Multi Function Chlorinating granules

Hi! I bought a new house last year with an in-ground octagon shaped pool, sand filter and Hayward pump. We didn't have too much trouble with it during the summer last year, but this is the first time I have ever closed/opened a pool and we are having a really hard time with it! We had a MASSIVE amount of leaves in the pool. I think we finally got most of them out, but I can't see the deep end bottom of the pool well enough to know. I have used multiple bags of HTH Super Shock, 3" chlorinating tablets in the skimmer, and algecide treatments, but just cant get blue water! Do the multi-function chlorinating granules work better?