Testing Options in Australia

[mooseau]

Hi Forum,

It's been a while. Just wondering if there is only one test supplier in Australia, or if there are other options. I can't recall if I read a message on all the options available to Aussies.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

The only one I am aware of *in* AUS is Clear Choice Labs. I kmow some folks import (at great cost?) Taylor kits sometimes.

Maddie

 

[mooseau]

That sounds about right. Any alternative testing recommendations for Calcium or CYA? I've noticed there are some aquarium tests for calcium and they look to be the same reagents. I can't really find any alternative CYA and am resigned on going to the pool shop for tests . . .

 

[CRAD_oz]

Clear Choice Labs appears to be Closed temporarily, I'm guessing that's why you are looking for alternative? I

 

[mooseau]

Yeah, I noticed they were closed. That will be more of a problem, mostly for CL testing as my CL levels need to be tested at around 8. Winter is coming though, so mighn't be a problem.

The reason for looking for alternative tests was that I've found some CCL tests to be unreliable. I've proven beyond a doubt the CH test is inert. It's not a storage issue because even the replacement kit has this problem. Then with the CYA, I relied on it before validating only to find it shot up to 107. I'm still trying to recover. The CYA test is inert or about 50% off. I'm waiting for levels to drop before determining this.

PH tests are spot on, but because of the colour I can't discriminate well. I find Phenol tests much easier. Alkalinity tests have been 100% spot on. CL tests might be a bit off, but that could be just the pool shop. I really love the level of sensitivity of the CL tests and it saved me when I had to SLAM my pool.

My three theories so far are: CCL have quality problems, hot weather during transport ruined the samples or something in my pool chemistry is challenging the tests.

 

[mknauss]

@BrettClearChoiceLabs

FYI

 

[CRAD_oz]

Moos
Sorry I don't have anything to add to your original question but I'm running out of Reagents so ill be wathing this thread closely.
I have just brought my pool back online and so most of my Chemicals have just been added and measured. I will check them again this weekend and see if I get any different results. My cya was measured at 0 before I added Stabilizer and so I added 2kg to get to 40 as per Poolmath. Measuring it a day later I found it at 70. I put this down to a poor test on My part and not the testing. maybe there is a slight offset? Luckily 70 is where I want it.
I'm assuming you repeated the tests again to ensure the readings were outside the levels your were expecting?

 

[mooseau]

@CRAD_oz, Can you do a standard test and see what numbers you get? Can you get a pool shop sample? Your test numbers sound inflated but close to the inflation amount that I experienced. My standard sample of 50 came in at about 80. If you adjust your 70 sample by 60% you get the expected 40.

I haven't retested. I want the numbers to drift downwards more before trying again. I thought my CH test was an offset, but it was later determined to be inert. I want to be conclusive with CYA and not have any doubt that it is my testing process. In other words I want to be certain I have a reliable offset or an inert test.

 

[aussieta]

i buy from the usa
Taylor FAS DPD Test Kit Chlorine - SERVICE SIZE K-2006C
and get my refills there

 

[duraleigh]

CCL test kits have not been unreliable. Hundreds of members here use them with success. Calculating "correction" factors is never a good idea.

 

[CRAD_oz]

@CRAD_oz, Can you do a standard test and see what numbers you get? Can you get a pool shop sample?

Moos I won't be going into a shop anytime in the future but I will test again this weekend but this time I'll use the Standard that comes with each test to ensure I'm testing correctly.

 

[mooseau]

@duraleigh, I appreciate that is the consensus online here, but I've proven the CH tests are defective. Regardless of the water sample, they return 450 ppm. And when I relied on the CCL CYA test, my numbers got all messed up. If the tests aren't defective, then they are fragile to transport or I'm the issue. But since the Alkalinity tests have been accurate and validated by the standard sample and a pool shop, I'm not convinced I'm doing anything wrong with testing.

So I'm stumped as to what the issue is. The facts are: my original CH tests 450 PPM and the replacement kit by CCL tests 450 PPM. My CYA sample and standard sample tested about 50% lower.

 

[duraleigh]

Well, in 2-3 years of hundreds of reports from CCL, you are the ONLY one to come to that conclusion. What should we do? How do we validate your findings?

 

[mooseau]

Yes, this is why I've been hesitant to raise the issue. I just wasn't sure and why just me? My proof is that I let CH drift down for two months. The pool shop twice showed a drop and CCL CH test did not. I then added Calcium and the CH test showed no change. CYA, I'm not sure yet. Could very well be me reading it in bright light or something.

 

[CRAD_oz]

Moos
I checked my CYA again today and it still 70. A repeatable result. I must of assumed the result under 30 was 0 the first time I checked it.
I'd stay away from Pool shop tests, after all isn't that why you bought the CCL kit?

 

[mooseau]

I know, but I can't trust all the CCL tests. I did another CYA standard and pool test. Both incorrect by a factor of 70%. I tried inside lighting versus outside and no difference. At this point, CYA still will have to stay with the pool shop. I've now settled only on Chlorine and Alkalinity with CCL, as they have proven consistent. Phenol Red is just easier to read for me for PH so I'll stick to that. It's not at all that the CCL PH test has a problem.

Oh, and the DE in the sand filter is amazing. Has brought such extra clarity to my pool. Not sure what TFP thinks about pool filter socks, but that might also have made a difference. Well, if not, it has minimised the dirtiness to my pool pump filter, that's for sure.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We love Skimmer Socks here at TFP!

 

[mooseau]

Yay for skimmer socks!

 

[mooseau]

So I bought a Calcium tests with similar reagents. 40ppm sensitivity instead of 25. It was pretty close to the pool shop readings. So I consider it sufficiently proved that I have two confirmed ClearChoice Labs Calcium tests that don't work. Either CCL have a bad batch or something like heat destroyed them in the post.

 

[mooseau]

My last post on this. I got access to a Taylor test kit and did a complete comparision with CCL. CH and CYA were off as previously thought and by the ratios mentioned. Taylor kits did tests perfectly and have validated what I've thought.

I'll still support CCL when they ship again, we need to support Aussie businesses. But will be conscious to validate against a reliable second test.