So you are new to testing

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theninjachachi said:
Sorry for the stupid question
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The only stupid one is the one you don’t ask. If you do something you are unsure of, We could end up with 3 problems to fix. We would soooooooooo much rather only have 1 problem to fix. (For your sake). Please ask away at any time.
 
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I remember when we took ownership of our house and pool. I hadn’t found TFP yet, but I knew I wanted to test myself to at least compare and understand the pool store’s numbers. I figured I’d buy two different test kits to compare and bought the Taylor 2006 and a poolmaster 5 way kit. Sitting down to do the first tests was very intimidating! But I figured the more I did it, the better I’d get and dove right in.
So the lesson learned is to just dive in and git ‘er done! The process is so easy now I kinda miss those exciting days when I wasn’t so sure of myself!
 
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Bondo66 said:
Got my kit today! Looking forward to finding out my true numbers!
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Remember that the dropper bottles go completely upside down. Super gentle squeezes to let gravity make perfect, repeatable tests. The tests are 1 minute long. There is NO reason to rush through to save 19 seconds. Take. Your. Time. :)

Also for the TA test the bottles get a static charge while shipping. Follow the instructions closely. (One easy sentence at a time as always). Make sure to wipe off the tip with each drop. 5-10 tests in you don’t have to wipe anymore.

For the CYA test……. Pfffffft. Good luck. That googley eye LAUGHS at us all. Lol. I’d like to wipe the smile off his face i tellyawhut. But. You can suck it back up and do it over and over with the same sample. Get 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 5 and call it. Round up. 31-39=40. And so on. You cannot really read 20 or less, or 100 and up. Let us know if you fall out of 20-90.

keep.
us.
posted


and look at you go !!!!! :)
 
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==========================================
bondos pool
------------------------------------------
Build Type: Vinyl
Volume: 9600 gallons
------------------------------------------
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 1.0 (14 minutes ago)
CC: 0.0 (14 minutes ago)
pH: 7.2 (14 minutes ago)
TA: 90 (14 minutes ago)
CH: 100 (2 days ago)
CYA: 20 (14 minutes ago)
TEMPERATURE: 86° (14 minutes ago)
CSI: -0.76 (14 minutes ago)
==========================================

Well there you go, wasn't intimidating cause I knew what to expect from you guys!
I ordered the speed stir on Amazon and it should be here Tuesday. I can really see how that will be of benefit!
 
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Newdude said:
It’s not that they can’t. It’s that by the time they get to us they have been so overwhelmed by either others or their pool……. Or what others have made them do to their pool…..

Yeah. They are usually spent mentally. Looking up something new with some weird terms just seems like too much when they are that mentally exhausted.

You, me, and 276k others know it’s not, and they will eventually too……. *if* we get them to try. :)
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Also, there's an entire industry out there with a vested interest in continually convincing people that this is too hard for them to do themselves, and if they've been going to pool stores or pool services for a while, unhearing that message may take a leap of faith.
 
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I really appreciate this thread. My TF-100 just arrived today so I was going through everything and feeling a bit overwhelmed. I'm pretty technically minded but the entire pool process has been quite overwhelming for me. But I'm determined to not have to pay a pool person for mediocre results.

I created a separate Google calendar for all of my testing to try and organize everything. I know I will get there to where it's no biggie but for now....it's a little painful.

Now excuse me, I'm about to go shut off the chlorinator and become a mad chemist with all of these tests. :)
 
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I've been testing since my pool was completed at the end of June. There was a quick learning curve that went from "ah! I can't do this" to it now being really fun. I was so overwhelmed that I couldn't figure out how to use the speed stir (didn't have the magnet in, didn't read the directions! Am I really admitting this on the internet?)
 
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Bondo66 said:
sooo dumb question, is the only PH test the visual vial OTO test?
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Yes, there is only one pH test and, depending on your test kit, the test cells are either on the same block as the OTO chlorine test or the CYA test. Do you have a question or concern about the pH test?
 
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Bondo66 said:
sooo dumb question
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NO

DUMB

QUESTIONS. !!!!!!

Seriously we’ve been over this.
Bondo66 said:
is the only PH test the visual vial OTO test?
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With the exception of the meter listed above, yes. It sure is neat but needs to be calibrated at times and stored a certain way. The color/drop test only need to get you ‘about’ your PH. For most folks, anything 7.X is fine. Too low (6.8 / orange) is real easy to see and so is too high (8.2 / hot pink). If you happen to be able to tell it’s 7.4 this week, great. If not just look at the extremes, See that it’s clearly not, And go about your way whistling.

Ooooooooooh. Another one !!! The chlorine block test is for guessing ONLY. It’s as good as a test strip (not good at all) by Taylor’s own say-so. It accurate to .5 at 1FC, 1 at 2FC and not accurate at all over 5. If you dosed chlorine this morning and should have 6-10 FC left and want a quick check while grilling dinner, By all means. It will tell you that you have probably 7-8 FC left. For regular dosing, SLAMing or OCLT you need the precision of the powder test.
 
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CraigChing said:
Yes, there is only one pH test and, depending on your test kit, the test cells are either on the same block as the OTO chlorine test or the CYA test. Do you have a question or concern about the pH test?
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No questions I just didn't know if there was a separate test.
Thank you all for the help it is greatly appreciated!(y)(y)

Next big thing will be building my deck, gonna probly wait a little longer for lumber prices to come down more. I wont feel good if my lumber costs more than my pool did!
Oh My God Reaction GIF
 
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Bondo66 said:
Next big thing will be building my deck, gonna probly wait a little longer for lumber prices to come down more
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Supposedly lumber futures tanked and it’s only a month or 3 until it catches up at the store.
 
Newdude said:
Supposedly lumber futures tanked and it’s only a month or 3 until it catches up at the store.
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I and also know others will be super happy! I saw the slight decrease earlier in the week but still not enough!
Ill be building a total of about 400sf so i want the prices to drop:cool:
 
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