ok, so i took the first step of advice and got a water testing drop based kit. i got the taylor complete version.

Background: i had some serious issues last summer with algae and im starting it off right this year, so help me out, please

I live in NJ, i have an above ground pool and its a 12x24, right now the winter cover is still on, i plan to get the pump out of storage today and start opening the pool, i figure with the weather still cool, it will let me take my time to get the chemistry right before the kids rush me to start using it.

ok, so now the results:

PH - 7.4
Alkalinity - 180ppm as calcium carbonate
Calcium hardness 150ppm as calcium carbonate
Free chlorine - 0
Total Chlorine - 0
Cyanuric Acid - 100ppm, actually could be above that if that possible, the test didn't even make it to the 100 level, the black dot disappeared way before it.

so what are the next steps from this point? i still need to add about a 1ft of water to get it above the skimmer. I also tested my tap water and its PH 7.4.

Thanks

Mike