Quote Originally Posted by dansdad View Post
ok so I will get my cya level then measure from there to keep pool clean ok Thanks Carl
Yup! You CAN take a sample to a pool store, but the Taylor test in your kit is easily more accurate. Do NOT try to get a reading off test strips. I have the ones, several brands, with CYA tests on them and I am D****ed if I can EVER get even a vaguely accurate read for CYA.

Here are some tips though for the black dot test:
1) Do it the same way every time. While different people get different results, doing it the same way means your measure of CHANGES in CYA will be accurate.
2) The exact amount of mix in the squeeze bottle isn't nearly as important as making sure the mix is 50/50 water/reagent 13.
3) Don't forget to shake the mix for at least 30 seconds before running the test.
4) I always hold the vial at waist level facing into the sun and SLOWLY add the mixture till I cannot see the black dot, even slightly moving the vial from side to side.
5) Re-run the test several times. The beauty of this is ALL you need to do is pour the mixture back from the vial into the squeeze bottle, and then run the black dot test again. I ALWAYS do it at least twice. Doesn't hurt to shake the squeeze bottle again.
6) Remember: Halfway between 40 and 50 isn't 45--it is a logarithmic scale, so try to adjust, but realize anything between lines is a guess.

Hope this helps.