AquaChek TruTest Digital Test Strip Reader For Pool and Spa Water Testing - Tests for Free Chlorine, Free Bromine, pH, and Total Alkalinity - Quick & Accurate Results Includes 25 TruTest Strips (Blue)

I continued to compare my accucheck to pool store tester and the accuchek is massively inaccurate. I am switching to a new system. Because of the inaccurate readings my pool wound up with black algae.

EXCELLENT MAKES TEST EASIER AND MORE ACURETE

I tested this device against my Lamotte Spintouch disks (501 and 303 series disks). That is the computerized colorimeter device you see at the pool store for reference and I’m lucky enough to have one at home. I also took the water samples tested to the pool store and averaged my test results against theirs which were only marginally different from my home device… (within 2 ppm on all alkalinity, within .2 ppm on free chlorine, and within .1 units on pH). Very accurate and in the weeds in terms of maintaining pool chemistry within specified ranges. That said, my AquaChek is so inaccurate as to be laughable. I had hoped it might be a cheaper alternative to my testing system since most of my Spintouch disks cost about $1.50 per test on three way tests and up to $3.50 a test for single disk tests…. (though also free from the pool store but they are too far away from me and only tests samples once a week for me). Simply put my AquaChek is so inaccurate as to be unusable in any meaningful capacity. I tested a total of 12 times on the same orginal water sample with the AquaChek Divvying the sample out into individual cuvettes to avoid any sort of cross contamination. Each time I tested with the AquaChek I got completely different readings with wild variations for pH, alkalinity, and free chlorine. Compared to the actual values measured by my Spintouch device, the alkalinity was routinely more then 60-80 ppm off or simply read back a value of 0 ppm on my AquakChek. By far alkalinity was the worst for accuracy of the three readings the device measures. Free chlorine was routinely 4-6 ppm off from the actual value… usually around 4 ppm higher then the actual free chlorine amount in the pool water. And the pH was 0.5-1.0 full unit values higher or lower off from the actual pH between each reading. No consistency at all. This thing might as well be a random number generator. I also tested the same original water source sample taken at the same time for the other tests performed with Taylor kit reagents. Three Taylor kit tests and three times with the same results that matched up with the Spintouch results. My Taylor kit reagents served as a second test technique to compare the AquaChek against. Again the AquaChek values were highly inaccurate on all three fronts of alkalinity, pH, and free chlorine chemistry measurements. This is not just a failure by my AquaChek device but a flat out fall on your face kind of failure on this devices functionality and utility. Inexcusable for its cost. For the AquaChek I tried the instructions technique included with the device for testing water samples. I also tried the technique mentioned by all the positive reviewers touting how accurate this device is especially when used in low light/no light ambient conditions with varying techniques. I honestly have to wonder what all the positive reviewers are comparing their results against to tout such accuracy? Hot garbage to sum up my device in two words. This device does not come close to being accurate enough for me to ever possibly consider using it to maintain my pool or spa water chemistry. Sending it back for a full refund. Also Annoying that the extra test strips I ordered with the device in original packaging are not refundable. If you get suckered into buying this device like I did from all of the glowing positive reviews out there, consider just using the test strips that come with the device first with no extra test strips in case you run into the same troubles as I did with my AquaChek.

The printed instructions leave a lot to be desired. The sheet that came with my unit seems to be missing the first couple steps (at least in the English version.) Step #1 says "After the 3, 2, 1 display countdown..." What? How do I get the countdown started? Looking at the manufacturer's web site I found an old version that explained it better. Here is what you need to know: The top button on the unit is the on/off button. This is labeled "1" in the picture but never described. The middle button ("2") is to review old readings. The bottom button ("3") begins the test sequence; this button is not described either (at least in the instructions that came with my unit.) By the way, mine displays "2.2" when I turn it on, so these findings may pertain only to that version. Steps: *Press the Start (#1, or top) button. The unit will turn on, display "2.2", and then display "On." *Have a test strip and your water sample ready. *Press the Test (#3, or bottom) button. The display will count down "3, 2, 1, Dip." *Quickly give the strip a brief dip into the water sample. No swirling. *Quickly give the strip a quick flip to remove excess water. *Holding the unit horizontally, quickly lay the strip into the test slot, without sliding it. It must be all the way up to the top of the slot. *Cover the slot with the black sun-shield provided. *At this point you wait for the test to proceed. You have to have reached this point fairly quickly because the test will start whether you are ready or not. *When the test is completed, the unit will show the three readings on the display. You can compare to your last few readings by pressing the middle button. Be sure to wipe the slot clean with a Q-tip or the cotton swab provided. I've been using this unit daily for several weeks now. I have done all my testing indoors and the results are reasonably repeatable and compare favorably to my color-match test kit. I'd give it 5 stars if the instructions were better and the repeatability was better. But as I said, I think it's good enough to do the job and I'm glad I bought it.

Works great for testing the hot tub water, no complaints.

This AquaChek device works decently for the price point. Like others wrote, it takes some practice to get it right. Don't dip the test strips into the pool directly. Take a sample of water elbow depth from the deep end and take it someplace not in direct sunlight to dip and test. Be sure to clean the reader and be careful to place the strip on the reader correctly (read instructions). Even then I usually need to test several times to find a mid-point of the readings (changing out the samples in between). Part of the problem is the chemicals are not always consistent throughout the water. So multiple tests are needed. That means a pack of 50 tests strips will not last 50 tests! It's not perfect, but I've tried many things from expensive smart devices to cheap drip kits, all have issues. This is easy enough to use once you get the hang of it and you can be reasonably confident about results with enough attempts.

First time pool owner, so I waited five months to write this review. In the meantime, I educated myself about trouble free pool and slamming, and I also ordered a Taylor 2006 tester kit and compared the values. I would say if you follow the instructions carefully as mentioned by other reviewers, it’s a very accurate machine. At some point it showed my chlorine level at 9.4, so I said it’s definitely not right and pulled out the Taylor. Guess what, it was correct and my SWCG was over working. Another time it showed PH at above 8, so again, I doubted the little fellow. Taylor confirmed PH was too high and needed adding acid! Same thing went for adding too much Arm and Hammer baking soda and alkalinity. To be honest, I still doubt this thing all the time, but I can’t find even one time that it was reading incorrect values. I just say that the time you dip the test stripe is very important. Keep it consistent all the time. If you keep it in the water sample too long, or wait too long to put it in the reader, you’ll end up with funny readings. I’d say the best possible scenario is to use this little guy daily and use the Taylor test kit every few weeks just to make sure you’re on track. Thanks for reading, and YMMV.

This product is amazing. Their direction need to be thrown away first thing. The correct way to use it is written by Deborah and it is super easy.. Thanks Deborah your amazing... As Deborah says: Here is what you need to know: The top button on the unit is the on/off button. This is labeled "1" in the picture but never described. The middle button ("2") is to review old readings. The bottom button ("3") begins the test sequence; this button is not described either (at least in the instructions that came with my unit.) By the way, mine displays "2.2" when I turn it on, so these findings may pertain only to that version. Steps: *Press the Start (#1, or top) button. The unit will turn on, display "2.2", and then display "On." *Have a test strip and your water sample ready. *Press the Test (#3, or bottom) button. The display will count down "3, 2, 1, Dip." *Quickly give the strip a brief dip into the water sample. No swirling. *Quickly give the strip a quick flip to remove excess water. *Holding the unit horizontally, quickly lay the strip into the test slot, without sliding it. It must be all the way up to the top of the slot. *Cover the slot with the black sun-shield provided. *At this point you wait for the test to proceed. You have to have reached this point fairly quickly because the test will start whether you are ready or not. *When the test is completed, the unit will show the three readings on the display.

Debbo dire che non era per nulla chiaro il suo utilizzo. Non capivo a cosa servissero le striscie colorimetriche. Inoltre non ero al corrente di quanto fosse importante la conoscenza dell'alcalinità dell'H2O. Se non viene regolata a valori tra 80 e 120, risulta complicata la regolazione del pH. E in aree come le mie (Emilia) con presenze elvatissime di carbonati e bicarbonati è un processo molro, lungo, defatigante. E non sono molti i metodi analitici rapidi. Questo è veramente pratico e veloce.

Aufgrund so einiger schlechter Bewertung hätte ich mir das Gerät wohl nicht gekauft. Aber mein bester Freund hat es mir empfohlen, also dachte ich mir kaufen, probieren und ggf. zurücksenden. Viele Leute schrieben, die Wiederholbarkeit der Testergebnisse wäre nicht gegeben. Das kann ich absolut nicht nachvollziehen. Ok, bei einem Chlor-Wert oberhalb von 5 sind durchaus Messwertsprünge von bis zu 1 möglich. Aber oberhalb von 5 sollte sich ohnehin kein Poolwasser befinden. Unter 3 sind die Ergebnisse bei mir auf 0,1 bis 0,2 wiederholbar. Die PH-Wert-Messung ist bei mir auch sehr zuverlässig und stabil. Die Gesamtkalität konnte ich nicht prüfen, da mit hierfür eine Vergleichsmöglichkeit fehlte. Die anderen Ergebnisse habe ich immer mit Tabletten und einer Farbskala überprüft. Ich habe die Version 2.2 vom Gerät erhalten (Stand groß drauf) und Messe immer mit der schwarzen Sonnenlichtabdeckung, auch wenn die Sonne mal nicht scheint. Also: Wer nicht mehr Tabletten auspacken, auflösen, schütteln und vergleichen möchte ist mit dem Gerät meiner Meinung nach bestens bedient. Ein Teststreifen enthält alle 3 Tests auf einmal. Eintauchen, auflegen und einige Sekunden warten. Voila, das Ergebnis!

I like it, use it all the time, after so many days , finally I have the right figure for water quality

Tells you on a digital display all you need to know to keep your pool clean and clear all summer long. You just need to remember to wipe the glass where the strip is placed after every use other wise readings can become inaccurate.

The product comes with 25 expired test strips.. therefore data were wrong when you test your swimming pool water...had to increase the PH while the PH level was good...you need to buy additional strips on the side