Quick question, can anyone recommend a salt water pool test kit (that does not use tablets)? Furthermore, where to buy it from?
Looking at Taylors 2006 or clear choice labs kit but at over $150+, they are quite pricey.
Been using the $5 4in1 Aussie Gold ozbargain special but looking for more accuracy and further tests.
Cheers
You're not missing anything and your method sounds fine. I don't have a pool shop nearby. Regarding test strips, I guess it comes down the preciseness of the liquid reagents which leads to more accurate dosing of chemicals, hence, less waste. As one pool site states:
My problem with test strips is that the colours often don’t seem to match properly. Personally, I find the degree of error is so great that I might as well just guess at the levels. Test strips are beneficial if you simply want to know if there is chlorine in the water.
The only you need to precise with is ph, if you put a bit too much salt, buffer, etc in it will just get consumed soon or later in the pool.
How much are you spending on chemicals, how much do you expect to save through more accurate dosing, how much will a more accurate dosing system cost you? I have seen a float that goes in the pool and connects to an app your phone and provides details of all the pool chemistry, but it costs $500 and I would not expect it to last more than 3 years. (nothing lasts long when floating in salty/chlorine water and sitting in the sun 24/7).
I just take a sample to the local pool shop for free testing.
Poolworx water testing is free of charge, as are mots (if not all) pool shops
My local bunnings was doing them free fwiw
Why do you think you need greater accuracy? Any of the electronic sensors are more expensive and require calibration a couple of times a year.
I have a salt water pool, you only to check the chlorine level frequently (1-3 times a week in summer), for the rest take it to the pool shop once a month (in summer) most of them do it for free. Shop around some of them use more expensive chemicals like buffer and stabilizer.
I'm actually looking at building one of these in time for next winter. https://myhydropi.com/overview
Good project!
I just finished my liquid chlorine dosing project after numerous Chemigem issues. All I wanted was a dosing pump where you set the daily start time and the amount of chlorine dispensed.
With no electrical knowledge, I spent ~ $150 on basic electronic components/ soldering iron/ Arduino learning kit etc..
I now have a working chlorine dosing pump that I can totally replicate for about $70 ($35 was the weatherproof enclosure + $25 peristaltic pump).
The cheapest thing on the market that does this is $500, then it dies in 5-7 years and you pay another $500.
I will add an acid pump to the system later.
Nice one
Can’t help on better kits, but I use those strips dip in water and change colour. Do chlorine and acid ok. Current ones are from aldi.
Then take to pool shop for test every now and then. All they say is chlorine, acid or salt.
What do you do with detailed analysis (ie am I missing something I should be doing?)