thanks for getting back --
I am using the lamotte 0-200 ppm chlorine test, the walmart special for the rest of the tests.
vinyl liner 20 x 40 5.5 at deepest
have the auto tab chlorinator, but I think it may have contributed to keeping the cya too high and giving me a recent bout of "chlorine lock". After about three days of keeping ppm at around 25 and really nice clear h20, I think I'm ready to gear that back.

funny the point about mixing chemicals -- I was diluting some of last years shock with another brand of this year's purchase at start up. you are so right about danger, chemcial reaction that occurred sounded like double barrel shot-gun going off, whoa!

so do people generally just pour in a quart/gallon daily, if everything else is in balance?