BB Method (Instead of BBB)

[mfhache]

I hadn't caught the fact that you were in Canada.

The problem with NOT having this particular kit is that you are limited to being able to test a chlorine level no higher than 5ppm with other kits. If you are going to run a high CYA pool and thus have to run higher than normal chlorine levels, you are going to have to have some way to test higher than 5ppm. (Did you have a look at the Best Guess chart?) You also have to have a way to test CYA. The only test that can accurately measure CYA is the 'disappearing black dot' test which most kits don't have.

I'll have to check when I get home in a few hours but I'm pretty sure it has a chlorine readout higher than 5. If needed I suppose I could do diluted tests with distilled water.

I know generally pool shops can be misleading but would it be unreasonable to get the water tested there then act on my own accord? I figure this could probably be a good stop gap measure until I can find a way to nab one of the good kits.

[Watermom]

See what tests your kit has. It is a drops-based kit, right? Does the chlorine sample turn yellow or pink when you add the drops? Check when you get home and report back and then we'll go from there.

[mfhache]

The Chlorine goes yellow. If I recall from last year for the PH test I keep on adding drops until the water goes Clear then refer to the chart.

[Watermom]

Chlorine tests that turn yellow are OTO kits that can only go to 5ppm. The Phenol Red test that accompanies it is the type where you add 5 red drops to a water sample and then do a color comparison (shades of pink/red).

Though not ideal, you can kinda get by with dilution to test your water using distilled water. (Not super accurate though.) Another way to kinda get by is by using an off the scale color matching chart that shows you higher chlorine readings using an OTO kit. Copy and paste the following link into a browser window while you are NOT logged into the forum to be able to see it.

http://pool9.net/oto/

But....... you would still have to know your CYA reading. Does your pool store do the 'disappearing black dot' test to test for CYA? That is the only way you are going to get an accurate reading. Knowing your CYA reading is critical.

[mfhache]

I'll have to see what their test comes up with. They usually give me a sheet printout when we're done.

If not then I suppose I'll have to get the $100 kit to start testing

[Watermom]

And, not only what their test comes up with, but how they do it. (Some pool stores have fancy-smancy computerized test readers that seem to give such accurate readings to two decimal places but..... in actuality they aren't too accurate, unfortunately.) Hopefully, they do the disappearing black dot test. Ask them.

[mfhache]

And, not only what their test comes up with, but how they do it. (Some pool stores have fancy-smancy computerized test readers that seem to give such accurate readings to two decimal places but..... in actuality they aren't too accurate, unfortunately.) Hopefully, they do the disappearing black dot test. Ask them.

Will do. Heading there after work to get a jug of Chlorine.