Quote Originally Posted by johnfluharty View Post
The fact that they expect you to match colors visually is a good indicator that this is not an exact science. For me personally its not really about precision of what I add as it is remembering what chemical to add. I know, its only a handful of different chemicals, but then I need a grocery list if I want to remember more than 2 items. I do need to know whether to add 8 oz of something or 4 lbs, but I am too lazy to measure what I add precisely anyway, so all I need is a general idea, which the chart helps with, and I don't have to run inside to the computer. I guess I just haven't done this stuff often enough or long enough to really remember.
Yes!! You nailed it! That is exactly how I feel! (And the bit about needing a grocery list for more than two items - too true.)

My angst over all of this isn't because I need everything to be precise, but that the three ways I currently have of getting test results generally give me three conflicting sets of values! When I do (finally) get the good test kit (it is taking a very long time to get here), I will now have confidence that the numbers it is giving me will at least reflect reality a bit, and I will go from there. At the moment I have the pool store telling me Cl- is 0, my test strip saying it is 0.5 and my OTO saying it is 2! Because I have a salt water system I am confident that there is at least some chlorine constantly being added, so I don't feel the need to fling buckets of chlorine around, but I don't want to mess with all of the other parameters until I get the Good Test Kit (my holy grail). And the water currently is beautifully clear...

Alison