Ok so a quick background.......I have saltwater aquariums and am used to testing water parameters and such but I have been swimming in my pool just based on pool store testing just because I was lazy. So each year i still get a good algae growth or 3 and I barely make it to the pool store to test my water. So, what I want is to test my water at home and save some cash on all the wasted chemicals I have been grabbing for an arm and a leg. I only have a few a few questions but my research has led me here so I want to take the plunge and go this route.

1.) So from the pictures the TF-Pro test kit looks similar to my aquarium test kits but it states it is not a "blueish, greenish, i think my eyes work color scale" so is their a digital readout or what provides me the number from each test that i am to aim for?

2.) I really dont want to waste the chemicals I have left. So i have 5 bags of shock, some alkalinity up, and some cya free shock tablets. I know the tablets can be used but will the other options just dissapear if i am switching to liquid chlorine? Should i just burn through those real fast during the opening of the pool (alk up per test results) and then make the switch? Also I know it varies per pool but I usually at the beginning of the season grab 25 packs of powder shock to get me through most if not all of the year.......how many gallons of liquid shock should i grab to get me through 4-5 months?

3.) SLAM---Can i use this method to open my pool? Or do I need to do some other combo of things? I am of course going to vaccum and clean and all that anyway but will SLAM and testing get it from swamp to clear? (Shouldnt be a swamp but I have the elephant cover still on. 2 weeks ago I shocked her heavily and covered it back up letting the pump run 3 hrs per day until now. I would like to start opening the pool this week so that it is clear and ready by memorial day. usually takes 3-4 days but if doing this method takes a week and i then am spending less and not having to drive to the 18 year old kid to test my large investment I am game.

Pool background:
25 years old+ in ground concrete poured then steel then liner.
6 year old liner
4 year old heater
Variable speed pump
cartridge filters
0 test data (about to hit purchase i believe vs going to pool store)
Pool is pretty trouble free if you consider 2 or 3 times a year algae growing on the walls needing a good scrub and shock)
But i have been dumping cash in phosphate removers and all of that (in aquariums phosphates are a huge issue so i believed the hype)

I just really want to know how much more testing am i signing myself up for and if this will in the long run possibly save some cash? I am planning on getting the TF-pro with Slam option. (Actually want to buy it here today but need to make sure I am on the right path. or should i get that Taylor K-2006C test kit?

This is the first season with my pool. It has one stainless steel wall panel that has the skimmer and return running through it. I can already tell that circulation for the pool could be better and I'm pondering adding another return by tee-ing off of my existing return PVC and routing PVC pipe around to the other side of the pool and making a return that goes over the edge of the pool so that there are no additional penetrations through the pool wall (I haven't read it speciically, but it wouldn,t surprise me if penetrating any other pool wall section would void the warranty...).

Has anyone seen this done before? Is this a stupid idea from the good idea fairy?

Thanks