Richard, thanks.

Initially I'd read Ben's "operate at high ph" article, and planned to do so. However since my OTO kit only reads up to 8.2, I decided not to until I had a proper test kit. I assumed once I got my alk down, PH would be fairly stable, and I'd only have to adjust when I added fill like you said, which is where I am now.

I'll try to get current readings for CL, PH and Alk tonight and add them here tomorrow. I need to get another gallon of acid I'm sure.

Just got a call back from the water plant. They had looked in their records and found an entry from 1975 when the city put 3 new wells in (we're still using them) and the CA reading was 62ppm. Our town sits on top of a huge aquifer, and I don't see much evidence looking around that calcium scaling is a big problem (lot's of ag fields using irrigation rigs, etc.).

I'll look at walmart and pick up their OTO kit if it tests CH.