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I have sold the test strips for over two decades. They are not super accurate, but they are so simple to use, and they generally give good enough results that you can keep you spa water safe and balanced. Every once in a while I get a customer who just cant make out the colors. The Taylor kit, or a Guardex kit for less, is a bit easier to color match. None of these systems are perfect - you always have a human being making a color choice...For a couple of our customers, I simply handed them a bottle of Phenol Red and one of Orthotolidine. They used the test strips once every two weeks to get it all dialed in, and just one drop of OTO into the tub to check for a residual chlorine level: ANY residual level.The Phenol works well enough if dropped into a tub - one drop and you can see if it turns more towards the magenta or the brown. If it doesn't hit the sweet spot, then you grab the test strips to see what's up.Again, I only offer this to my customers having trouble with the test strips, which are always my first recommendation.HTH
Really Chas? Not arguing, just very very surprised. You may be the first seasoned member that I can recall that supports the use of test strips. I also might very well be one of those people who just can't make out the colors very well, and so feel much more comfortable with the full kit. So much for my theory on "universal advice" Quote from: Chas on November 12, 2012, 12:01:51 pmI have sold the test strips for over two decades. They are not super accurate, but they are so simple to use, and they generally give good enough results that you can keep you spa water safe and balanced. Every once in a while I get a customer who just cant make out the colors. The Taylor kit, or a Guardex kit for less, is a bit easier to color match. None of these systems are perfect - you always have a human being making a color choice...For a couple of our customers, I simply handed them a bottle of Phenol Red and one of Orthotolidine. They used the test strips once every two weeks to get it all dialed in, and just one drop of OTO into the tub to check for a residual chlorine level: ANY residual level.The Phenol works well enough if dropped into a tub - one drop and you can see if it turns more towards the magenta or the brown. If it doesn't hit the sweet spot, then you grab the test strips to see what's up.Again, I only offer this to my customers having trouble with the test strips, which are always my first recommendation.HTH