As pool owners, maintaining the water quality is a top priority, and that’s where the Taylor K-2006 and K-2005 kits come into play.
The K-2005 uses a conventional approach to chlorine testing whereas the K-2006 brings advancements that cater to the evolving needs of pool owners and make the testing process more reliable.
Whether you’re a new pool owner seeking the right testing kit or an existing user considering an upgrade to the K-2006 kit, the following guide provides all the insight you need for your decisions regarding the pool maintenance routine.
You can also read any one of my comparisons between some of the other popular test kit option:
So let’s dive right into the details.
Taylor K-2006 vs K-2005: Highlighting the Differences
Chlorine Testing Method
The primary difference between Taylor K-2006 and K-2005 is in their chlorine testing approaches. The K-2006 employs an FAS-DPD test based on the titration method, with no hassle of color matching involved. This test changes the reagent color from pink to colorless and hence, eliminates any confusions related to color and comparator reading.
The K-2005, on the other hand, uses a DPD test that involves matching the color of the solution with a color chart to estimate chlorine levels. This approach can lead to difficulty in reading the different color shades initially and provide inaccurate readings.
Accuracy
While Taylor’s reputation for accuracy applies to both kits, the K-2006 offers more precise measurements as compared to the color matching (DPD) K-2005 mainly due to the difference in testing methods.
- Chlorine Testing Limit
First of all, the DPD test can only test chlorine up to 10 ppm and bleaches out at high free chlorine levels, making a false perception of no chlorine when the concentration is high in reality. The K-2006, on the contrary, can test chlorine up to 25 ppm or higher without dilutions.
- Comparator Markings
Secondly, the K-2005 has a scale with markings at 0 ppm, 0.5 ppm, 1 ppm, 1.5 ppm, 2 ppm, 3 ppm, and 5 ppm, creating limitations in resolution. This means the smallest calculation is 0.25 ppm between 1 and 2 ppm, 0.5 ppm between 2 and 3 ppm, and 1 ppm between 3 and 5 ppm, which reduces the precision to a significant extent.
On the other hand, the FAS-DPD test offers a resolution of 0.5ppm with a 10 ml water sample, regardless of the chlorine concentration in the pool water.
- Subjective Color Reading on DPD
Thirdly, the colors on the DPD test of K-2005 are hard to distinguish at times and can lead to inaccurate readings depending on individual color perception abilities.
In contrast, the FAS-DPD test of K-2006 is a titration test with prominent color changes, providing accurate indicators.
Taylor K-2006 vs K-2005: Similar Factors
Parameters Tested
While both kits utilize different testing methods, they offer insight into similar parameters, providing a critical summary of the chemical balance and overall health of the pool water.
You can test a wide range of water parameters that impact your pool’s water quality using the Taylor K-2006 and K-2005.
The Taylor K-2006 and K-2005 can test:
- Total Alkalinity
- Free Chlorine
- Combined Chlorine
- Cyanuric Acid
- Calcium Hardness
- Water pH
In addition to these parameters, the K-2005 stands out by testing Total Bromine too. If you want to check K-2005’s updated price on Amazon, click here.
Ease of Use
Both K-2006 and K-2005 are fairly easy to use. You can perform a variety of tests accurately and efficiently, regardless of your extent of technical knowledge and prior experience with pools.
However, the K-2006 gets a slight edge over its counterpart due to the relatively easier and more reliable chlorine testing technique.
But while the FAS-DPD method of K-2006 cuts the confusion of reading colors, it is slightly more time-consuming than the DPD test of K-2005. Yet overall, both kits are user-friendly, offer clear labeling, easy-to-follow instructions, and a straightforward testing process.
Quantity of Reagents & Refills
Both K-2006 and K-2005 kits come with a 0.75 oz. of each testing reagent. The number of tests you can perform using the initial reagents available depends on the parameter you’re testing for. As a general estimate, you can get around 100 chlorine and pH tests done from a standard K-2005 or K-2006 kit.
The refill agent packs are available at numerous stores online. You can purchase a FAS-DPD Refill Kit that performs over 100 tests for $22 or Replacement Agents for K-2005 for the same cost.
Price & Value for Money
Despite the increased chlorine testing efficiency offered by K-2006, the prices for both kits remain nearly the same. The Complete K-2005 kit is available for around $80 whereas the K-2006 is also priced at around $80.
If you’re looking to purchase a new testing kit then K-2006 is definitely the way to go. Click on the image below to check the updated price from Amazon.
However, if you already are a K-2005 owner, it is not necessary to spend those 80 bucks again for an upgrade to the K-2006. You can purchase a standalone FAS-DPD K-1515 kit for $27 instead.
All in all, the balance in prices of both kits, along with the opportunity for existing K-2005 owners to make a budget-friendly upgrade, makes both the kits a reasonable investment option.
Final Word- Which One Should You Choose?
While both testing kits offer a reliable and budget-friendly solution to test the pool water chemistry, the K-2006 emerges as a better choice due to the upgraded efficiency in chlorine testing.
That being said, we understand that as an existing K-2005 you may not want to spend an additional eighty bucks for an upgrade of one feature only, which is why we mentioned the option of getting a standalone FAS-DPD kit by Taylor for when you need to shock.
With all the details uncovered, our job right here is done and the decision is yours to take at the end of the day!
Alternatively, you can go for an automated pool chemical monitoring sytem. Here are our comparsions between the most popular ones out there:
