ICO Pool Water Monitor Review

We have all been there—confused, annoyed, and overwhelmed by pool care. That's why ICO was such a relief. This is the pool water monitor that completely changed the way I take care of my pool.

Hey there, I'm Justin, your resident pool aficionado. And today, we're going to talk about the new ICO Pool Monitoring system.

Many pool owners waste too much time testing, guessing, and dumping expensive chemicals in their pool without ever knowing if the pool is truly safe and balanced.

I was one of them—until I found a better way. Now my pool is perfectly balanced, and I'm enjoying my pool more than ever. The solution is called the ICO Pool Water Monitor, and it's changed everything.

I was tired of constant water testing, guessing at color charts, and still having no clue what to do next. How much chlorine do I add? Do I need acid? Is it time to shock the pool? Every test just left me with more questions than answers. Some people turn to their local pool store or service company.

Let's be honest about this. Too many service techs rush through visits in just 15 minutes, barely testing your water while charging high rates. Some pool stores are even worse - marking up chemicals by 300-400% and recommending products you don't actually need. The real experts admit that chlorine is the best algaecide ever invented.

Is the industry hiding the one thing that would solve your problems - digital monitoring technology? Instead, they keep you dependent on weekly water test visits and expensive specialty chemicals.

Meanwhile, your pool's water quality can change in just 24 hours during hot weather. The truth is their entire business model depends on your pool never being quite right - that's how they profit.

Stick around, and I'll show you exactly how ICO works—and why this should be the new pool product of the year.

You've Been Cleaning Your Pool Wrong

For years, pool care has been all about chasing numbers—chlorine levels, pH, alkalinity—testing, adding chemicals, and hoping you got it right. Pool stores push endless products, and pool service techs rely on the same outdated methods. But what if I told you there's a better way?

I learned this on a trip to Europe, where Olympic training facilities don't bother with the long list of gimmicky pool store products. Instead, they focus on one golden number: Oxidation-Reduction Potential, or more commonly called ORP.

Unlike chlorine test strips that only tell you how much chemical is in the water, ORP measures how well your chemicals are working. Does your pool have actual sanitizing power. It's the difference between knowing you have chlorine and knowing it's doing its working.

If operators of massive Olympic size pools rely on ORP for perfect water quality, why aren't everyday pool owners using it? The truth is it's complicated. First, lab grade sensors have historically cost thousands of dollars. ICO reduces that to just hundreds. The secret? It's sold worldwide in high volumes, tens of thousands of units. Second, most pool maintenance advice is outdated. ICO changes that. By continuously tracking ORP and pH—the two numbers that matter the most—it eliminates the guesswork. It simplifies pool care.

What is ICO?

ICO is a smart AI-Powered pool water monitor that analyzes your water each hour and sends real-time insights direct to your phone.

Pool maintenance is a headache and hassle for most people—constantly testing the water, adjusting chemicals, and hoping you get it right. The ICO steps in and simplies. It keeps tabs on your water chemistry 24/7 and sends informed recommendations, so you know exactly what your pool needs and when.

You can now eliminate constant water testing and trips to the pool store. Just open the app and you know exactly what your pool needs. Or turn on alerts and get notified instantly. This kind of precision isn't just helpful for backyard pools—it's the same technology that Olympic and professional aquatic centers rely on.

Most pool equipment I've used forces you into a one-size-fits-all setup, but not the ICO. They actually made two versions—one for Chlorine and Bromine pools and another for Saltwater pools. I went with the Chlorine version since that's what my pool runs on, but Half of pools are salt based, so it's critical to offer both. Most pool monitoring brands only offer a single option – so it's nice to see two options.

ICO As an Investment

Let's talk money for a second. I've seen firsthand how ICO pays for itself crazy fast. When you keep your pH between 7.0 and 7.2 - which ICO helps you do - your chlorine actually works the way it should. Most of us are dumping in way too much chlorine because our pH is off. I was burning through about $70 in chemicals monthly before ICO. Now? I'm spending maybe $35. That's real money back in my pocket - over $400 a year. And that's not even counting what you save by avoiding equipment and surface damage. Trust me, replacing a heater costs $4,000 minimum these days. Plus, when you prevent just one algae outbreak, that's another hundred bucks saved on shock treatments or $200+ for emergency pool service. Do the math – I'm thinking this thing will pay for itself in 12 months. After that, it's all savings.

Why ICO Stands Out

ICO isn't just another pool monitor—it's smarter, more reliable, and easier to use than any other pool water monitor. In fact, after testing all the top pool water monitors, I rated it the Best Pool Water Monitor. Why?

So what makes ICO different?

• Smart AI Technology
• Ultra-Reliable & Accurate Sensors
• Long-Lasting Battery Life, up to six months
• Rechargeable battery
• No Subscription Fees

ICO continuously tracks the key water quality factors that affect your pool's balance and cleanliness. With real-time monitoring, it helped me stay on top of my pool's water chemistry without the hassle.

What the ICO Tracks

The ICO keeps an eye on four major water quality factors:

• BioPower – This is sanitizing Power of the water. This is provided as an ORP Value. The number you're aiming for is 650 – 700.
• PH - Ideally, you'll maintain a PH of 7-7.2 for maximum sanitizing power.
• Temperature
• You'll also get Total Dissolved Solids – or TDS – in the Saltwater Version

You might be wondering—why doesn't it test for chlorine levels? Simple. ORP is much better indicator of water quality than total chlorine and free chlorine values. Instead of looking at numbers that mean little to nothing in isolation, ICO measures ORP (Oxidation-Reduction Potential), which tells you how effectively your chlorine is doing its job. We are measuring the BioPower or sanitizing power of the water. That's why Olympic and commercial pools rely on it. It's not just about how much chlorine is floating around—it's about how well it's working, and keeping your water safe.

You can test 8 different parameters for a pool, but for daily maintenance, you really only need to focus on two that are critical:

• ORP
• pH

ORP is the "one number to rule them all" - it's the gold standard for measuring your water's sanitizing ability. When ORP falls within the ideal range (typically 650-750 mV), it indicates good water quality regardless of other factors.

If your ORP is outside its target range while pH is normal, that's when you should check your CYA (cyanuric acid) levels, as high CYA can effectively "lock up" your chlorine, reducing its sanitizing power.

For most pool owners, maintaining these two parameters and checking CYA only every 6-12 months, especially if using trichlor, is sufficient for excellent water quality.

ICO provides early warning signs before problems develop – it's truly the "canary in the coal mine" for pool care.

What is ORP?

ORP stands for Oxidation-Reduction Potential, which sounds super fancy, but it's just a way to measure the Biopower, or sanitizing power. This tells you how well your pool water is killing contaminants like algae, bacteria and biofilm. If ORP is over 650, your pool is doing a great job at keeping bacteria and algae away. If it's low, things might start getting a little nasty.

The problem with focusing on chlorine is that your chlorine level can be high and the water still has no sanitizing power. That's because there are chlorine inhibitors. I don't like using fancy words but this one is important. It basically means the wrong PH or CYA level can render your chlorine powerless. They are the kryptonite of chlorine. That's an old reference to Superman for the youngsters.

The bottom line is chlorine's effectiveness is reduced by both pH and CYA (cyanuric acid) levels. Measuring ORP is superior because it measures the actual sanitizing capability of your water, not just how much chlorine is floating around. It tells you if the chlorine is actively working to kill bacteria and algae. This real-world effectiveness is why Olympic venues and commercial pools always rely on ORP monitoring.

In essence, ORP gives you the real picture of your water quality, while chlorine testing only shows one ingredient. This distinction makes ORP the one number to rule them all for maintaining truly safe, clean pool water.

What is pH?

Think of pH as a balance scale for your pool water. It tells you if the water is too acidic (like lemon juice) or too basic (like baking soda). Keeping the right pH level makes the water comfortable to swim in and allows chlorine do its job. If the pH is too high then chlorine stops working, which makes the water look cloudy and uninviting. The ICO monitors pH down to the decimal point to keep your sanitizing power at maximum level. How important is PH? Well if your PH level moves by even half a point, say from 7 – 7.5, then the chlorine loses 50% of it's power. If ph moves from 7 – 8, then chlorine loses up to 90% of it's power.

This is why maintaining PH is so critical, and why ICO measures it once per hour. By closely monitoring PH, you could reduce your chlorine usage by over 50%. In fact, most pool owners over-chlorinate by 200-300%, wasting hundreds of dollars yearly on chemicals they don't need.

What pH should your pool be?

7.0-7.2 is ideal for most pools.

What is Total Dissolved Solids or TDS?

TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids, which is just a fancy way of saying "everything that's mixed into your pool water that isn't pure H₂O." This includes things like salt (if you have a saltwater pool). The ICO salt version is designed to track TDS in saltwater pools so you know when it's time to add fresh water or add more salt.

Making Chemical Balancing Easier

One of the best parts of the ICO is its app. Instead of manually testing the water and guessing how much chemical to add, the ICO does the math for you. If your pH is too high or low, the app tells you exactly how much to adjust it. The same goes for sanitizer levels—it'll suggest adding more chlorine (or whatever sanitizer you use) only when needed. This not only saves time but also helps avoid over-treating the water.

The ICO App – Easy to Use with Some Cool Extras

The app itself is super intuitive. The dashboard gives a quick snapshot of your pool's water quality, including historical data so you can track trends over time. A neat bonus I noticed while testing is the weather forecast integration, which helps predict how upcoming rain or heat waves might affect your pool chemistry.

Wi-Fi Connectivity – Monitor From Anywhere

The ICO connects directly to your home Wi-Fi, so you can check on your pool from anywhere. Unlike other pool monitors, like the Sutro or iopool's EcO, it doesn't require an extra Wi-Fi or Bluetooth dongle plugged into an outlet—just set it up and go. After testing a bunch of other models and running into constant connection issues, I was seriously impressed with how easy the ICO was to set up and how reliable it is.

One quick note: If your Wi-Fi signal is weak near the pool, a Wi-Fi extender placed in a nearby room can help. Some users reported taking the ICO closer to wifi and then dropping in the pool worked for them. The ICO does have Bluetooth as a backup, so you can always connect locally even if you don't have wifi.

The Water Index – A Quick Snapshot of Pool Health

One feature I really like is the Water Index. Instead of bombarding you with numbers, it simplifies everything into an easy-to-read score that balances sanitation and comfort. It's a great way to see whether your pool is in good shape or needs attention.

Battery Life – Set It and Forget It

Battery life is solid. Depending on your Wi-Fi strength and usage, you'll probably only need to charge it once per season. I've been using mine for over 4 months, and it's still going strong without a recharge. It charges via USB, just like your phone, so it's easy to keep it powered up.

Tracking Water Quality Over Time

If you like to be proactive with pool care, the historical tracking feature is a game-changer. Being able to see patterns in pH, ORP, and temperature over weeks or months helps you make smarter decisions about water care before problems even start.

Setup and Calibration – Easy but Needs Occasional Tuning

Setting up the ICO is a breeze. The app walks you through everything, and once it's in the water, it starts sending you a reading every hour. The sensors are built to last, but they do need calibration every six months or so. Fortunately, that's a simple process with the included calibration kits.

Final Verdict

What's my final verdict on the ICO Pool Water Monitor?

It's Pool Nerd Approved.

Overall, the Ondilo ICO Pool Monitor is a fantastic tool for anyone who wants to make pool care easy. It takes the stress out of balancing chemicals, lowers the annual chemicals spend, pays for itself, and makes sure your pool stays safe and ready for that next pool party. ICO doesn't just save you from the headaches and hassles of pool ownership—it gives you your time back, because we all have better things to do.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely—especially if you want to minimize water testing and dealing with pool water issues. If you're like me, you'd rather be maximizing time with family and friends on weekends.

If you wanna keep nerding out over your pool, head on over to my deals page at ThePoolNerd.com/deals where I post the best deals on pool water monitors and other pool equipment.

Your resident pool aficionado.

For over 4+ years, The Pool Nerd has been a leading source in the swimming pool industry. With years of experince owning a swimming pool, our hope here is to guide and help making owning a swimming pool easier.