New Pool Owner with Bad Water

[waterbear]

The others can be easily obtained in other kits (like yours). You don't have to replace your kit if you get this addition.

Carl, the kit the OP has ONLY tests chlorine and pH. There are no other tests.
They still need to test TA, CH, and CYA. Getting a K-2006 is probably the most cost effective way to get the tests they need.

[sjrups]

Pool Doc:The iron test kit I purchased was an Aquachek iron test strips. Tests for total iron. There is no part number on the box. It states inside box:" Test strips measure total iron at 0, .15, .3, .6, 1, 2, and 5 ppm. The reading I got was very hard to decipher whether it was the 2ppm or the 5ppm.

WaterBear: I don't know where I saw that on this site in regards to the K-1765, but it was somewhere unless I misread it. It does look like a lot more than I need. I will order the one you suggested as well.

I deliver to a water testing company (I work for Fedex). They are going to sample the iron, TA, and copper for me tomorrow. I will post the results when I get home.

Thanks again to all.

[waterbear]

It states inside box:" Test strips measure total iron at 0, .15, .3, .6, 1, 2, and 5 ppm. The reading I got was very hard to decipher whether it was the 2ppm or the 5ppm.
And this is one of the problems with strips, they are often difficult to read. Iron test kits are not cheap but Taylor and LaMotte both have good ones.
WaterBear: I don't know where I saw that on this site in regards to the K-1765, but it was somewhere unless I misread it. It does look like a lot more than I need. I will order the one you suggested as well.
Actually the kit you got is a lot LESS than you need since it only tests chlorine and pH. You still need tests for TA, CH, and CYA. The K-2006 has all these tests in addition to the FAS-DPD chlorine test and pH test with acid and base demand. You won't regret getting it it.

Hope this is helpful.

[sjrups]

Thanks waterbear. I meant that for the two that it does test, it seems more than I need (has some great slides for easy identification of samples). I have ordered the other kit you recommended.

[PoolDoc]

Test strips are notoriously hard to decipher . . . and often are inaccurate.

I'd wait on the test from the water testing company before assuming that you actually do have iron.

Ben

[sjrups]

Definitely iron in the water. I had Nelson labs test for iron only. Confirmed my suspicions. 12.4 ppm. They said that .3 ppm in drinking water causes stains. What to do next? Shock or try to clean before shocking? Thanks again to everyone for being so helpful. See copied lab report below:

Sample Description: POOL/STREAM WATER - Temp. rec'd: 19 oC
Sample Date: 8/05/10
Sample Time: 6:00
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
DATE TIME TEST TEST
PARAMETERS RESULTS UNITS ANALYZED ANALYZED METHOD ANALYST
__________________________________________________ ______________________________________________
Iron 12.4 mg/l 8/05/10 12:11 200.7 CD


mg/l = ppm