Getting started with SWCG

[MSBowen]

New here….oh SOOOO NEW, and frustratingly overwhelmed. Not sure this is even the appropriate place to post this.
Our newly installed pool was “ready” at the end of May. But was it???
We’ve not been able to get it balanced since….
almost ZERO chlorine and PH on the higher end. The Turbo TS315 SWG, 10 days later, turned brown (like burned) on this inside ends. So it was replaced with a replacement TCell SWG and it immediately had brown patches on it hours later. PB turned RPMS to 2500 from 2100
(Pump: 12hrs a day at 65%chlorination)
My Question(s): Is the SWG bad (again)? ??Brown patches?
Do we trust the pool water store(s) with salt readouts which are always lower than our meter display??? PB says only go by the meter ….pool stores say opposite.
Pics attached

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.
It appears you are only relying on pool store tests. It is time to invest in a good test kit as TFP believes self testing helps ensure you have consistent results and avoids being pushed to buy unnecessary products from a pool store.
See Test Kits Compared
Also if you purchase the kit with Salt - it is always best to believe your test kit. The salt readings on SWCGs vary by type and can be erratic. There is a kit called K-1766 which is the best kit or it comes as part of the TF-100 or TF-Pro kits with salt.

What are the other test values such as
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt

 

[PoolStored]

So a couple things going on.

First, we don't trust pool store testing as @HermanTX said. I'd get one of our recommended test kits. We need results from one of these to properly diagnose. Link-->Test Kits Compared

Second, remove the cell, dissolve some vitamin C tablets in a bucket and soak the cell. Tell us if that removes the brown.