Testing the water is an important part of routine hot tub, all-season pools or swimming pool maintenance. The BioGuard® 5-way Water Test Strips are a quick and easy way to test for Free Chlorine, Total Bromine, pH, Total Alkalinity and Total Hardness.
At the start of a new swimming season or with new pools or spas it is important to test the water 4 to 5 times per week. Once the appropriate levels of Free Chlorine (or Total Bromine), pH, Total Alkalinity and Total Hardness have been established, test the water twice each week. By testing at the same time of day and before adding products, it is possible to detect changes and prevent problems from developing.
What the BioGuard® 5-way Water Test Strips Test For
- Free Chlorine is the sanitizer residual in the water. Maintain a level of 1.0 to 4.0 ppm for residential pools or 2.0 to 4.0 for spas.
- Total Bromine is the sanitizer residual in the water. Maintain a level of 1.0 to 3.0 ppm for residential pools or 2.0 to 4.0 ppm for spas.
- pH should be kept between 7.4 and 7.6 for best results. If too high, add BioGuard Lo ‘N Slo® for pools or SpaGuard pH Decreaser for spas. If too low, add BioGuard Balance Pak® 200 for pools or SpaGuard pH Increaser for spas.
- Total Alkalinity is a very important measure of the water’s ability to resist pH swings. It should be between 125 ppm and 150 ppm. If too high, add BioGuard Lo ‘N Slo for pools or SpaGuard pH Decreaser for spas. If too low, add BioGuard Balance Pak® 100 for pools or SpaGuard Total Alkalinity Increaser for spas.
- Total Hardness is a measurement of the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium in the water and should be maintained between 175 ppm and 275 ppm, depending on the pool surface. If too low, add BioGuard Balance Pak® 300 for pools or SpaGuard Calcium Hardness Increaser for spas. If too high, add BioGuard Scale Inhibitor for pools or SpaGuard Stain & Scale Control for spas.
* Please follow all label instructions
In addition to home testing, bring your pool or spa water to our Hackettstown or Chester location for a more complete, more in-depth, computerized water analysis on a regular basis. BioGuard’s professional water analysis is much more detailed and is especially helpful for troubleshooting and at seasonal opening and closing.