Test Kit Instructions Are Hard To Read

[Tom.B]

I just got my test kit (2006C) in yesterday and started to read the directions prior to doing any testing. Since I turned 40 (almost 50 now), my eyes have gotten progressively worse. The light blue text on the white page is nearly impossible for me to read unless in bright sunlight. TBH, I think it's silly they even chose that color font in the first place. Nevertheless, my question is obviously: Is there an online version of the directions I can print in larger black text? I nosed around Taylor's site, but didn't really see anything.

(Yes... I'm getting old... GET OFF MY LAWN!!!) :-D

Tom-

[PoolDoc]

No, no online version that I recall. You can poke around for yourself at http://www.taylortechnologies.com/

But . . . a better choice might be to work through the Taylor HOW-TO videos. I've posted them on YouTube; all the links are here
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/17157

Regardless, be careful of the instruction booklet; Taylor is promoting old-school (non-BBB) pool chemistry, and there's some pretty bad advice in there.

[Tom.B]

Regardless, be careful of the instruction booklet; Taylor is promoting old-school (non-BBB) pool chemistry, and there's some pretty bad advice in there.

Can you elaborate?

[PoolDoc]

Not so much, right now. I'd need to rewrite the booklet and that's not on my to-do list.

A couple of points though:

1. The various saturation indices are of very doubtful value, and are constantly misapplied. One consequence of trying to run a pool by S.I. is that you'll over-control, with constant unnecessary adjustments.

2. The booklet completely ignores the Chlorine/CYA relationship. 15 years ago, there were legitimate questions when I first published my ideas about that. But in 2014? 100,000's of users here and at TFP have validated my ideas, and Chem_Geek has published, in excruciating detail, the chemical basis for my (mostly) empirical ideas. This relationship is absolutely essential to managing an outdoor pool well. Read the "Best Guess" page, linked in my signature.

[Tom.B]

Yea... I have looked at the Best Guess table and need to do some reading here to figure out just WTH it's saying. The "Shock" and "+Shock+" fields have me stumped.

Thanks for the replies so far. Looking at the videos, I may just go ahead and try my first water test when I get home today. ;-)

[PoolDoc]

The "Shock" and "Shock+" levels are primarily algae-control or algae-killing levels, and are rarely needed if you don't let algae get a start.

There some pools that are -- for unknown reasons -- susceptible to chlorine-resistant mustard algae that may need those levels more routinely. Hopefully, your pool is not one of those.

[Tom.B]

Not mustard, but we have been fighting green for years.

We fought what we THOUGHT was Mustard one year, but I think the pool store crooks misdiagnosed it as pollen on the bottom.

[PoolDoc]

Let's assume you don't have mustard, for now. Just follow post your test results, when you have them.

[nefretrameses]

The videos are pretty good for how to run the test. The CYA test is the hardest to master. But you can pour the solution back into the mixing vial and repeat the test several times to master observing when the dot disappears. Mix the CYA test solution and shake it as instructed, then let it sit while you run the other tests - especially with cold water.

[Smforte]

Tom,
I'm a new user of the same kit. Glad to know I'm not the only one that couldn't see or read that booklet. I cried when I first got the kit wondering what was I thinking. I was very intimidated. Now it's easy peazy and I love testing my water. I just stuffed the booklet in a drawer, followed the directions on the inside lid and read these forums every day. The folks on these forums are awesome and won't stir you wrong!