Thanks for the reply BigDave. I will pick up some Borax. I've been waiting all summer for my PH to go up like the pool store lady told me it would, instead of buying something else. I knew I was on the low side. We have had a lot of rain as well, which may be the reason my TA dropped from 90 to 80 and also the reason my PH has not been increasing. I do not already have Soda Ash so it doesn't matter to me which one. I just thought my TA needed to be bumped up slightly too and Soda Ash would do both. I'll stick with Borax per your recommendation.

The brown stuff is just a nuisance. It comes back every day after vacuuming. The water is clear but the brown stuff settles out to the bottom and makes my pool look dirty. Before anybody comes over, I have to hurry and go vaccum the pool.