Our new pool is in the garage waiting for Friday's install. The installer said they would be here early (good thing, gonna be HOT) so hopefully I will be able to get the pool filled with water before dark. I've bought the K2006 + the salt test kit, filter sand and salt; I've yet to buy bleach and muriatic acid ... not sure where to buy MA yet. The SWCG book says to balance the water and then add salt before turning the unit on. I will have to figure that all out once I get the first water test. One question: never used a drop test kit, is this something that I'm likely to dork up a couple of times (at first)? Just wondering how reliable n00b results are.
You'll do fine testing. The directions are pretty clear. The only test that is a little hard to read is the CYA test, but since this is a fresh fill, you already know you don't have any CYA so don't need to run that test. You can usually buy muriatic acid at a home improvement store. Ben suggests you put it in a garbage bag for the ride home. The fumes are pretty potent!