OK.

+ Your test kit is fine -- but test chlorine FIRST, and if it's above 5.0, don't bother testing pH -- you won't get an accurate reading.

+ Do have someone else in the household check and confirm your readings -- about 3% of guys are color-blind, and about 10% (in my experience) are color-dumb. [By that I mean, they haven't ever paid enough attention to colors, to have learned to distinguish them well. Really!] It can cause a lot of problems if you aren't reading your kit correctly.

+ Don't swim unless the chlorine is above 2.0.

+ Add 1/8 - 1/4 gallon of bleach after folks swim, till we've got your routine established.

+ The HTH pH Minus, HTH Alkalinity Up (baking soda!), HTH pH Up (washing soda!) are all OK -- but you'll probably only use the pH Minus. If you use 1/2 cup of the washing soda with each load of really dirty clothes -- you'll get them cleaner.

+ Photograph the ingredients part of the HTH chlorine tablets, algae guard, & shock-n-swim. Those are suspect. Notice particularly if the tablets or shock list copper-anything on the label. If they do, stop using them! I'm going to check, and see if I have the MSDS & labels on those.

+ The Intex model number is "54451xx". On yours, the "LW" means Lowes model. Here's an Intex page: http://www.intexcorp.com/index.php/54451eb.html

+ Intex pools to not have crystal clear water, unless you get a bigger filter. They are NOT forgiving: if you let algae get started, it can take weeks to return to clear water, unless you drain and refill. BUT, they'll do fine, if you don't let that happen . . . and DO add a chlorine dose after each heavy swimmer load.

+ Let me know if you have access to a Sams Club. We may be able to get you on a 2 chemical program, using stuff from Sams and Walmart.

+ OK =>
-- "HTH Algae Guard" (not Algae Guard Concentrate) is 5 - 10% linear quat. Stop using it. You can use it to scrub slimy sidewalks, if you like.
-- "HTH Shock-n-Swim" is a cal hypo + magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) blend. It would be OK to use, if your alkalinity were lower. For now, seal it up, and stop using it. Here's the ingredient list:
CALCIUM HYPOCHLORITE 7778-54-3 40 - 55
SODIUM CHLORIDE 7647-14-5 5 - 15
CALCIUM CHLORATE 10137-74-3 0 - 4
CALCIUM CHLORIDE 10043-52-4 0 - 4
CALCIUM HYDROXIDE 1305-62-0 0 - 5
CALCIUM CARBONATE 471-34-1 0 - 4
MAGNESIUM SULFATE HEPTAHYDRATE 10034-99-8 25 - 35
Water 7732-18-5 17 - 22
-- You'll need to give me an EXACT name of the triclor tabs, before I can look them up. BUT, most of the Arch / HTH trichlor products are messed up blends.
-- Go ahead and send me photos (poolforum@gmail.com) if possible.