Test Strips or Kits Which Do I Prefer?

[@peterbagyinka1140]

Thank you 4 teaching us ! Specially dinosaurus like me !

[@PoolSchooler]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching and subscribing.

[@kevinvitale8980]

I bought these test strips based on this video. I quickly found out the ph was severely off. And that has been true for the last few weeks. I now will proceed with caution on these strips. I may use them to give me a snapshot of the other tests but I will never trust the ph reading.

[@PoolSchooler]

@@kevinvitale8980 i’m sorry that’s been your experience. I’ve been using these test strips for over 15 years and they’ve been very accurate on all items, including pH.

[@davidmohr1888]

Thanks Kenny, another great video. I live in Australia and always find your videos to be very informative and great content and help us servicing our own pools. I feel you have helped empower me to look after it myself and fully understand chemical balance without going to the pool shop and getting sold things I don't need (ie. algaecides). Thank-you and very much appreciate and enjoy your videos.

[@PoolSchooler]

Hi David, I'm so glad my videos have been helpful. That's why I started this channel. And thank you for your kind comments. Hope you're a subscriber.

[@rebeccam2414]

What do you think of the AquaChek select connect strips which also calculates the same 7 elements. Thanks

[@carloscarpinteyro332]

As always, a great presentation of the pros, and cons! I grew up using the Guardex titration set up, wore out so many of them. Now I'm sold on the strips! In Las Vegas, years ago the health dept. required using the little pills from the Taylor kit for testing the chlorine. A friend of mine was in charge of taking care of the pools at the Monte Carlo Casino there. I'm sold on the aquacheck, as well, great Vlog!!

[@PoolSchooler]

Thanks so much for the kind comments. Hope you'll subscribe to and share my channel.

[@danielunderhill6086]

Switched from the Taylor kit to strips after watching one of your earlier videos and absolutely love them. My testing time went from 15 mins to 15 seconds. Thanks Kenny!

[@PoolSchooler]

Awesome!!!!

[@anth115]

Many pool pros call them guess strips and say oh I've been doing this 20 years and always use a Taylor. Yet the strips can be just as accurate. Have you compared them side by side?

[@oldgoldtopgoldtop6039]

I find the strip colors for ph and hardness can be subtle and a bit fuzzy to differentiate at certain levels. I'm using for saltwater hot tub where accurate ph and hardness levels may be a little more critical. Still I've never yet had a water problem and only use strips.

[@PoolSchooler]

Appreciate your sharing. Thanks for commenting. 👍

[@daxmark9471]

well done Kenny!!

[@PoolSchooler]

Thank you Dax.

[@mooky407]

I have yet to find a brand of test strips that are accurate for everything they advertise. It's almost always the pH test where they fall short.

[@PoolSchooler]

I've been very pleased with the results I've gotten with this brand. I've been using them for over 10 years with no issues.

[@yimmyraw69]

I use both on my routes, I feel like the tayler test kit is more accurate for the chlorine and ph readings and the strips are more accurate for everything else

[@steveb5736]

Great videos, do you have videos following up the check with what to do/how to actually add chemicals to bring everything into correct ranges?

[@PoolSchooler]

I have videos on adjusting ph and alkalinity (separately) and how many chlorine tablets to use etc. Here's a few: Chlorine Tablets: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eX3Wp4ukj6uekKs Ph adjustment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omiUepyfadqNnbs Alkalinity Adjustment: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGGtXoKZpMiAhtE Please subscribe and check out my new membership website poolschooler.com

[@ljonesto]

Thank you. Do you use the App available on phone? Was wondering how that works by taking a picture of the strip and letting the app give results.

[@PoolSchooler]

@@ljonesto i don’t. Ive heard mixed reviews of it.

[@r111k]

Thanks for your great videos. If you have time, may I ask a question? I’ve used test strips (usually Clorox because they’re easy to find) and follow the directions, then use their app or chart to determine results. Then, as an experiment, I’ve taken an identical water sample for testing at a pool store and the readings are completely different. Are different results to be expected? What method does the pool store use? Testing methodology seems easy but I must be doing something wrong. Thanks again!

[@PoolSchooler]

I don't trust pool supply stores. I have no experience with the Chlorox strips. I'd recommend AquaCheck Silver (or 7 in 1) test strips. You can find them all over the internet. I've used them for over 10 years and they're very accurate. www.amazon.com/AquaChek-551236-7-Way-Count-Strips/dp/B0083SMU7C/ref=asc_df_B0083SMU7C/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167163693584&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9829733660327404183&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030055&hvtargid=pla-312533891975&psc=1 Also with pool supply stores, the water sample you bring to them can decay because it takes time to get the sample to the store and you could get a different reading then if you got the results straight from the water.

[@tishtashtishtash]

1) OTO (yellow; for simple presence of Cl-) is carcinogenic. Neither FAS/DPD (powder/red liquid for actual ppm of Cl-) are *not*, and shouldn’t be implied to be so. 2) Test strips may be comparable to test kits, but strips are far less *precise*. Preciseness is what you’re paying for, and what you need to adjust levels accurately. 3) Calcium hardness is important if you have a plaster or fiberglass pool, low levels of which will leach calcium from your walls. For vinyl linings, lack of calcium is unimportant. For *all* surfaces, high calcium is a no-no, since scaling will precipitate, esp in your SWCG cells.

[@rtaylor3350]

What I need to know is what chemicals do you buy to adjust the water after using the test strips

[@PoolSchooler]

@@rtaylor3350 this video should help it describes the chemicals you will need for a pool depending on what kind of readings you get. Obviously the chemicals are gonna be different depending on if you have high or low pH and or alkalinity, etc., but this will give you a list of the seven chemicals you only need.

[@bsizzlehill2283]

I like strips because they save time. I use the taylor kit for new customers until I get them dialed in. Then switch to strips

[@PoolSchooler]

If that works for you that's great. What I do is use the Aquacheck Silver 7 in 1 test strip for the initial testing since it gives me additional info on cya levels and then weekly I use the aquacheck pro 5 in 1 test strips.

[@justinjones9255]

In the 3 yrs since our inground pool was finished I have used a Taylor kit. I have thought about switching to strips but the Taylor kit gives me a table based on gallons and specific readings that tells me exactly how much chlorine, CY etc to add. When using the strips how do I know how much of a specific chemical to add based on the strip reading?

[@PoolSchooler]

They aren't that specific. BUT I can tell you that in doing pools for 19 years I've never had to rely on one of those charts. It just doesn't have to be that technical. Those charts don't take into account the outside air temperature or evaporation rates.

[@michellestevens6468]

I came on KZbin to find a video about the difference as I’m baffled by my results 🤦🏻‍♀️ I use the Aquacheck 7 but do have a liquid test kit too. Usually do both at the beginning of the season when I’m getting everything initially balanced, then use the kit maybe once a month and the strips daily. My problem is the ph for both my pool and my spa, the test strips are reading low at 6.8 and high, 8.4, on the test kit. I have no idea which one is right 🤷🏻‍♀️ any thoughts? I got the test strips last year and they don’t expire until Dec of this year.

[@PoolSchooler]

If you're uncertain you may want to take a pool water sample to a local pool supply store and have them test it. That way you can cross check the results with your strips and kit and see which is the accurate reading.

[@michellestevens6468]

Thank you!!! That is a great idea!! I’ll do that 😃

[@teamkukulkan5256]

Kenny, How long should I run my filter pump for every day? I have a 25k gallons dive in pool. Thanks!

[@PoolSchooler]

I did a short but helpful video on that topic. Here's a link. Check it out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIOkeZ-Ym76drck

[@triciaw5802]

I use test strips and pool company test weekly. The chlorine is off. My strip by accucheck 7 reads 6 in chlorine they say 2. Whats up? The test strip readings were spot on for other such as ph and alkalinity

[@PoolSchooler]

Hmmm. Not sure. Could be that section of that particular strip is gone bad? Try another one and see if the result is the same.

[@triciaw5802]

This is off topic but now that winter is approaching. I live in fl. My inground pool is 13,000 gallons. I hate my plastic blue cover. I am using liquid pool blanket and wondering if my jets should point downward more so the water is more still on top. Hummmm

[@PoolSchooler]

Not sure about that.. But with most pool blankets I suggest pointing the jets downward anyways to better move the water below the surface.

[@lennymiller7336]

Is there any kind of computer program that tells you how much of what product to add to your water based on volume and current test reading?

[@PoolSchooler]

Not that I know of, I’m sure there might be, but I just don’t know. Honestly it doesn’t have to be that exact. There are too many factors when it comes to pool water to try to be exact. But you could do an online search and see if there is something like that.

[@Dishnitup559]

Whats the plan for tab shortage? Im hearing that price of tabs is going up too, will you guys be increasing prices?

[@PoolSchooler]

I can still get tablets but they're at a much higher price. I'm not sure what will happen. For now we are able to get tablets but not as abundantly. Thankfully we are in our off season so tablet demand is much lower. But my suppliers say the price will remain much higher for the foreseeable future. (it's gone up $50 per 50 lb bucket).

[@PoolSchooler]

Maybe some ingenious inventors can come up with some alternatives to chlorine. (I know salt is definitely one).

[@jmanjman4427]

Would you use this with pristine blue

[@PoolSchooler]

I am not familiar with pristine blue. Sorry.

[@misterrodrigues2169]

Can’t really tell the difference on ph and alkaline with home depot and Walmart strips kit.

[@PoolSchooler]

I have no experience with those. I'd highly recommend the AquaCheck 7inOne Test strips. Here's a link: www.amazon.com/AquaChek-551236-7-Way-Count-Strips/dp/B0083SMU7C/ref=sr_1_2_mod_primary_new?dchild=1&keywords=aquachek%2B7%2Bway&qid=1613605511&s=lawn-garden&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sr=1-2&th=1

[@LIBERTY0RDEATH]

Didn't you use to recommend JW

[@PoolSchooler]

JW?

[@Tundra_Guy]

Kits are better as you have no idea how much to add or subtract using strips only.

[@armadilllo]

I bought a gun in Kalifornia, it had a cancer warning on it. State is a joke

[@tishtashtishtash]

All it’s saying is that a substance e inside has been shown to be carcinogenic. It doesn’t mean you need to worry and it also doesn’t mean you swallow it. It’s for informational purposes and all knowledge is a good thing. It would be outlawed if it were carcinogenic in small amounts, and not mentioning it would be omission.

[@armadilllo]

@@tishtashtishtash it's an insane waste of stolen tax money and time designed by a leftist idiot to make them feel as if they're doing something worthwhile. They come up with these state agencies thinking they're doing good then must keep people employed and all they come up with is BS, just like the BS smog crap agency. PS, I still drink water out of the hose.