Well, bought a new pH kit at Walmart - unfortunately they didn't have any of the reagent packages only which cost just two bucks, but that's okay as it was very important to know for absolutely sure that my testing agents were sound; and picked up 3 boxes of Borax (green on yellow box). The color for the pH still came up light orange -- go figure! And yes, R-004. I keep my pH kit separate, actually, I keep it in a fanny pack with my chlorine reagents and CYA which is all I usually test for. A couple of times a season I pull Ben's old huge kit out and test for TA (even though I know the reagents are old-old-old - but they still seem to work).

Getting weary of crawling under the cover to skimmer or at deep end to take samples (though I suppose I could also take from skimmer or even pump basket), I put all three boxes of Borax in and then rechecked pH later and boy did it pink up! But I waited this morning to recheck again because of course all the water doesn't circulate in just a few hours. It was still dark pink though this morning so I added several cups of muriatic acid (my haste last night came back to bite me anyway.)

I expect tonight to have my pH more or less about perfect, i.e., within range, or at least very close. I take it low pH is terrible on a liner, and if one wants to safety err, one should err on the high side?

I look forward hopefully tonight to turning the pump off and resume saving $$$ on electricity, and take a rest from it. Although 8 months is far, far too long. But in the south and with all my trees there's no opening until after the spring mess, which is the 2nd week of May.

Janet, as always, thanks for your thoughts and help. Never having used Borax I was a little nervous and really appreciate your support!