In an earlier post we discussed manual methods for testing copper levels in pool water: Traditional ‘Liquid’ Test Kits and Test Strips. While those methods work well most of the time, when the time comes to make a major decision regarding which way to direct a pool’s chemical balance, many people prefer to rely on the accuracy and impartiality of digital testing meters.
In this installment of the Pool Testing Blog we will discuss two electronic water testing meters designed to accurately test dissolved copper levels in pool water.
- Color Q Copper 5 — Manufactured by Lamotte, uses liquid and tablet reagents, and provides direct read measurements for the following: pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, iron, and copper.
- pH Range: 6.5-8.5
- Alkalinity Range: 0-250 ppm
- Calcium Hardness Range: 0-700 ppm
- Iron Range: 0-3.0 ppm
- Copper Range: 0-4.0 ppm
- eXact Micro 7+ Pool/Spa Meter — Manufactured by Industrial Test Systems, uses reagentstrip delivery system and liquid reagents, and provides direct read measurements for the following: pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, copper, cyanuric acid, free chlorine, and total chlorine.
- pH Range: 6.2-8.4
- Alkalinity Range: 20-180 ppm
- Calcium Hardness Range: 20-990 ppm
- Cyanuric Acid Range: 5-62 ppm
- Free Chlorine Range: 0-6.0 ppm
- Total Chlorine Range: 0-6.0 ppm
- Copper Range: 0.04-8.0 ppm
For a lot of people the phrase Water Chemistry brings back memories of nightmarish chemistry exams in school. In this case, though, checking the chemistry means keeping track of certain parameters in the water and making sure they stay in the proper ranges.
Monitoring the water chemistry in a pool will not cause you the pain you suffered through earlier in life. For the average pool owner, simple dip-n-read Pool Check test strips will work just fine. They allow for easy monitoring of the basics: Chlorine Level, pH, Total Alkalinity, and Hardness. Additionally, a trip to the pool store with a sample of water works equally well. Plus the fine folks at the store will give excellent directions on how to correct any problems they may find.
For those who maintain commercial or public pools, use of dip-n-read test strips will typically NOT suffice.
Most local Health Departments prefer to see pool/spa professionals using EPA Compliant methods for the monitoring of certain things like Free & Total Chlorine. They also want to see a host of other parameters like Cyanuric Acid (chlorine stabilizer) monitored on a regular basis. Sound intimidating? Let us help you with that.
Prior to the introduction of portable, easy-to-use handheld meters like the eXact Micro 7+ Advanced Photometric System, EPA Compliant chlorine testing required messy wet kits, dropper bottles, titrants, tablets and/or irritating dusts. No other chlorine detection method involving DPD Chemistry existed.
Now, however, with affordable EPA Compliant (for chlorine monitoring) water quality testing meters such as the eXact Micro 7+ Advanced Photometric System which makes use of a new, more convenient DPD Delivery System known as DPD ReagentStrips available, chlorine testing has become a lot easier and pretty much anyone can obtain accurate, reliable water test results in minutes.
