Another question about automatic testers

[tech135797531]

Good morning! I fully comprehend that automatic testers are not great nor precise. When I'm home I test my pool daily with a K-2006 to the point of being OCD about it. I keep my pool exactly at the recommended values. But every year we go away a month in the summer and another couple of weeks in the fall. I don't have neighbors that I can trust to test my pool with drops for a longer period of time and make adjustments. Last time I asked I had algae after a week. And I've tried hiring various services (which don't take kindly to being dropped after 2 months). So I paid $220/month for someone to use strips and over-correct week after week (for 6 weeks last year my FC jumped from 1 to 10 to 1 to 12 due to huge adjustments to the salt cell).

I live in FL with sunny, hot summers and lots of rain. So by the process of elimination, an automatic tester is the only option I have. Is there one that doesn't suck as badly as the other ones, that's not an overpriced pos as the other ones? I have a neighbor that's been using a Sutro for a year and I've tested his pool a couple of times against the machine. His FC was spot on, and the drops were showing a pH 0.3 lower than the Sutro. I guess even if it's off, I'd want it to be off consistently.

I've heard of Sutro, Guru, Crystal clear, and AccuBlue with their $50/month in product credit (which I don't spend 50/month in general). Any opinions on which is the least bad of them all?

Again, I know nothing replaces a proper test. I'm looking for something to help me when no one is home for a number of weeks each year and where I can make adjustments to my salt cell from where I am or I can ask a neighbor to go and add 3 cups of something where they could not screw it up.

Thank you!

 

[Katodude]

You have a SWG. You should be able to go away for a month without any issues.

Just make sure your salt is on the high side of what the SWG wants. Raise you FC level before you go away. Turn the SWG generator to produce more. And finally if you want extra protection throw a floater in with some tabs.

Or have a neighbor throw in a gallon of LC every week.

It’s not going to hurt anything to have your FC hot for a few weeks.

 

[kimkats]

What he ^^^^^ said. Run it hot and your pool should be clean and clear just waiting for you to come home.

 

[Newdude]

You only need to calculate your guess in the first half of the season. For any trips in the back half the SWG will make more FC than you need on its own as daily demand decreases.

If you're going away in the mid season, daily demand should be pretty stable throughout the trip.

 

[tech135797531]

Thanks, guys! I agree with everything you said. But for extra security (did I mention I have some OCD when it comes to my pool?
) is there an automatic tester that's less horrible and a less of a huge waste of money than the other ones? Or are they all made equal and it's really a shot in the dark?

Like I mentioned, my neighbor's Sutra was spot on for FC and 0.3 off for PH when I tested the water using my kit and he's not had issues in a year (granted, I have a fiberglass pool and fight the good metal in city water fight and he doesn't).

 

[Newdude]

is there an automatic tester that's less horrible and a less of a huge waste of money than the other ones?

None that have repeatedly done well for folks here.