The pool chem industry is constantly trying to develop "exciting " products you'll spend a bundle on. They take ordinary stuff and re-pack it and charge a fortune.

pH Up! is nothing but soda ash, ie, sodium carbonate, same chemical stuff as Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow box) that costs on $0.79/lb.

T/A Raiser is nothing but baking soda--Arm&Hammer in the orange box.

Sand in filters doesn't "wear out" If properly maintained, the sand lasts forever--I'm just starting my 7th season and Poconos is on season 12 or 13--with the same sand. 1/3 to 1/2 cup of DE powder in the sand filterwill do the same as the expensive additives--and I'm STILL on the same 10 lb box I bought at the end of 2005, I think? I about $8 or $9 for it and I have just less than half a box.

There are only 4 pool store chems for which there is no sub:
1) Polyquat algaecide
2) Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer/CYA)
3) Dry Acid (Safer than Muriatic acid)
4) Filter sand (not really a chem)