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Find and buy a cheap OTO - Phenol Red test kit. It's not complete but will give generally accurate pH and Chlorine readings. If your wall mart carries the HTH 6-way test kit, it's a really good starter and includes the CH and TA tests you need. The strips are just not accurate and the inaccuracy explains the lack of TA change when the pH was reduced.
You need chlorine in the pool or it will turn green.
You need stabilizer to keep the chlorine in the pool through the day.
Chlorine and stabilizer are your first priorities.