New to TFP and managing my pool in Houston

[fastrunnerdude]

Hi everyone. We built a 40' x 25' pool with a pebbletec finish with an in floor cleaning system, and jandy pumps and filter last year. After a year, I'm getting around to managing my pool myself instead of paying for a weekly pool service. I got a TF-pro test kit and I'm still trying to get the CYA test figured out. It's a little hard to decide when i can't see the black dot, and I'm getting pretty different CYA readings on test strips I was comparing against the TF-pro test results. I'll be posting some questions in the other forums as I try to get everything sorted out.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP!

I'm still trying to get the CYA test figured out.

Totally understandable. Try looking at my notes below and see if that helps.

CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results.