Sounds like you are going OK; just takes time.
As far as your pool eating chlorine, you can add a 3 gallon (~15 ppm dose on your pool) in the late PM. Test in the early AM (within 2 hours of sunrise) and again that afternoon. If it's still real high in the AM, your water does not have a high chlorine demand. If it disappears during the day (sunny day!) you need stabilizer.
It's easier to run pools well with a good testkit and it's REALLY important to be able to test high chlorine. So, if it fits your budget, check out the Amazon links for the Taylor K2006 or 2006C kits. (You can NOT substitute a K2005 or any form of strips or electronics.)
Ben
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