What are these in CH test?

[bere]

I’ve been testing and maintaining my pool the TFP way since it was built and lately I have noticed these pink floating specks when I test for CH. Is this normal? Are my reagents bad? Is it because I switched to salt? Help!

 

[ctrav]

That’s odd...have you been rinsing your tubes and pill? Try rinsing everything well with a little bleach and see what happens. Thanks for going down the TFP road!

 

[bere]

I'll try that. This only shows up when I do the CH test, all others are fine.

 

[JamesW]

Usually called floaters. Typically, caused by metals or other interference.

The sample may turn purple during the test, or go to blue for a moment and then turn back to red/pink. This is called a "fading endpoint" and is caused by interference from metal ions. If this happens, do the test again, but this time add five drops of R-0012 before adding any R-0010 or R-0011L. Remember to count the initial five drops in the total.
In extreme cases, a fading endpoint may occur even when adding five drops of R-0012 at the start. If that happens, mix pool water with an equal quantity of distilled water, test that, and then multiply the result by two.

 

[bere]

Should I worry that there are metals in my water? I have not added anything other than the TFP recommended chemicals since fill up. Like I said, this only started happening recently.

 

[JamesW]

Try the modified test to see if it works.