[quote=karenk]
Quote Originally Posted by CarlD
I have two of the best kinds of test strips you can get as a pool owner, and they are fresh this season.

I also have PoolDoc's PS232 and PS233 kits. I have the WalMart HTH 5-way kit, and Leslie's FAS-DPD test kit (made by Taylor) AND Leslie's full test kit for all the other tests (again, made by Taylor).

Wow that's alot of different test kits to have...why so many? WE have a walmart and Leslies here in NJ as well, I would like to try one of those....any thoughts?

Karen
Well, part of it is because I'm a moderator and like to have as much knowledge as I can absorb (in certain areas like "Feet of Head" it isn't much!) and I found that the little OTO kits can vary widely. I have a bunch of them, too. I also like to know what people can get. The Leslie's pair of kits isn't offered anymore, but they have on their website a full kit with FAS-DPD testing for chlorine. It's functionally the same as PoolDoc's but it's not as easy to use at first. Once you get the hang of the Taylor kits, they are all pretty easy to use. The WalMart HTH 5-Way seems to be readily available in some parts of the country, but no longer here. Now they are pushing the HTH 6-way test strips instead--pure garbage. The 5-Way drop kit is not nearly as good as PoolDoc's kits, Taylor's or Leslies' FAS-DPD kit. But for $12 to $15 it's the best bargain in testing you can get and is far better than any other kit I've seen (including the BioGard ones).

I'm not sure what to do with all that foam. I suspect the basics: lots and lots of bleach, and filter 24/7--and patience.

Algaecide is ONLY usuallyl good for prevention, and then only PolyQuat, not the others.