The Pool Guy Podcast Show
The Pool Guy Podcast Show
David Van Brunt
Getting the Most Out of Your Pool Test Strips
18 minutes Posted Aug 17, 2026 at 4:00 am.
Why Test Strips Feel Inexact
Digital Readers And Smart Testers
Color Matching Is Subjective
Total Hardness Versus Calcium Hardness
When Strips Beat CYA Reagents
Metals Nitrates Borates Phosphates
Why Salinity Strips Disappoint
Fast Field Use And Verifying Readings
Wrap Up And Where To Learn More
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18:59
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Show notes
Your pool water test strip might be telling the truth, but your eyes might not be. We dig into why test strips often feel inconsistent, how lighting and subjective color matching can turn a “real” chemical reaction into a shaky guess, and what you can do to get more reliable results without slowing down your whole pool care routine. We also talk about the growing world of digital test strip readers and smart pool testing devices, and why they’re trying to solve the biggest weakness of ...