spring start up, general questions, BBB method

[darenjones]

first off, thank you all for the replies...
I just want to make sure that I am doing all I can to ensure crystal clear water throughout the season.
I saw in a post by Watermom that you add borax then a part of acid, to offset the alk and ph rise. I don't think I need to worry about that, I am today, still sitting right at 7.2, and 80ppm on alk. My FC is 11, TC 11, CYA still 55ppm. So I am not getting a ph swing like I did last year (it always wanted to be at 7.8 or 8.0. I was going thru acid all season last year (first year with it, so I am assuming there was some stabalizing to be done.
I am running with about 7100 gal of water in my little pool, so I only need to add about 13 oz or so, should I add the acid, or let the ph and alk bump up a notch or so...
also, can I add this while my TC is high ? (still trying to clear it up the rest of the way, by keeping it up near 15ppm overnight)

Thanks again for the help!

ps, without having a borate test in my kit (is it available thru Taylor ?) how do I know what level I am at ? *please dont say take a sample to the pool store... I usually get into an argument with them! **