My new plaster pool is COVERED in green stain..

[hausfrau]

You are so nice.

I have actually asked about a more high tech kit for testing my water and was told there isn't really anything better than the strips I am using. Hmm...a plot here? I do not want to be at the mercy of the pool stores...I am a nice calm person, but I am getting rather riled up as each time I go in, I get a different opinion.. Iwas wondering...should I have my well water tested-the water that the pool is hooked up to?

I will take your suggestion...and thank you for it. I am going to take a pool class that Self-Chem offers...but will take some of it with a grain of salt (no pun intended) as they probably want us to be dependent on their chemicals! I am also brushing the plaster more right now in hopes that it will inhibit the growth too. We are having lots of storms now (near Austin, TX) so I am sure this will throw everything out of wack too.

Please wish me luck! I'll keep ya'll posted on my pool nightmare!

[waterbear]

You are so nice.

I have actually asked about a more high tech kit for testing my water and was told there isn't really anything better than the strips I am using. Hmm...a plot here?

As someone who has worked in pool stores I can tell you that the answer is probably yes. We did not carry decent test kits (except for the K-2005 we stocked in units of 1 for the condo associations) so people would come to us for water testing and we could sell them a lot of stuff!
As far as test kits, get yourself a Taylor K-2006 (not the K-2005). It will save you a lot of time and money in the long haul!
You might have to order it online. Here is a link for Amazon:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10006
While this is not the only place you can get it you will be supporting Pool Forum by ordering from this link and help keep it going.