You are DOING the test correctly but just not INTERPRETING the results properly. Since you are using the 25ml sample, you multiply the number of drops by 0.2 and not 2. So, 30 drops of 0871 would give you a FC reading of 6ppm. Then, after the addition of the 003, 7 drops of the 0871 would give you a CC reading of 1.4ppm.

Go ahead and work to lower the pH. Continue keeping the chlorine at shock level which for your pool with no CYA is 10-12ppm. FYI --- in a 16K pool, each quart of 12.5% liquid chlorine will add about 2ppm of chlorine. Use that to help you figure out how much to add.

Go back and reread Ben's post above and answer any questions that he asked.

By the way --- to save your reagents, just use a 10ml water sample instead of the 25ml sample. Knowing an accurate result within 0.5ppm is adequate. No need to get within 0.2 and it will save your reagents.

If there is debris on the bottom of the pool that you can vac out, do so. Brush the floor and walls daily. Watch your filter pressure and backwash when it rises 8-10psi over clean filter pressure.