I'm not doubting Marie at all. I was only relaying what I was told when I went to have my water tested. I was excited about the fact that I could actually swim in my pool based on chem levels - even though it doesn't look that great right now.

I was OK with getting the D.E. because I'd read several posts from other advisers in here that use it regularly with their sand filters and I wanted to try it.

I actually trust this pool guy - he doesn't try to push product on me. I know he actually owns a pool and his family owns the construction portion of this particular pool business. I just don't think he's as experienced with metals that the regular posters on this forum are. For example, he told me my pH was fine - and it is for a pool with no metals - but I'm still lowering it like Marie advised. I've done what Marie has instructed of me - and some of it matched what the pool guy told me to do (adding chlorine before color is gone, not adding more sequestrant, etc). I've even walked out of there without product - because he told me I didn't need anything.

My relaying what was said was in no way to contradict what anyone here has advised - I guess I wanted confirmation from the forum because I was happy about what I was told and maybe a part of me is 'testing' the pool guy - because it's always nice to hear that you haven't been bamboozled and there really are some honest people left in retail.