Taylor K-2005 vs. OTO test

[famousdavis]

I have my two younger kids test our new pool using a simple OTO kit. Since I got my Taylor K-2006 kit, I've learned that the OTO kit for chlorine isn't nearly sensitive enough to indicate changes in chlorine beyond the kit's 2.0 yellow indicator. When my Taylor K-2006 showed 12.5 FC after shocking our pool, the OTO kit read 2.0, maybe 3.0 - certainly not 5.0 (the highest reading).

I'd rather reserve the use of the K-2006 to myself, rather than turn all those chemicals over to my kids. But I'd like for them to continue doing daily testing of chlorine and pH.

Relative to the K-2006 kit, how well does the K-2005 kit perform? Is it the same pH test? Does the K-2005 kit do a better job at having colors fluctuate during the chlorine test (that's how the K-2005 kit test chlorine, yes?). Since my aim will be to keep our FC at the 4.0 level, the OTO kit's chlorine test isn't sensitive enough to be of much use towards that end-goal.

[kelemvor]

I can't answer about the FAS test being better or worse than OTO, but Taylor also makes a kit called K-2009 which is the fas-dpd, phenol red pH test, and CYA test. You could remove the cya reagent from the kit and stick it in your 2006 box since that one runs out very quickly anyway.

Unless it's the DPD powder you don't want them handling?

http://www.taylortechnologies.com/products_kitinfo.asp?&MarketID=1&KitID=2238

[famousdavis]

Actually, yeah, it's the powder I don't want them handling.

[CarlD]

The K-2005 is a DPD test kit. The K-2006 uses the FAS-DPD test instead. Otherwise the kits are the same. You can buy just the FAS-DPD test separately as the K-1515, in its own separate box. That and the K-2005 together are the same as the K-2006, plus having the DPD test.

Carl

[Watermom]

Usually OTO kits are pretty reliable. Not to 12.5 of course, but for normal maintenance levels. I use my OTO kit many days for my daily testing.

[waterbear]

I second that, my Taylor K-1000 (OTO/pH) is my daily tester. I only break out the 'big kit' once a week!

Once you get used to using OTO it even becomes useful at high chlorine levels since it does not bleach out like DPD. Just realize that it is testing only total chlorine. However, if you are on top of your water and your weekly test does not show CC then you can assume on the daily tests that the TC is pretty much the FC when your water is stable.

[famousdavis]

Maybe it's the specific OTO kit I'm using -- from Pinch-a-Penny, not from Taylor. When the FAS-DPD kit read 12.5 FC after doing a SWCG boost this weekend, the Pinch-a-Penny OTO kit showed 3.0 (yellow) not 5.0 (orange).