Question for Calicoskies

[UnderTheStars]

(or anyone else with comment)  Calico- couple weeks ago you were talking about the $15 test kit from Walmart.  I bought one and would appreciate your experience on this - I'm having some trouble deciding how to read the PH test.  The Ph "shade" seems to change color a lot as I hold it in front of different (light/dark) backgrounds.  The instructions are pretty sketchy and just say "For best results, hold the test cell up to daylight."

How are you using yours?  Do you look through with the daylight shining through the test cell, or stand with the sun at your back?  All the other tests in the kit seem very definitive.  But with the PH I get a reading anywhere from 7.2 - 7.8 depending how I hold it to the light. . .And of course, PH & Chlorine are what I am most interested in.  (I think!)

Any insight for this new-tub-owner-in-training would be appreciated!

[CalicoskiesNC]

I hold it up to my dining room light, which has white glass globes, so its a bright white background.  I just use the same background each time I test.  Be sure its a white wall or something, or even white paper behind it.  

[UnderTheStars]

Thanks!  That makes sense, I didn't think about a piece of white paper behind it (duh!)  . . .Tub is 3 days old, test kit 1 day old, and I appreciate the assist!

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

Use a pure white background and view it in natural sunlight......... Anything else will skew the readings.