Pool start-up questions

[wkussmaul]

Hello TFP gurus,
Just opened the pool 2 weeks ago. When it went to bed, BBB-method chem was perfect. Safety cover on all winter.
Upon removing cover, not too bad looking, and what there was cleaned up quickly after shock and vacuum.
However:

(1) the initial pH was very alkaline; alkalinity was 180-190; and there was a deposit of whitish crystals which the robot picked up for about a week.
I gradually added acid (~5 gallons over the 2 weeks) and the pH is now 7.3-7.4 and TA down to 85.
What was that white stuff? Do I have a potential plaster problem?

(2) Current chemistries (via Color-Q, which I love compared to sticks):
FCL 0.82
TCL 1.10
pH 7.4
TA 85
CH 184
CYA 53
So I added bleach, of course; but do you think I ought to bump up the hardness a little?

Thanks as always.

 

[zea3]

Yes, bring the CH up to the minimum recommended level of 250 ppm.

 

[wkussmaul]

Thank you, will do.

And, see original post: what were those white crystals?

 

[JasonLion]

They were some variation on calcium scaling, but with something else crystalizing with the calcium causing it to form crystals instead of scale.