First testing with K-2006

[mommak]

Thanks a million Watermom. Your expertise and knowledge is greatly appreciated. Tonight I will begin my dose of borax and dichlor. When I test tomorrow morning I will post my numbers.

[Watermom]

You are welcome. Glad that we can help.

[mommak]

Okay, this morning testing didn't go as well. Here's my results,
FC- 5.0
CC- after 10 drops of R-0871 10 ml didn't turn pink
pH- 8.0 before adding 5 drops of R-0004, then after adding 3 drops of R-0005 pH is 7.2
Still no CYA, added 1 c. dichlor and 1 c. borax last night.
What do I need to do and or add?

[BigDave]

I think you may be doing the CC test incorrectly. To review:
1)Add a scoop or two of DPD powder (R-0870) to 10ml sample. If it turns pink you have FC, do step 1.1. Otherwise FC=0, skip 1.1.
1.1)Add drops of R-0871 counting drops and swirling until pink turns clear. Multiply drop count by 0.5 to get FC in ppm.
2)Add 5 drops R-0003 to sample and swirl. If it turns pink you have CC, do step 2.1. Otherwise CC=0, skip 2.1.
2.1)Add drops of R-0871 counting drops and swirling until pink turns clear. Multiply drop count by 0.5 to get CC in ppm.

I think you should stop adding Borax until pH gets to 7.4.

No need to test for CYA until you've used up a few pounds of dichlor, I'd wait until I used about eight pounds of dichlor before testing again.

[Watermom]

Are you following the Super Simple recipe?

Have you watched the testing demo videos? http://pool9.net/K2006-vid/

[Watermom]

Just to reiterate for clarity --

If you have NO pink on step 3 from Dave's post above, you do NOT add the drops of R-0871 on step 4.

[mommak]

Yes, I am following the Super Simple Recipe. I did exactly what BigDave posted above, except for after I added the 5 drops of R-0003, my solution did not turn pink,so I kept adding more drops. After a total of 10 drops it still didn't turn pink,so I stopped adding the R-0003. Does this mean that my pool does not have Combined chlorine?
I am a bit confused with the pH testing. Which pH result number is the accurate one to use? The result after I add the R-0004 or the one after I add the R-0005?
I will hold off on testing for CYA until after I have used about 8lbs of the dichlor.

[BigDave]

After adding 5 drops R-0004 you get a direct pH reading.

R-0005 is acid and the test is used to estimate the amount of acid you'd need to bring the pool to a specific pH. We almost never ask anyone to do that test.

If your pH is 8 after 5 drops of R-0004, skip the Borax doses.

Sorry, Watermom, for messing up the step numbers.

[mommak]

Thank you, yes I will stop adding borax until my pH level lowers.

[Watermom]

...after I added the 5 drops of R-0003, my solution did not turn pink, so I kept adding more drops. After a total of 10 drops it still didn't turn pink,so I stopped adding the R-0003. Does this mean that my pool does not have Combined chlorine?

That bolded text above is your mistake on the CC test. After you add the 5 drops of R-0003, if it does not turn pink, then you have no CC. You do not need to keep adding drops to try and make it turn pink.