Swimming Pool Tips and Reviews: WaterLink Spin Touch vs ColorQ 2x Pro 9 vs ColorQ 2x Pro 7

If you are in the market for a photometer test kit, LaMotte makes 3 models that are great for pro use. There is no direct comparison really between the WaterLink Spin Touch and the ColorQ 2x units, but for the sake of this comparison, it needs to be included although it is much more advanced. I think to consider whether you want to make the leap to the Spin Touch you have to look at the ColorQ 2x units and decide if speed is a bigger factor than cost.

The SKU for the Mobile unit is: Lamotte #3581 MOBILE WaterLink SPIN TOUCH Lab and the price is around $1,000. The Spin Touch test kit is great for so many applications. If you service Commercial Accounts this is a great way to keep your logs for the Health Department and Pool Manager. For Resorts, Hotels, and Clubs this would be a perfect way to get spot-on readings to assure that the public pool is safe. And if you are a Health Inspector there is no better water tester than this. Plus it comes with a 2-year warranty.

The 202 Disks seen in this video are sold in a 50 pack for around $120. The 202 Disk does 10 test factors in 60 seconds:

Free Chlorine (DPD) 0-15 ppm

Total Chlorine (DPD) 0-15 ppm

Bromine (DPD) 0-33 ppm

pH 6.3-8.6

Calcium Hardness 0-800 ppm

Total Alkalinity 0-250 ppm

Cyanuric Acid 5-150 ppm

Copper 0-3.0 ppm

Iron 0-3.0 ppm

Salt 0-5000 ppm

Phosphate 0-200 ppb

They also have a disk that tests just 3 test parameters which can also be reused 3 times. This disk does Total Chlorine or Bromine, Free Chlorine, and pH Disk #4334-H. This would be a great disk for spot-checking a pool in between the 10 test factors which you could do monthly. It is really a very versatile tester that can be used in any number of applications.

You can also download the WaterLink Connect app from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This App is free and will allow you to connect the Spin Touch to your smartphone or device and from the App, you can transfer the Test Logs and actually control the Spin Touch unit from your smartphone or device. You can take it a step further and Subscribe to the WaterLink DATAMATE Web which will allow you to store, send the log customer data. After you log the test results the Data Mate software will give you detailed recommendations to balance the water.

The ColorQ 2x Pro 9 is much like the ColorQ 2x Pro 7 with some notable exceptions. It uses the same photometer unit but the one that comes with the Pro 9 can also test for Copper, Iron, and Biguanide (Reagents sold separately). The handheld meter is easy to use and features economical liquid reagents that measure 144 tests per 30 mL size bottle for Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine, Bromine, and pH. The Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, Cyanuric Acid, Copper, and Iron test is measured by using one TesTabs tablet per test with 100 tablets included with the kit.

The kit features economical liquid reagents along with easy-to-use TesTabs® tablets and a Pool Manager Handbook. The ColorQ 2x eliminates the need to visually determine slight color variations or use look-up tables, thus taking the guesswork out of poolside water analysis. The ColorQ 2x PRO 9 and reagents are packaged in a rugged carrying case for on-site testing.

The Lamotte ColorQ 2x Pro 7 Test Kit is loaded with some great new features making this a premiere digital water tester for your pool or spa. If you are looking for an accurate way to test your pool water and don’t like guessing by trying to read the reagent colors, this kit would be perfect for you. It will give you a spot on digital readout of seven test factors within minutes.”

Features:

On-Site Multi-Test Photometer Kit

Takes the guesswork out of pool-side water analysis

Dual optic design with wider path-length than previous models

Eliminates the need to visually determine slight color variations

Waterproof housing

5 Minute auto-off function protects batter life

Transfer results via Bluetooth

Digital display

Accurate results

Easy to use

Can be used on both pools and spas

Test Capabilities:

Pro 9 2x:

Free Chlorine | 0-10 ppm

Total Chlorine | 0-10 ppm

Bromine | 0-22 ppm

pH | 6.5-8.5

Alkalinity | 0-250 ppm

Calcium Hardness | 0-600 ppm

Cyanuric Acid | 0-150

Iron | 0-3.0 ppm

Copper | 0-4.0 ppm

Biguanide (sold Separately) | 0-70 ppm

Biguanide Shock (Sold separately) | 0-160 ppm

Kit Includes:

ColorQ 2x Photometer

Photo-diagrammatic instructions (English, Spanish and French)

Reagents & Tablet packets

Convenient carrying case

Pool Management Handbook

LSI Quick calculator slide tool

Note:

Each reagent contains enough solution for 144 tests

Contains 100 TesTabs tablets for each test

Lamotte part #2088

An added feature is the Blue tooth connectivity and the ability to email yourself or a client the test results on the spot while you are out in the field. You would just need the Waterlink Solutions Home or the Waterlink Solutions app to do this. Also provided in the app based on the test results are the recommend chemicals needed to balance your pool. The app works seamlessly on your smartphone and it is a great added feature that puts the ColorQ 2x in a premium category.

The Lamotte ColorQ 2x Pro 7 Test Kit is loaded with some great new features making this a premiere digital water tester for your pool or spa. If you are looking for an accurate way to test your pool water and don’t like guessing by trying to read the reagent colors, this kit would be perfect for you. It will give you a spot on the digital readout of seven test factors within minutes.

Here is more about the ColorQ 2x Pro 7:

“The Waterproof Bluetooth® ColorQ 2x PRO 7 handheld pool and spa professional photometer directly measure Free Chlorine (DPD), Total Chlorine (DPD), Bromine (DPD), pH, Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer) directly on a digital display. The handheld meter is easy to use and features economical liquid reagents that measure 144 tests per test factor for Free Chlorine, Total Chlorine (Bromine), and pH. The Alkalinity, Calcium Hardness, and Cyanuric Acid tests are measured by using the TesTabs® tablet method and include 100 tablets for each test. The ColorQ 2x eliminates the need to visually determine slight color variations, thus taking the guesswork out of poolside water analysis. The photometer, testing reagents, and photo-diagrammatic trilingual instructions (English, Spanish, French) are packaged in a convenient carrying case for on-site testing.

The ColorQ 2x Pro 7 test kit was designed for pool and spa professionals to measure seven primary pool and spa tests on a digital display. Kits use liquid reagents to each factor except Hardness and Cyanuric Acid, using instrument grade TesTabs.”