Guides
How to Measure Pool pH with Strips
From strip to dosage: measure accurately and adjust pH before adding chlorine.
Measuring pH takes 30 seconds. Correcting it requires a recirculation. The expensive part is not measuring and buying ineffective chlorine.
Measurement
With the pump running, take water from 30 cm deep, away from the chlorine injector. Immerse the strip for the time indicated on the label, remove it without shaking, wait 15-30 seconds, and compare. Record pH, chlorine, and alkalinity.
Correction
pH > 7.6: use a reducer (liquid or granulated) according to m³ of the pool. pH < 7.2: use an increaser. Wait 4-6 hours of filtration and measure again. If alkalinity is low, pH will fluctuate: correct it before obsessing over tenths of pH.
After pH
Only then dose disinfectant. Cloudy water with good pH requires a clean filter and sometimes a flocculant; avoid adding more pH− out of habit.
What We Recommend at Control Garden
7 in 1 or 3 in 1 strips and pH+ / pH− ranges in 1 to 10 kg or liquid drums if you have a large pool.
Recommended products
View catalogue
-15%
7 in 1 pH Test Strips for Pools and Spas · Pack of 30 · pH, Chlorine Analysis and More
Volume discount from 2 units
-15%
pH Reducer for Pools 5 kg · Solid · Pack 1 unit
Volume discount from 2 units
-15%
pH+ Granules for Pools 5 kg · Solid pH Increaser
Volume discount from 2 units
FAQs
Do I measure with the automatic chlorine running?
Granulated or liquid?
Does pH drop on its own?
Keep reading
All universesWhat Pool Test Strips Measure
Guide to interpreting 3-in-1 and 7-in-1 strips without blindly dosing pool pH.
Pool pH Control
The solution to green water starts with pH, not blindly adding more disinfectant.
Green Water in the Pool and pH?
Adjust pH, filter, and then disinfect. Chlorine bucket at pH 8.2 is a waste.