I am here because I am clearly confused and the local pool store seems to be just consuming my wallet. First of all, my water looks great but I have this re-current algae problem, clearly due to my real problem....I can't seem to maintain a chlorine level. I have used 3 bottles of "Blackout", I shock, I load my feeder, I add an additional floating feeder...still I can't seem to maintain an acceptable chlorine level, which explains why I keep having an algae issue. Getting really tired of brushing the pool and spending money on shock. I seems to have escalating phosphates but understand that nothing matters if I can't maintain the chroline level. One store says my phosphates are 1000+, another says "0"......No wonder I am confused! Any big ideas out there? Also, can I use phosphate removers for ponds and lakes in my pool at reduced amounts? The stuff at the pool store is waaaay over priced IMO....or do phosphates really matter? I have back washed my fiilters, broke down and cleaned my filter innereds and still growing algae. My pool needs to be replastered but I don't really think it that bad. White plaster pool, 17,500 gallons in the greater Houston area