Great tip. I'm printing this one out to keep with my pool notes for future reference. It'll really help when shocking during spring openings.![]()
Phenol red is the indicator reagent used in all pool pH tests -- drops and strips. It's quite reliable, but it has a weakness: if the chlorine is too high, phenol red gets converted to a different indicator, chlorophenol red. With most phenol red drops, you can no longer trust the results one the chlorine gets above 5 ppm. Taylor's phenol red drops (in the K2006, the HTH 6-way and the K1000) have a compensating additive that makes them reliable up to 10 ppm.
The solution is simple: dilute with distilled water! For some complicated chemical reasons, you can dilute your sample 1:1 or even 1:2, without changing the pH enough to matter if you use distilled water. Tap water won't work; well water won't work, and normal bottled water won't work: only distilled or deionized water will work.
So how do you do it?
Just get a gallon of Walmart distilled water (http://pool9.net/distilled/) and a measuring cup. Add 1/4 cup of pool water, and then 1/4 cup of distilled water. If the chlorine level in your pool is really high, add 1/4 cup of pool water and then 1/2 cup of distilled water. Mix, and test your pH!
That's it!
PoolDoc / Ben
Great tip. I'm printing this one out to keep with my pool notes for future reference. It'll really help when shocking during spring openings.![]()
22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6
WOW, this is a great tip, just fond it. thank you so much PoolDoc
Eddie
Summer Escapes 14' Pro-Series 4047 gallons, Intex 12 inch sand pump, Intex SWCG, Intex 2500 GPH Filter Pump, surrounded by Vinyl Works Fence using a Taylor K-2006C and Taylor K-1766, Sungrabber 4 x 12 feet Solar Collector, Hayward Aqua Solar GL-235, 12 mil Clear Solar Blanket
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