My first water test - opinions?

[Gracy101]

Thank you both for your response. I'll try the shotglass method tomorrow morning and post a new set of results. Hopefully the stabilizer will be alright.

As for continuing to use the kit as described in my original post - any opinion on sticking with what I've got till I can get Ben's kit, in light of the fact that I can use the "shot glass" method to test for CC?

I glanced at a post from Hulla?, I think, discussing using the Taylor 2006 test kit as a viable alternative to Ben's. It seems I may be able to get that faster online if I am unable to get accurate readings from what I've got. I have to sit and reread the post. See link below. Any thoughts?

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3207

Needless to say, Janet, I will not be using my PB for continued maintenance. I have become a Poolforum member!

[aylad]

You can't use the shotglass method for testing CC. CC is combined chlorine, which is chlorine that has already been "used up". Your test kit only tests total chlorine, which is the sum of combined chlorine and free (still available to work) chlorine. You can use what you've got until you get Ben's kit--he's now working hard on getting caught up. Then again, if money isn't an issue, it wouldn't hurt to have a Taylor if it's available now, and still order Ben's. Many of us have multiple test kits.

Janet

[Gracy101]

Sorry - then I didn't understand what the shot glass method is testing for I'm afraid. Isnt it the same as my little kit just allowing for a higher range of results?

On the instructions for the kit,it says the initial drop test with the OTO drops gives me a free chlorine reading within 10 seconds but only up to 5.0. Then you wait longer and it will give a total chlorine level. Then I assume do the math and get a CC reading.

I thought since the shot glass method allowed me a higher maximum range, if my FC number was 5.0 I would still be able to get a TC number. Is that not right?

[aylad]

Okay, my bad...it's been a few years since I used the hth OTO test, and at that time it only measured for TC. There was no distinguishable difference between FC and TC. So, in theory, yes you could read your results, multiply by two, then re-read and multiply and use the TC = FC + CC. However, you need to understand that the OTO test is really giving you a ballpark, and you lose a little of what accuracy you had by diluting--so I would not rely on that test kit to give you good CC numbers.

Janet