I am going to be using the BBB method. Not that I don't trust my sister-in-law, but I had read too many possible negative things about using copper, so i'll skip it. I like using methods that others have been proven to work for most people.
Right now I have the HTH 6 test kit but will be ordering my test kit later today. I did my tests last night, but I forgot to bring in the paper where I wrote my results. But if I remember correctly, PH was high at 8, TC was almost 0, TA was 140 and I don't remember the rest. I treated the pool for chlorine and PH last according to the pool calculator, bleach and muriatic acid. I think I read that I should worry about getting the chlorine and PH in line first then deal with the others. I did stock up on all my grocery store chemicals, bleach, borax, baking soda, muriatic acid. That way I'm ready for anything.

When I get home I'll find the model of the filter so that I can have a clean filter ready to swap. I'm an IT guy so I like having swappable parts.

I did have one last thing I wanted to ask about before I did it. I have an old aluminum truck box in the back yard and was thinking about storing my chemicals in it. It has been there for a while and has never had any water in it. But it is in the sun. Is it OK to store my stuff in it?