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[CarlD]

What Richard says is exactly correct. Since you have a gunite pool, T/A levels are more critical than it would be for a vinyl pool (for vinyl your current t/a would be fine).

You need to aerate your water to raise pH without raising T/A. It's a racheting process--lower pH to 7.0-7.2 (with gunite it can be lower, but you have NEW gunite so stay in the range). This pulls the T/A down. Then aerate to raise pH without T/A rising. Repeat until T/A is where you want it, then aerate to raise pH one last time to normal.

Do NOT confuse caustic soda with washing soda. The first is lye, sodium hydroxide, the latter is sodium carbonate, and is the same as soda ash the pool stores sell (actually, it's not the same--it's FAR cheaper!)

And don't confuse either with baking soda, sodium BIcarbonate, which is used to raise T/A, should you need to do so.