Taylor sample sizer. Unnecessary and love it

[KJB1]

Finally got the Taylor sample sizer. I thought it was a waste of money until I used it. It is so nice not having to add a little, pour some out, add a little more, too much…. Seems like an under appreciated tool in the kit if you test a lot.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yup, that's on my list of gadgets to get. I'm assuming you already have the Speed Stir device? That, in my opinion is more necessary, but the sample sizer may be a runner up.

Maddie

 

[KJB1]

Yup, that's on my list of gadgets to get. I'm assuming you already have the Speed Stir device? That, in my opinion is more necessary, but the sample sizer may be a runner up.

Maddie

Of course I do. You need the speed stir sample tubes to use the sizer.

 

[DrewLG]

You need the speed stir sample tubes to use the sizer.

Specifically, you need the Taylor 9198 vials.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Oh? I have no problem with the vials from the kit... how do these differ? I wish the link showed a picture.

 

[jdlangley1]

I’ve always used a Leslie’s water sample bottle with nozzle on it. I like to stare at the Leslie’s label on the bottle while testing. it makes me feel better about myself!!!!!

 

[DrewLG]

Oh? I have no problem with the vials from the kit... how do these differ? I wish the link showed a picture.

The link shows a picture for me. It's pretty much what you'd expect:

The Taylor 9198 and the tftestkits non-chlorine vial are the same size, I think. But the "chlorine-only" vial from tftestkits is a different shape; if you use it, the SampleSizer won't displace the right amount of water and you'll end up with the wrong sample size. I replaced both tftestkits vials with 9198s (and wrote "chlorine only" with a Sharpie on one) to be sure.

 

[DrewLG]

Seems like an under appreciated tool in the kit if you test a lot.

... and if you use only the FAS-DPD test for chlorine testing, you can throw away the test kit's little bottle of R-0600 to free up a perfectly-sized hole for storing the SampleSizer.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I always fill the vial so that the concave meniscus line is on the 10cc. Works okay for me? I'm gonna have to get out my liberated syringe and test that.

 

[DrewLG]

I always fill the vial so that the concave meniscus line is on the 10cc. Works okay for me? I'm gonna have to get out my liberated syringe and test that.

Right. The SampleSizer does the same thing; it's just quicker:

Without the SampleSizer, you raise the vial to your eye level (or lower your eye to it), hold it level, and carefully squeeze water into it until the meniscus reaches the 10ml or 25ml line.

With the SampleSizer, you just fill the vial to anywhere above 10ml, stand over a sink and drop the SampleSizer into the vial, then remove the SampleSizer. To get a 25ml sample instead, you fill to anywhere above 25ml and flip the SampleSizer upside down before dropping it in.

 

[wireform]

I have one but more a bother then it's worth. When you're good at filling the vial from a bottle it's only a minor problem in the scheme of things.

 

[KJB1]

Right. The SampleSizer does the same thing; it's just quicker:

Without the SampleSizer, you raise the vial to your eye level (or lower your eye to it), hold it level, and carefully squeeze water into it until the meniscus reaches the 10ml or 25ml line.

With the SampleSizer, you just fill the vial to anywhere above 10ml, stand over a sink and drop the SampleSizer into the vial, then remove the SampleSizer. To get a 25ml sample instead, you fill to anywhere above 25ml and flip the SampleSizer upside down before dropping it in.

I just scoop the water out of the pool and drop the sample sizer in right away to spill the excess back in the pool.

 

[KJB1]

The link shows a picture for me. It's pretty much what you'd expect:
View attachment 444937
The Taylor 9198 and the tftestkits non-chlorine vial are the same size, I think. But the "chlorine-only" vial from tftestkits is a different shape; if you use it, the SampleSizer won't displace the right amount of water and you'll end up with the wrong sample size. I replaced both tftestkits vials with 9198s (and wrote "chlorine only" with a Sharpie on one) to be sure.

Any reason to use one for chlorine only?

 

[DrewLG]

Any reason to use one for chlorine only?

I've heard that the DPD powder eventually stains the vial, although I haven't seen that (maybe because I only use one dipper of powder per test, so it dissolves completely). The staining can apparently be removed with rubbing alcohol, so it's not a huge deal either way.

 

[proavia]

I picked up a 10ml syringe (normally used to administer kids medicine) for well under $5.
Works great. Amazon has them for less than $3 or a five pack for $9.
Cheaper and less messy too.

 

[Newdude]

CYA squirter bottle. It's just sitting there bored 9.5 times out of 10.

I appreciate the sample sizer and everyone who likes it. For me, I make enough mess as it is without spilling water on purpose.

 

[generessler]

I got a sample sizer and love it in concept.

But this really weird thing happens. I consistently get lower FC readings than when I manually tweak the level to the 10ml mark.

I've done hundreds of tests measuring manually. No problems with consistency. I swear the water level is the same both ways. Everything else is exactly the same (e.g. the speed-stir). But the sample sizer test is still about 1.5 ppm lower every time. Crazy!

When I first got it, the difference was 3ppm. I've let it soak in the pool for days, scrubbed it several times with soap and water and then with isopropyl alcohol to get it to this point.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this strange experience.

I'm thinking maybe there's some residual left over from the aluminum coating process that poisoning the reaction. But that's entirely a guess.

 

[DrewLG]

I swear the water level is the same both ways. Everything else is exactly the same (e.g. the speed-stir). But the sample sizer test is still about 1.5 ppm lower every time.

Here's a silly thought:

The Taylor 9198 vials have both a 10ml line and an 11.5ml line. Are you SURE that you're filling to the 10ml line when you test without the SampleSizer?

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this strange experience.

I haven't.

What happens when you do the FC test with a 25ml sample?

 

[KJB1]

I got a sample sizer and love it in concept.

But this really weird thing happens. I consistently get lower FC readings than when I manually tweak the level to the 10ml mark.

I've done hundreds of tests measuring manually. No problems with consistency. I swear the water level is the same both ways. Everything else is exactly the same (e.g. the speed-stir). But the sample sizer test is still about 1.5 ppm lower every time. Crazy!

When I first got it, the difference was 3ppm. I've let it soak in the pool for days, scrubbed it several times with soap and water and then with isopropyl alcohol to get it to this point.

I'm wondering if anyone else has had this strange experience.

I'm thinking maybe there's some residual left over from the aluminum coating process that poisoning the reaction. But that's entirely a guess.

I have not noticed that. I even tested back to back with and without the sizer when I first got it just to see if it made a difference on what I thought was 10ml

 

[KJB1]

I've heard that the DPD powder eventually stains the vial, although I haven't seen that (maybe because I only use one dipper of powder per test, so it dissolves completely). The staining can apparently be removed with rubbing alcohol, so it's not a huge deal either way.

I noticed the pill scratching the tube more than anything. I have 2 only because I found one in the street when I was walking my dog. I thought I recognized it, picked it up and sure enough, a Taylor tube. Some pool guy probably wasn’t too happy.