You may want to push your CYA higher -- SWCG's run a bit better at the recommended 80 ppm CYA. But do NOT follow the mfg's 1-3 ppm FC recommendation; instead use the 5% rule (FC = 5% of CYA, or 4 ppm with CYA=80) as an ABSOLUTE minimum. Alabama is more like Chattanooga (the 5% rule was tested more on the West Coast in dry areas, where there wasn't algae in every puddle and on every leaf!), so you probably want to use my Best Guess chart, which is somewhat higher.

I wouldn't worry about the hardness (CH) - just use borax to raise your pH if needed and do not use bicarb or pH up (soda ash, sodium carbonate).