Does anyone have experience with the Trutest?

[salinda]

I read that review too, but then I looked at the website for Trutest and they have updated instructions. I don't know if the reviewer was following directions or not. They say to shake off the excess water and things like that.

[waterbear]

This is actually a commom problem with strip readers and strips...this is why pool stores that use strip readers have such bad testing results! LaMotte has just come out with a portable colorimeter called the ColorQ.
http://www.lamotte.com/pages/pool/newprod.html
http://www.lamotte.com/pages/common/...truct/2056.pdf
It uses liquid reagents except for the CYA test which uses a tablet reagent. LaMotte has a lot of experiences with colorimters so I would be interested in how well this inexpensive one works!

[salinda]

Here is more info on the ColorQ. It is not cheap, but it does include a lot of tests. How easy is it to get LaMotte reagents? My local stores mostly carry Taylor.

This is the email from LaMotte. It does sound simple and the methods look reliable:
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Hello Linda,

Thank you for your interest! The Color Q PRO 7 Kit (code 2056, list $129.00) is available! Please check with your local pool products dealer or distributor who carries LaMotte water testing products for pricing and availability. If you would prefer to order online, please follow the link below to our online retailer: http://www.askalanaquestion.com/.

A unique feature of the ColorQ is that it reads each of 7 test factors (Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, and Cyanuric Acid) directly in ppm on the digital display so there are NO look up tables or conversions. The kit includes liquid reagents (enough for 144 tests per factor) for Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Bromine, pH, Alkalinity, and Calcium Hardness tests and tablet reagents for the Cyanuric Acid test (50 tablets) with four test tubes packaged in a durable carrying case.

The ColorQ photometer is lightweight and easy to use, featuring a simple one-button function menu that scrolls forward through the test sequence. Any tests that are not run for a particular series are simply skipped. The unit is powered by a 9V battery and has an automatic shut-off feature (3 minutes) to prolong battery life. The water resistant design of the ColorQ includes a well protected optical system, which uses two LEDs to read the result. In essence, the sample tube is inserted into a larger tube that makes up the inner core of the instrument. The meter is calibrated before each testing sequence with a blank of the sample water to be tested, and each factor is tested separately. For example, the chlorine tests would be reacted and read in one tube, the pH test in another tube, etc. Four tubes are included with the kit for sample preparation and each liquid reagent used with the ColorQ has been specifically adapted to use 5 drops per test, eliminating the need to remember a different test procedure for each factor.

Please feel free to contact us with any further questions. Thank you for your interest in LaMotte testing products.

Best regards,
Sue Byerly
LaMotte Company

[tenax]

well, i got my true test today from overtons! have not tried yet..will do so tonight and report back on results!

[tenax]

ok..i'm quite happy with the trutest. i did 3 tests..the results came in between 2.6 and 2.7 each time for free chlorine..ph-7.6 to 7.7. alkaline-120 to 123. good enough for me to work with. i'm sold..and yes, i followed the updated but still simple instructions, a copy of which was provided in the kit.