SIZE:  50 strips per bottle

This is a qualified alternative to Nature2 Test Strips

Monopersulfate is an oxidizing agent used in mineral purification systems such as Frog®, SpaFrog®, Nature2®, PoolRx™, or SpaRx™.

Just dip an AquaChek Monopersulfate strip in your pool or spa water for one second and remove it immediately. You get test results in seconds!

To keep your pool at its best, test at each end a minimum of twice a week, and test your spa before each use. It’s also a good idea to write down your results each time you test.

Comes with complete instructions. 50 strips per bottle.

Monopersulfate
Monopersulfate is a strong oxidizer capable of eliminating contaminants from your pool or spa (hot tub). It can help you to maintain crystal clear water. Our AquaChek™ test strip measures Monopersulfate in the approximate range of 400 – 7,000 ppm (mg/L). The presence of chlorine or bromine may increase the reading of this strip. You can use monopersulfate in two different ways:

• If the primary sanitizer in your pool or spa is chlorine or bromine, you can use monopersulfate as a shock chemical. This is something you do periodically when the contaminants have accumulated to a high level in the water. To shock the water, you raise the monopersulfate to a high level for a short period of time. It will oxidize (destroy) the contaminants that have accumulated in the water, helping your sanitizer get “caught up” with its job. Once the monopersulfate dissipates, the chlorine or bromine will resume destroying low levels of contaminants.
• You can also use monopersulfate in some alternate sanitizing systems in place of chlorine or bromine, although it still recommended that you maintain a minimal amount of one of those two in the water. Monopersulfate is used in several different mineral purification systems such as Nature2 and Frog®. In this case, you should test the water frequently to ensure that your water has a proper level of monopersulfate. Consult the chemical manufacturer’s recommendation concerning the amount you should add to your water.

pH
We use pH as an index to express how acidic or basic a solution is. (The scientific definition of pH is “the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion concentration”.) A pH greater than 7.0 is basic, and a pH lower than 7.0 is acidic. In pools and spas, it is important to maintain the water in the slightly basic range of 7.2 to 7.8. The National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), the industry association in the United States, has set a standard of 7.2 to 7.6 as the ideal pH.

If pH Is Low:
The water can corrode surfaces, metal equipment or fixtures. Swimmers and bathers can experience discomfort from burning eyes and itchy skin. The chlorine may dissipate more quickly. The water may cause pitting and etching of plaster surfaces.

If pH Is High:
Calcium and metals tend to come out of solution (the opposite of dissolving) at high pH levels, creating the potential for staining and scale formation. The calcium and metals will actually create deposits and discoloration on pool walls and equipment. Swimmers and bathers can experience discomfort from burning eyes and itchy skin. High pH can contribute to cloudy water.

Alkalinity
Total alkalinity is the measure of the amount of alkaline buffers (primarily carbonates and bicarbonates) in your water. These alkaline substances buffer the water against sudden changes in pH. Total alkalinity is considered the key to water balance. It is the first parameter you should balance when making routine adjustments to your water.

If you neglect to check the total alkalinity in your pool or spa, you may have trouble balancing the pH. You may also notice that pH fluctuates suddenly despite your best efforts to keep it in the ideal range. If the alkalinity is too low, anything introduced to the water will have an immediate impact on pH. Abrupt shifts in pH can cause scaling or corrosion of metal equipment and fixtures as well as other problems. When the total alkalinity is high, the pH has a tendency to drift upward, causing scale to form.

Maintaining an ideal level of alkalinity will protect your pool or spa and its equipment from the harmful effects of sudden pH fluctuations. Think of the alkalinity as training wheels: it keeps the pH in balance without allowing it to tip too far to either side. Of course the pH can still drift upward or downward, but that change will happen gradually as long as the alkalinity falls within the ideal range. The ideal range of total alkalinity for pools and spas is between 80 and 120 ppm (mg/L).

When the total alkalinity is too low, add sodium bicarbonate. If the total alkalinity is too high, you can lower it by using muriatic acid or sodium bisulfate.