You asked
"What else should I be doing at this point to get everything off to a good start?" and my answer is STAY THE HECK AWAY FROM POOL STORES!!
All you get from pool stores is bad testing with frequently inaccurate results, sales push for products that you don't need or that you could buy elsewhere for a fraction of the cost if you only knew what they were. Another joy for new pool owners is how pool stores sell them "product A" to lower something, and at the same time "Product B" which raises that same "something" at the same time! They do NOT understand pool chemistry. That's why they depend on a sales sheet that a printer spits out.
You need a GOOD test kit. Owner testing is what TFP is all about. No one cares more for your pool water's condition or protecting your pool's surface and condition more than you.
Taylor K-2006C (the C is important) and the Taylor K-1766 Salt Test kit. <---Order online, rare to find the right kits in stores locally.
Has your PB given you specific instructions for the first 28 days or month? Have you registered your warranty online (if not, do so).
Has the PB told you its okay to use a pool robot this early? Many forbid before 30 days because it can leave tracks in the finish.
Are you brushing like the new pool instructions say to do??? Very important to help rid water and pool surface of excess plaster dust.
Consider your CYA (stabilizer) as 40ppm. There is no way to easily measure increments between 30 and 40.... its a Logarithmic scale, not linear.
Until you get your test kit please add 1 gallon of LIQUID CHLORINE (LC) per day and brush. We want to avoid algae in this new pool and as it looks right now you have Zero FC.
That's all to do until you get your own test kit (see above) and run all the tests. We need to know:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt
If you'll get those to us ASAP we can help you head off problems down the road.
I'm also very concerned about how your pool has metals in it (already)? Cheap algaecides perhaps?? No Bueno.
Maddie
