Ok, now that I have the pool under control, here are some maintenance questions:

Current Status
FC - 6 ppm
CC - 0 ppm
TC - 6 ppm
Nighttime chlorine loss: none
Daytime chlorine loss: 0.5 - 1.0 ppm loss
PH - 7.6
ALK - 127
CYA - 40
Pool Temp: 82 degrees
Usage: 3 adult swimmers, average 3-4 times a week
Debris: very little daily debris

Are the above levels a good standard to strive to maintain?
How often should I test the water per week?
When/how often should I shock the pool?
Is it best to shock using 6% bleach or dichlor?
Is it ok that I don't want to use the trichlor tabs in our floater very often because our pool is so small and it can add a lot of cyanuric acid very quickly?

Thanks again!
Peggy