Which test kit do I really need?

[bbse]

I have a 30' above ground pool. I want to be able to test my CYA levels and also Combined, Free and Total chlorine levels. I have several kits already that seem ok for alkalinity and ph. I really want to be able to test in a range higher than 5ppm which is all I can find around Nashville. Do I need just the PS100R refill kit or should I get something more?

[dawndenise]

Check out the info in the thread below. CarlD lists an economical way to give you the higher CL testing you're looking for.

If PS100 is a Pool Solutions refill, unfortunately, refills and kits appear to be unavailable this season. If you decide you need an entire test kit similar to the full, previously-available Pool Solutions kit, take a look at the kits being sold as an adjunct to the troublefreepools website.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=7015

[steveinaz]

I really like the Taylor FAS-DPD professional kit from Leslie Pools. $67

[bbse]

OK, now I am confused....I didn't see a test kit in that thread and is Ben completely out of testing supplies? He has the complete kit on baclorder but the chorine test kit doesn't say anything about not being available.

What is up?

[waste]

Bbse, unfortunately Ben has been 'MIA' since last fall. People have wondered where the test kits they paid for are and no one has heard from him . While I believe in supporting this forum in every way possible, the sad truth is that you'd be better off buying an equivilent kit elsewhere, the other posters told you where to get one.

edit: - pm Duraliegh, he can probably help you

[CarlD]

Yes, you have to order kits or refills from other sources. Two that work very well are Leslies on-line (they are far better than the retail stores for this) or TaylorTechnologies.com.

Leslies has a straight FAS-DPD test kit--that's all it tests is FC and CC but it's the Taylor test Ben used for years and it's good to at least 50ppm. This single test is about a $20 item, and it's the best $20 you can spend! You can get refills from them too--somewhere we've stickied the list of substitutes if you have Ben's later kits. The earlier ones used the straight Taylor codes.

[KurtV]

The test kit available here is very similar to Ben's (also based on the Taylor K-2006) and it also includes the OTO chlorine test for those daily quick and dirtys. For what you get I think the price is significantly better than the K-2006 or the Leslie's equivalent.

[bbse]

thanks everyone, sorry to here that Ben is MIA, I will get a kit elsewhere. There is a local company that sells Taylor products and has a kit for 36.50 with the DPD test up to 5 ppm. I may just get that one for now because it has all the other stuff and just add a better chlorine test down the road. I need to get started testing now. From what I have read I could do the distilled water dilution thing and get close on higher chlorine numbers.

[Poconos]

Also check out this online place.
http://www.spspools-spas.com/
The thing that Bens kit had going are the extra reagents for the commonly used ones. Personally I don't do the OTO test but that's my preference. For the K-2006 kit the CYA reagent (R-0013), Calcium buffer (R-0010), FAS-DPD titrating reagent (R-0871), and the DPD powder (R-0870) get gobbled up first so you can order larger bulk refills of those. Keep the bulks refrigerated and closed, except to refill the smaller bottles, and they last a real long time. Years.
Al
As for Ben...still MIA and no contact.

[bbse]

I just got back and I bought locally, a Taylor K-2005 kit for $36.50. It doesn't have the FAS/DPD test in it but by using the 1.8ML mark on the DPD scale and multiplying by 5, I can check all the way to 25 PPM for chlorine.

My numbers were

FC 16
TC 16
CYA 70
PH 7.2
Alk 145
Cal 150

This is a 30' above ground with 45" of water. I calculated it has about 19,647 gallons. I have been fighting a little algae since last fall, I have shocked it three times so far and it is clearing up nicely. I shocked it as soon as I got the pool filled back up and got the pump going, I have a center drain also. That was about 3-4 days ago, then I shocked it day before yesterday and I added a quart of polyquat 60, I shocked it again last night. I still have a little algae, as soon as it drops below 10 I think I will brush, vacuum and maybe hit it one more time but I may wait. I am not sure at this point.