my own pool since moving in 2 months ago!

Thanks for your help in getting me started! Now I’ve just got to see how things go over the next few weeks!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Davegnh and PoolStored

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Went out to test this morning (around 9:30am) and FC was down from 3.4 to 2.4. Does that sound about right for an overnight drop?

I added around 500ml (dose calculated pool math to raise back to 4).

Not sure what the best time of day to test/add chlorine is though (seen mixed info on this) or whether it varies by pool?

FYI

CC was around .5

PH seemed to maybe be a bit darker so I recorded as up from 7.2 to 7.4

TA seemed to be down from 150 to 125
 
Tested again this afternoon at around 14:40.

FC was at 3.4 again so seems fairly stable from yesterday maybe

Not hit 4 yet (as per pool match calculation). How soon after adding the chlorine would I be able to test, just to see if it does actually ever hit 4?
 
Good to hear you're now swimming!

If you do see more than 1ppm of chlorine loss a day with the cover on (and not swimming in it) you should double check you don't have algae with the OCLT, make sure you follow the instructions carefully for it to be a worthwhile test: Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT)

Are you using the PoolMath app? You can add a link to your PoolMath logs using the share button in the app so people can quickly look at your timeline of test results (you'll see I have a link to my logs in my forum signature).

Also when you post results on here I'd recommend mentioning which test method you've used (e.g. Taylor or PoolLab) so people don't think you're just posting pool store results (this is what the poollab results will look like to most people on here).
 
jakeblat said:
Good to hear you're now swimming!

If you do see more than 1ppm of chlorine loss a day with the cover on (and not swimming in it) you should double check you don't have algae with the OCLT, make sure you follow the instructions carefully for it to be a worthwhile test: Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT)

Are you using the PoolMath app? You can add a link to your PoolMath logs using the share button in the app so people can quickly look at your timeline of test results (you'll see I have a link to my logs in my forum signature).

Also when you post results on here I'd recommend mentioning which test method you've used (e.g. Taylor or PoolLab) so people don't think you're just posting pool store results (this is what the poollab results will look like to most people on here).
Click to expand...
Yeah, using poolmath, I thought I had actually enabled sharing my logs, should be able to see on my profile hopefully?

Will keep an eye on my FC drops over the next few days and see how they look and will then do the overnight test if I see a consistent drop of 1ppm per 24 hours.

My pool will only have very light swimming, mostly evenings and weekends, so will have the cover on the majority of the time (as well as being indoor). Hopefully I won’t see any consistent drops.
 
I see your PoolMath logs now, not sure why they weren't showing up before.

If you're finding that adding the amount of chlorine recommended by PoolMath doesn't get you up to the target when testing after 30 minutes you might have either the pool volume too low (how did you find out the volume?) or the chlorine might actually be a percent or two lower in concentration.
 
jakeblat said:
I see your PoolMath logs now, not sure why they weren't showing up before.

If you're finding that adding the amount of chlorine recommended by PoolMath doesn't get you up to the target when testing after 30 minutes you might have either the pool volume too low (how did you find out the volume?) or the chlorine might actually be a percent or two lower in concentration.
Click to expand...
I believe the volume is 10000 gallons according to the installers certificate that was left in the pools plant room (installed in 1990 so been there a while 😳).

It’s about 4mx9m and has a single depth of about 1.25m (although there is a gradient all the way around the edge so perhaps slightly less than 10000.

I’ve got my pool math app set to metric so I’ve put my pool volume as 45461 litres.

My pool has an Aqua Genie skimmer/return, so I’m having to pour it in front of the skimmer as that’s where the return is also. I’m pouring it at about arms length over the pool to try and get as much on the return as I can though but I’d say a lot of it gets sucked straight into the skimmer:
 
That's an interesting skimmer/return combo, I can see how it would easily go straight in the skimmer. Might be worth a bit of experimentation pouring left/right of it to see if it has more of a chance to disperse.

The volume does sounds about right, I would reduce your chlorine % down another % in the app and see if your next additions end up matching the poolmath estimate more closely.
 
Sorry, me again!

I’m having real issues getting consistent results with the Taylor kits.

Testing this evening and my FC was up from 4.2 to 5 (without having added any chlorine since the night before). Tested again and got around 0.8, tested again and got around 3.4!

The water goes a pale pink after adding the 2 scoops of powder.

I’m not sure if I’m selecting the end point correctly for the FC test.

I’m noticing that when the water eventually turns clear, it turns pink again after a few seconds. I add another drop and it goes clear but turns pink again within 2/3 seconds, thus repeats for multiple drops.

I’ve read a lot about ending the CC test the first time the water goes clear but is that the same for the FC test too or should I keep going untill it stays clear for a decent length of time?
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply