My wife is concerned that the pool ph is too high and that the chlorine is not disinfecting sufficiently. We have been using strip testers and a Marina tester with reagents. The latter we find very difficult to read. The strip tester appears to give very different results to the Marina tester. I took a pool sample to Cashpiscine who used a strip tester same as ours and pronounced the water all okay. Is a photometer the answer? We’re getting a little algae in some places but the water has been up to 30C - or was until I started to use the cover in the day and leave it open overnight. I personally think it’s all fine but my wife is reluctant to use the pool.
Our local cash piscine has a LaMotte spin touch on the counter, great I thought then watched a Lady pay for the dip strip test? Maybe just for show then. pH is an easy test and any phenol red tester sholud be fine but if you are after better easier testing for the other parameters as well then a photometer is a good move. Either a Pool lab 1 or 2, alternatively a Scuba 2.
Why does she think this?
I ask as I have not bothered to test for Ph for almost as long as I can remember, relying on my TA and users of the pool…
Many years ago, I quietly followed Corona here in a different life and slowly mastered pool water care to the point that I only have on the shelf, a bidon of hydrochloric acid, a few bags of salt and a small tub of stabiliser. The latter I rarely use, the salt when the chlorinator calls for it and the acid regularly - a half litre maybe each month.
As for testing, I test regularly only for TA that I control with acid, and monthly for CYA and salt. Bathers are my test for Ph - no one complains of sore eyes, so all I assume is well. I know it sounds very gung-ho, but seriously, I cannot remember the last time I had a green pool. This year I am following Corona’s pet subject of lowering the pump speed and using the € savings to run the pump 24 hours a day…
For a tester, I used a Scuba which was great until I needed some help when it was throwing out bad readings, which confirmed to me it was a throw away item. On a visit to the US, I picked up an ExactEZ, that is much the same was the Scuba except that it tests additionally for salt, phosphorus and copper. It has been good for a couple of years now for TA, CYA and salt anyway…
When I opened up the pool after winter - first time to do so, I tested it with the strip tester. It indicated that the pool alkalinity and ph were low. I boosted both before checking with the reagent tester which showed ph very high. Might as well have been testing two different pools. I’ve just ordered a PoolLab 1. Worth it for peace of mind. I’m also aware that my pool robot could be affected by high ph levels though I never leave it in the pool after it’s done it’s work and rinse it afterward.
How does one lower pumps speed? Triac control? What are the benefits of extending run time? Regarding sore eyes - I was swimming underwater this morning eyes open so I’ll see if I get sore eyes.
PWM or VSD inverter drives if you have a good pump and want to add variable speed. Why, two reasons, moving water helps keep water sanitised and slower filtration is better filtration, it captures more of the small stuff! The main reason for not running 24 hour filtration is cost, reducing the pump speed by a small amount can quickly save some money in electricity, reducing the speed to correctly turn over the water multiple times per day improves the quality of the water, requires less vacuuming of the pool as leaves etc only find there way into the skimmer if the system is on, otherwise they get water logged and sink. Cost wise, you cannot really use my pool as an example as thats quite extreme for energy saving but even a moderate modification means 24 hour filtration for about the cost of a standard setup uses in 2-3 hours. Hence very large savings. You would recoup the cost of the variable speed in a season or two.
Just read that … The big efficiency win is because pump power consumption scales roughly with the cube of speed — running at 50% speed uses only ~12.5% of the power of full speed, while still circulating water adequately for most of the day
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I am looking at a (probabaly Chinese) pump with an integral speed variable switch that will reduce speed from 3000rpm to 1150rpm. It costs only 230€ against three or four times this for a reputable marque. So I have no idea on its quality. If you wait a week or so, I will post a write up here…
Yes, my idea of 24 hr running is as Corona posts. To prove the operation to myself, I have been running my existing pump 24/7 for a week now. Coupled with my aeration device, the water is absolutely crystal clear allowing me to reduce the chlorinator down to 50%..OK, this is 1500W pump at full whack, whether or not I get the same at a third of the speed remains to be seen…
I think your Pool Lab tester is much the same as my ExactEZ one, and easy to use. Being a photometer , takes the guesswork out of colour interpretation,
Pool Lab 1 for me - proving to be easy to use, accurate and readily available tabs for it. 
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Exactly
The owner took me out for lunch many years ago, lovely lady. The only issue we found with the original Exact was a small water samply and dark coloured water storage area could mean a quick increase in temperature in direct sun so giving a varied result, used indoors it was fine.
Interesting! Thanks!
Not by design, I take a sample in a jug and test it in the kitchen. But not always so when I test for friends, so I shall remember…
Now, if you can get someone to make an electronic TA tester, I would be dead happy…
Yours can do that?
No! I wish it would!
as I say - you talk to the mfrs, ask them to make one and I’d be happy!
No!
Electronic !
I am confused, do you mean 100% electronic, no reagent required?
Most tests with the Pool eXact® EZ photometer use our patented eXact® Strips Pool eXact® EZ Photometer | Photometer | Industrial Test Systems
Yes! But wisful thinking, I know!
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Our Pooltester 1 arrived and results are ph 7.5, Chlor 2.95 but CYA 140. Looks like I’m going to have to find a pump to empty some of the pool water on the garden - on what passes for a lawn.
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At least your lawn may come back to life, our straw is to harsh to walk barefoot on and this year we didnt bother cutting the grass on the lower section and a part of it is still green. On your pool, you could after partial drain and refill switch to eau de javel as it has no stabiliser and you’ll have enough in there already.