Hi Dave,
First off...my pool IS sparkling now . Thanks so much for your time and advice on this forum. Since Thursday night's big dose of chlorine, I've only added 1 jug (182 oz) of 6% bleach through this morning! Never thought that would happen after all the bleach my pool was consuming just a week ago. The last couple of days, my free Cl reading only dropped .5 - 1.0 overnight. With my CYA still less than 20 (just discovered Ben's kit goes lower than 30, yea!), I'll probably add a small amt of Cl this afternoon. My AM readings today were: Free Cl 4.5, 0 CC, TA 90, CH 140.
You were puzzled about my pH remaining stable - so was I, not that I was complaining. Of course, because you asked about it , right on cue my pH reading this AM tested 7.8, so I'll be adding some muriatic acid today, as well. One thought I had about the pH staying fairly stable...my pool was in gunite for just over 3 months (March 1 - June 6) prior to PebbleSheen. (It wasn't my idea, just a very slow pool builder who got overbooked and couldn't keep his act together.) Anyway, maybe some of the curing expected actually took place before the finish coat was put on over it.
Thanks again.
Sandy