drgonzo Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hi, I purchased 6-way test strips from "hth" and I find the chlorine and CYA particularly hard to read. Could someone here recommend a brand? I keep reading about the Aquachek 7-way test strips. Are they any good? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toxic Posted July 21, 2008 Report Share Posted July 21, 2008 Hi, I purchased 6-way test strips from "hth" and I find the chlorine and CYA particularly hard to read. Could someone here recommend a brand? I keep reading about the Aquachek 7-way test strips. Are they any good? Thanks! I've tried several different brands, the cheap ones at the department and hardware store and some online. I don't like the Aquachecks. The strips that produce "earthy" colors don't seem to match what is on the bottle, standing there watching colors change and counting one-one thousand two-one thousand ... seems a lot less accurate then swirl three times and read immediately. There no place like home. I don't know of much use beyond four basic readings, but I find seven confusing. No problems keeping up the tub with Aquacheck though I keep coming back to leisure time strips because the colors produced almost perfectly match what is on the bottle except the hardness, and the alkalinity when it's high. Also easy to find at spa shops. If you really are concerned about accuracy you should be using a reagent kit. I have an order for LaMotte strips which should arrive this week, I'll let you know how they seem. Supposedly they are certified for use in public pools in some states...whatever, it got me to buy some so that's something. I'm curious if anyone has used the LaMottes, is it just hype? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2008 I've tried several different brands, the cheap ones at the department and hardware store and some online. Thanks for the info! I think that I'm gonna get individual tests for FC & CYA (which are difficult to read on these cheap "hth" 6-way strips) until someone finds a good "all around" test strip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 No other opinions about test strips out there? I would think that most of you use or have used them, no? Unless you're not testing your water..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oomps Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 I've only ever used Aquacheck and Synergy test strips. I usually go with Aquacheck because they are cheaper and do the same thing. Synergy test strips usually come in a package with other sanitizing utilities. But, I have never had a problem with Aquacheck, they usually run like 6-7 bucks for 50 strips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony Posted July 23, 2008 Report Share Posted July 23, 2008 No other opinions about test strips out there? I would think that most of you use or have used them, no? Unless you're not testing your water..? I keep Aquacheck strips around for free chlorine only. I use a Taylor test kit for everything else. IMO, it is the only way to go. Test strips, even the best, are just not accurate enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Here's what I've gathered so far: Test strips are in general not very accurate and in many cases hard to read because the colors don't always match well. So I looked into the before mentioned Taylor test kit. Turns out that there isn't "a" test kit but several different ones, ranging in price from "Ok, that's reasonable" to "Hey, that's more than I paid for the entire pool!". What is a casual owner of a small 15'x48" metal frame pool to do to make sure that the water chemistry is at least somewhat right? Are there no "in betweens" the test strips and a $330 chemistry lab? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Here's what I've gathered so far: Test strips are in general not very accurate and in many cases hard to read because the colors don't always match well. So I looked into the before mentioned Taylor test kit. Turns out that there isn't "a" test kit but several different ones, ranging in price from "Ok, that's reasonable" to "Hey, that's more than I paid for the entire pool!". What is a casual owner of a small 15'x48" metal frame pool to do to make sure that the water chemistry is at least somewhat right? Are there no "in betweens" the test strips and a $330 chemistry lab? I have the K-2005 for $50.00 that works well. Check out RHTUBS.COM for a couple of different models at reasonable prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mumpelnc Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Here's what I've gathered so far: Test strips are in general not very accurate and in many cases hard to read because the colors don't always match well. So I looked into the before mentioned Taylor test kit. Turns out that there isn't "a" test kit but several different ones, ranging in price from "Ok, that's reasonable" to "Hey, that's more than I paid for the entire pool!". What is a casual owner of a small 15'x48" metal frame pool to do to make sure that the water chemistry is at least somewhat right? Are there no "in betweens" the test strips and a $330 chemistry lab? I have the K-2005 for $50.00 that works well. Check out RHTUBS.COM for a couple of different models at reasonable prices. This one here is by far the best bang for your buck!!!! http://www.tftestkits.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted July 24, 2008 Report Share Posted July 24, 2008 Aquacheck 3 ways are the most accurate compared to a Taylor kit. They are usually a .2 off at most when stored properly. Dont bother with strips that test for calcium and stablizer they are never right. My advice would be to get a Taylor trouble shooter kit and bring your water in to a pool store once a month to test for your Calcium, Stabilizer, and TDS levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Aquacheck 3 ways are the most accurate compared to a Taylor kit. Are you referring to these strips? There are some many different products out there that it's difficult to identify the right one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted July 26, 2008 Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Those are the ones I was referring to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2008 Those are the ones I was referring to Thanks, I'll order some right away! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted July 30, 2008 Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 I got my aquacheck strips today after reading these posts and I am very happy. I have had trouble reading all the other test strips because I am a little shade blind. But I'm not having any trouble reading the aquacheck strips. Great. Thank you everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drgonzo Posted July 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 I got my aquacheck strips today after reading these posts and I am very happy. I have had trouble reading all the other test strips because I am a little shade blind. But I'm not having any trouble reading the aquacheck strips. Great. Thank you everyone. Same here! I too got the Aquachecks today and they are a lot easier to read than the other brand I used before. Nice! $8 shipped on eBay. Can't beat that! Thanks for the tip, pathfinder! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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