Salt test strips

[waterbear]

I have checked the AquaChek White salt test strips on numerous occasions against both a Taylor salt test kit and properly calibated salt meters (both Goldline and LaMotte) and am more than satisfied that this is one test strip that is actually worth it's salt! They have been right on the money each time! It IS important to allow enough time for the test to complete (As Poolsean said, 4-10 minutes or until the bar at the top is dark all the way across, my expreience has been around 10 minutes) and be sure to put them in no more than about an inch of water. Also, as Poolsean said, each bottle is individually calibrated so only use the scale on the bottle the strip came out of when checking your results or they won't be correct!

[Pool_Mike]

Half inch, darn, I think I had them in about 3/4 of an inch.

It was dark brown @ the top and then read the test

[Pool_Mike]

Ok,


1st of, I just want to say I am only running the pump 4hrs a day now. I turned it down about a week ago. It used to run 8 hrs then.

So here are the new salt strip results:

5.6 = 3240 ppm

On my AquaRite guage is shows a reading of 3500.

If aquarite is correct, it seems I am a little over.

I turned down the aquarite to 30. It was @ 40. Not sure it if will make a difference or not.

Since water and swimming is still a little cold, I think by spring, it will be @ its correct reading. What do you guys say right now? Thanks

[Pool_Mike]

Here is the test I used:



I mean if that helps.

[Pool_Mike]

Ok, wife just called. It seems that the guage now shows 3700.... wtf?!?!?!

[waterbear]

The Aquarite uses conductivity to approximate the salt level and it will vary with tmerpature. The test strips use a chemical test for the chloride ion they are measureing a different thing. Also, the Aquarite displays an average salt reading unless you take an 'instant' salt reading which is your salt level (conductivity) at the moment you take it. (Read the manual for you unit for further info.)
I would not lose any sleep over these differences between a chemcal test and a conductivity test that is not temperature compensated. I would take an instant reading and if it is within a couple of hundred ppm of the strip I wouldn't lose any sleep over it and just enjoy the pool!

[Pool_Mike]

The Aquarite uses conductivity to approximate the salt level and it will vary with tmerpature. The test strips use a chemical test for the chloride ion they are measureing a different thing. Also, the Aquarite displays an average salt reading unless you take an 'instant' salt reading which is your salt level (conductivity) at the moment you take it. (Read the manual for you unit for further info.)
I would not lose any sleep over these differences between a chemcal test and a conductivity test that is not temperature compensated. I would take an instant reading and if it is within a couple of hundred ppm of the strip I wouldn't lose any sleep over it and just enjoy the pool!

Thank you waterbear. It was just beating me to death man! I was never over like that. Then the strip saying right now I am at and the aquarrite guage was little over as you said couple 100 ppm. I mean I am not swimming in it, so I should not sweat it now. ~But thank you for your input, makes me fell more comfortable.