I just wanted to post a note to say thanks to everyone on this forum for making it such a great resource. After quite the struggle last year and a bit of a struggle for the first part of this year, I think I finally got it all figured out and have a pool that is sparkling clear and is reaching the point of low maintenance.
Here is what it looked like at one point last year when I had to go out of town for four days:
After lots of reading and getting tired of the trips to the pool store and the endless misinformation/lack of information/always getting sold something else, I bought the following test equipment:
And then I diligently tracked all of my measurements and all of my adjustments
And now my pool looks like this:
At this point in time, I think the only issue that I am running into is that I am running my pump and SWCG 12 hours a day (max that the timer allows) and barely breaking even for the day. But I attribute that to the eight+ hours of sun and the 88-90 pool temp.
Thanks so much for tolerating the newbies and our endless questions. It does eventually pay off!
Here is what it looked like at one point last year when I had to go out of town for four days:
After lots of reading and getting tired of the trips to the pool store and the endless misinformation/lack of information/always getting sold something else, I bought the following test equipment:
And then I diligently tracked all of my measurements and all of my adjustments
And now my pool looks like this:
At this point in time, I think the only issue that I am running into is that I am running my pump and SWCG 12 hours a day (max that the timer allows) and barely breaking even for the day. But I attribute that to the eight+ hours of sun and the 88-90 pool temp.
Thanks so much for tolerating the newbies and our endless questions. It does eventually pay off!
Nice to have that watering hole with temps the way they are right? By the way, (quiet) shhhhhhhh…….I have a spreadsheet too. 
I'm OCD about my history.