Sorry for starting new thread - i did have an existing one regarding baking soda if you'd like to merge with that. I appreciate your response and will add that larger dose of Borax right now so I get started on the low pH problem. I'll keep an eye on all the numbers and re-test CYA by the weekend, then reconsider the bleach/manually added CYA if still no reading.

Unless you think I should just skip to adding CYA now? I was hoping to use up these ridiculously expensive trichlor tabs but I'll eat the cost if it means easier pool maintenance.

This little pool is really preparing me for our future inground one! At least from a chemistry perspective