PH Test

[agrant1212]

PH testing with Taylor kit. Should I do in sunlight? Indoors? In shade? Should I put it to the sky? Should I put it toward a white background? The colors all look different! What is most accurate way to view?

 

[TinFoilHat]

Put it up against a white background. If the colors don't separate well then you can try 4 drops instead of 5.

 

[agrant1212]

I put it up to white background outside. 7.6 with 70
TA.
What I am concerned about and really what is interesting is that I’ve owned this pool 3 months and never manipulated TA or PH. I’ve literally just kept up the liquid chlorine levels. I’ve had rain, I’ve added water via hose when pool got a bit low, and still have proper numbers. Is that crazy?

 

[Newdude]

If your TA and Ph found their happy place, they'll stay put in a vinyl pool. I haven't adjusted Ph this year, and adjusted it only once last year. My TA was good out of the tap 3 years ago and i haven't touched it once.

 

[wireform]

When they say white background it needs to be well lit but I like outdoors towards the sky if I have the ability or I use a brightly lit white cabinet in the background. To make the color choice pop out at you, from behind the oto block, you can block off with a business card and compare line by line and there you'll be able to see where the sample aligns.

 

[pjt]

What is most accurate way to view?

A consistent background is key. To get good backlighting, hold the block in front of your computer monitor/tablet/phone with a blank white screen displayed. Also, try holding the block sideways or upside down. Sometimes that helps distinguish colors better. I also use two old hotel keycards to mask off areas and narrow down my decision.

 

[reggiehammond]

I put it up to white background outside. 7.6 with 70
TA.
What I am concerned about and really what is interesting is that I’ve owned this pool 3 months and never manipulated TA or PH. I’ve literally just kept up the liquid chlorine levels. I’ve had rain, I’ve added water via hose when pool got a bit low, and still have proper numbers. Is that crazy?

You should test TA and pH of your fill water. If you had high TA fill water, you'd obviously be on the muriatic acid bandwagon with me.

 

[wireform]

A consistent background is key. To get good backlighting, hold the block in front of your computer monitor/tablet/phone with a blank white screen displayed. Also, try holding the block sideways or upside down. Sometimes that helps distinguish colors better. I also use two old hotel keycards to mask off areas and narrow down my decision.

You can take a card such that isn't used anymore and with a razor blade cut out a window for the height and width of one row so you can block all except one frame at a time. The color then will be very evident. I may try it just for the fun of it.

 

[dereksanders]

I’m sure Dirk has a trademark on it.

 

[wireform]

 

[Getitrite]

My index card method . . . slide the card up and down to get match. It helps me better than using the thumb method to block above and below. I get a better display for my aging eyes.

 

[Newdude]

Not quite 7.8 but this // close.

7.785.

 

[Getitrite]

Not quite 7.8 but this // close.

7.785.

Your device may not display the "true" color match as I may see with my cataract-corrected eyes . . .