pool test strips vs dropper test kit

[sputterbug10]

Does anyone know which one of these is best?

....and, of all the chemicals that are tested, are there some more important than others?

[waterbear]

Strips are useless and difficult to read so the test kit we (and other forums on the net) recommend is the Taylor K-2006 FAS-DPD test kit. The tests that are most important (and equally important!) are free chlorine, combined chlorine, pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness and cyanuric acid (stabilizer). The K-2006 tests all of these and does it well and is easy to use. The chlorine, Total alkalinity, and calcium hardness tests are titrations (drop counting tests), the pH test is a color matching test (all chemical pH tests are) and the cyanuric acid test is a turbidity test (the disappearing black dot test). You can see this kit in action here (http://www.taylortechnologies.com/products_choose_slideshow.asp). Click on the pool/spa link in the upper left and the scroll down to see the videos for the K-2006

Supplemental tests that might be needed are salt if you have a salt water chlorine generator, borate if you use it as an additive, and copper and/or iron if you have metals in your water.

[PoolDoc]

membership upgraded.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend (you can check local availability on the HTH kit, using the Walmart link):

HTH 6-Way Test Kit (http://www.walmart.com/ip/HTH-6-Way-Test-Kit/17043668) @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIIG/poolbooks) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002IXIJ0/poolbooks) @ Amazon

[Budlight592]

I just started my first pool up about 2 months ago and believe me I know for a fact that it was a bunch easier using the k-2006 kit vs others.