Pool test kits compared: drop kits vs test strips
Every guide on this site starts with a test. Here is how the two main kinds compare and when to use each.
Updated October 4, 2026
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| Topic | Liquid drop kit | Test strips |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | Higher, especially titration tests that count drops | Lower; color matching is approximate |
| Speed | A few minutes | Under a minute |
| Best for | Big decisions: green pools, opening, dosing shock | Quick daily or weekly checks |
| Shelf life | Reagents expire; replace on schedule | Expire too; keep the lid closed and dry |
What to test
- Free chlorine and pH: every time.
- Total alkalinity: weekly or after big changes.
- Stabilizer (CYA): monthly, and before shocking a green pool.
- Salt: if you have a salt system.
- Calcium hardness: a few times a season.
Good habits
- Take the sample elbow-deep, away from returns.
- Read in daylight, against a white background.
- Write results down with the date.
Kits we reference
Our guides refer to a Taylor drop kit (K-2006-SALT) and AquaChek strips.
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Taylor K-2006-SALT saltwater pool test kit
Liquid drop kit (Taylor Technologies K-2006-SALT, FAS-DPD). Covers the chlorine, pH and alkalinity checks in guide 4 and the green-pool plan, plus salt, hardness and stabilizer.
AquaChek 7-Way test strips (Silver, 100 strips)
Quick dip strips for between-kit checks: pH, free and total chlorine, bromine, alkalinity, hardness and stabilizer. Good for spotting a trend; confirm big decisions with a drop kit.
AquaChek Yellow 4-Way test strips (50 strips)
Smaller bottle of strips for the basics: free chlorine, pH, total alkalinity and stabilizer (cyanuric acid).