LaMotte ColorQ Water Tester

[donaldm823]

Does anyone have experience with LaMotte's new ColorQ water test system. It is a colorimeter system vice test strips and uses liquid regents, and then tests 6 different pool chemistry values based on a measured color through this electronic device. (Free CL, Total Chlorine, pH, TA, CH, CYA. ) I am particulary interested in the hardness (CH) accuracy.

[tenax]

haven't seen anything on this forum in my many roamings except the info here if you go some threads into it:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=7394

[Poolsean]

Just got one from LaMotte. I will be trying it out this week. I will let you know what I think after I get some use of it.

[CelticDaddio]

How do you like the ColorQ so far?

Ed

Just got one from LaMotte. I will be trying it out this week. I will let you know what I think after I get some use of it.

[waterbear]

Just got an email back from LAMotte tech support about the ColorQ. This is what they had to say:
The ColorQ has accuracy of ± 0.1ppm on chlorine and pH, ± 15ppm on alk,
and ± 20ppm on hardness and cya. The cyanuric acid test is a difficult
one with a meter like the ColorQ, since it is a turbidity style reaction.
(it gets you in the ballpark on cya). The chlorine and pH tests are great.
The alkalinity test has been performing very well, my ColorQ has given me
readings within ± 5 to 10ppm on alk. Hardness is another tough one, but
the ±20ppm isn't so bad when you consider the wide range of hardness from
200 - 400ppm. So all in all, it is actually a great meter for that price.

I feel this is a very honest answer and based on it and knowing LaMotte's reputation I would say this is a worthwhile unit for the home pool owner! A drop counting test for calcium hardness is +/- 10 ppm for the Taylor reagents so this is not that bad and the standard disapprearing dot test for CYA is extremely subjective. My original question to LaMotte was concerning how well the ColorQ compares to more expensive colorimeters that usually cost in the neighborhood of $1000!

[MikeInMo]

Please add me to the list as well anxiously waiting to hear on how well these work.

I was too late to get Ben's kit last year and was planning on getting a good drop kit, (probably the kit offered at troublefree.com), but with the number of tests included in the colorq with somewhat reasonable refill prices...
But who am I kidding, it's the GEEK factor that has me looking at this.

All I currently have is the Walmart 6-way and am quickly running out of my CYA test so I need to replace the kit soon.

Last question....Where can you buy the Colorq? I've only seen 1 place and he's posted that he's backordered for 2-3 weeks...any other ideas where it can be purchased?

Thanks,
Mike

[donaldm823]

Please add me to the list as well anxiously waiting to hear on how well these work.

I was too late to get Ben's kit last year and was planning on getting a good drop kit, (probably the kit offered at troublefree.com), but with the number of tests included in the colorq with somewhat reasonable refill prices...
But who am I kidding, it's the GEEK factor that has me looking at this.

All I currently have is the Walmart 6-way and am quickly running out of my CYA test so I need to replace the kit soon.

Last question....Where can you buy the Colorq? I've only seen 1 place and he's posted that he's backordered for 2-3 weeks...any other ideas where it can be purchased?

Thanks,
Mike

Checkout lamotte.com web site (the manufacturer). The ColorQ is listed in the pool testing section under new products.

As for the GEEK factor-I too suffer. I have been very happy with the tester. It comes with 140 individual tests (except CYA which was 50 pills that you crush), which should last you the pool season. I bought a kit refill for $45 since I knew I would be testing 2x per day for a while until I get some history on using chlorox daily adds (just shifted this year). The tester uses liquid reagents (5 drops)(CYA uses a pill you crush) in a 5ml test tube that you insert into the tester, so the cleanup is very quick. The tester reads out in two decimal places-although I doubt if it really is that accurate. Also chlorine goes up to 10ppm. Comes in a nice travel kit. Actual electronic tester is about the size of your hand and uses a regular 9v battery

[salinda]

Don,

Where did you get it? LaMotte told me to order from a local pool supply store (they all carry Taylor though) or from AskAlanAQuestion.com.

[MikeInMo]

Alright...does ANYONE have any additional comments on this tester???

Getting ready to pull the trigger and want to make sure no buyer remorse hits in.

Thanks!

[MikeInMo]

Well I couldn't wait so it's GEEK AWAY and I ordered the tester. I live about 45 minutes from the closest pool store so hopefully this make those trips for testing unnecessary, plus no hard sell for chemicals. Still have a fair number of drop tests left so I can't wait to compare.