Any tips & tricks on K-2006 kit?

[danacc]

I've got a 14,000 gallon in-ground pool built in 2000. Every year, we battle algae in the spring. From reading this site, I've learned that I've been trying to maintain this pool while blind. I've been using the "standard" total chlorine and total hardness tests. I knew that my understanding of chlorine level was limited since I couldn't see how much was free, but I didn't realize the importance of testing for calcium hardness. I also had no idea about the role cyanuric acid plays. I'm looking forward to getting the Taylor K-2006 test kit so I can stop psuedo-randomly throwing chemicals into my pool.

My question: Once my K-2006 kit arrives, what's the best way to make sure I'm using it correctly? Any tips and tricks or common gotchas are appreciated!

[Watermom]

Here are a couple of links to Taylor's website showing how to use the kit correctly.

http://www.taylortechnologies.com/pr...KeyWord=FASDPD

http://www.taylortechnologies.com/pr..._slideshow.asp

One thing I will tell you that is different than what the directions say is that when adding the DPD powder during chlorine testing, if the sample turns pink with one scoop, you don't need to add the second scoop. That will make your DPD powder last longer.

[danacc]

Thank you, Watermom, being able to watch somebody's testing techniques on video is helpful. (It is also helping to assuage my curiosity while waiting for my test kit to arrive!)