Yeah, I agree. I appreciate your comment, and how much time you take to educate and respond to so many posts here, so thoroughly. It's truly remarkable. But here's what I notice. Unless you declare you own one of the "suggested test kits", I notice over and over that basically, you will be told you can't rely on your numbers until you confirm you tested with the right kit. I mean, it's all over the place. Yes, it's definitely the ideal practice, but I border's on cult-like, the insistence of owning a kit. As much as we know the pool stores have a goal of selling you their products, I also get this feeling like the test kit is pushed without exception, immediately, as mandatory. I read it over and over and honestly have started and deleted posts on my approach about 5 times , just because I don't need the backlash I know would come. That's my opinion anyway.
No offense intended here. I know all of the TFP veterans could easily manage in the same manner I do. Maybe the story would be different if the kits were $200 plus, like they are for us in Canada. I would concede that for $50-60, it's basically a no brainer, but for $200, I think it changes the math such that the kit would be overkill. That's how I feel, and why I want to let people know it can be done this way (as you also point out - thank you). Anyway, don't want to beat a dead horse here.
PS, my pool is seasonal (open in May, close in Oct), not sure if I understand your intended point there or not. CYA needs to be added every opening, to account for the fall winterizing (draining), which is pretty standard I assume, for us seasonal guys.
