Test strips

[mwemaxxowner]

Last year I built my mom a stock tank pool with an 8' round stock tank from tractor supply, and boy does she love it.

I convinced her to buy the tf100 test kit AND the magnetic stirrer like I use, but she absolutely won't use it. She just gets lazy about it and never actually does it. She basically just pours a bit of bleach in now and then. I will go over and periodically do a full panel of tests and make it all right. She has actually kept it from going green and needing a SLAM though.

I can't stand it any more and I'm going to just set her up with test strips, and maybe a floater and tablets. I know it goes against what TFP is all about, but is there any advice on what test strips may be better than others?

I think the ones I used to use were "Aquachem" and once I started using TFP methods I realized they weren't even in the ballpark most of the time.

It's 800 gallons so it's not that hard to rectify if things get way out of whack, except her water flow from the tap is awful. It takes a whole day to fill it up.

I have a 275 gal tote though, so I can skim some water off my pool and do a partial exchange for her with that if it's ever necessary.

 

[Texas Splash]

I realized they weren't even in the ballpark most of the time.

I think that's going to be the problem most of the time. Instead of using strips, why don't you take possession of the TF-100? It sounds like you visit her periodically, so chemical levels shouldn't change all that much except for FC. So based on 800 gallons, you probably know how much chlorine to add each day to stay in the ideal target range. Just have her add x-amount of chlorine and that's it. Then you run the full set of tests once or twice a week?

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Rather than a TF-100 why not get her a Taylor K-1004 kit? It’s much simpler than a TF-100 and, if she wants to, she can just do the chlorine/pH test. As long as you get the CYA set and there isn’t much change in that, you can test that whenever you’re around. Stock tanks are basically kiddie pools for adults so it’s best if you simply follow the TFP advice on maintaining small seasonal pools (read the Pool School article on maintaining small seasonal pools).

As for trichlor pucks, I wouldn’t do that. They will dissolve too quickly and the water will become over-chlorinated and highly acidic. Better for your mom to use bleach than solid chlorine.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I was hoping there was a "better test strip". We'll just keep doing roughly what we have been then.

What I'll probably do this year is get everything set, set the CYA on the low end, and get her a floater and tablets to use. I don't get over there often enough to have a feel for daily chlorine use. I'll test periodically and see if the tablets are keeping it close and manually adjust when necessary, and go from there.

Side note, my IGP is wonderful and easier than every using TFP!

 

[mwemaxxowner]

I just saw the last comment.

What if I use the little 1" tablets?

I think the large pucks I have left over are dichlor.

The pool is used seasonally, but stays full year round, due to the difficulty in refilling. It gets a little Intex cover over it, and uses an Intex 1500gph filter pump.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You can try a few 1” tablets in a spa sized chemical floater (not the big pool ones) but someone really needs to monitor pH. If the tablets dissolve too quickly the pH could crash. You can use pH test strips of your mom refuses to use the drop based tester. If you plan to use tablets then make sure your TA is on the higher side around 80-100ppm.

 

[mwemaxxowner]

Thanks. I will try that then. I'll talk to her, and she'll say she'll do better and she'll test, but then she won't actually do it.

She's very busy and she just drops the ball on stuff like that.

Maybe she'll get a Stenner pump for Mother's Day.