Hey PoolLovers, Just got a new liner pool (ground conditions ruled out concrete). It’s equipped with a chlorine tab feeder, ozone, and UV. I’m wondering, should I stick with test strips for water testing, or is there an electronic device that works better? Any advice for a first-time pool owner is appreciated!
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It sounds like you’ve already made up your mind, but just so you know, chlorine tablets (probably trichlor) shouldn’t be your primary chlorine source.
I’m not too familiar with UV and ozone systems, so I can’t say if they’re worth the investment. It seems like salespeople often overhype them, and the payoff is questionable.
However, I do know about the tablets, and I’ve grown to dislike them. I regret relying on pool stores and not doing better research.
Check out troublefreepool.com—it’s a great resource, and they have excellent discussions about test kits.
You could still use tablets occasionally to raise CYA and chlorine, but it’s better to rely on liquid chlorine or a saltwater generator as your main source.
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@Sadie The ozone is great; the IUV is not as effective, but it does assist.
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@Sadie It bubbles out of a specialized hole on the side… not much comes out, certainly not what I would expect to clear up hundreds of gallons of water.
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Neither of those is a very good choice rfeally. Get the Taylor K-2005 test kit instead.
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@Umbrielle Exactly! This is the only answer required here.
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An electronic tester is going to be expensive. It’s better to use liquid tests most of the year. I usually take a sample to the pool store when I open the pool, maybe once in the middle of the season, and again at the end, as long as the water stays clear. The test strips are hard to read for anything other than chlorine. Just keep the basic chemicals like baking soda, pH down, and shock on hand to adjust as needed, and you should be fine. The pool store tends to worry about perfect numbers, but if your water is clear, you’re doing better than many pool owners.