Thank you so much for all the great info I've been reading so far about how to manage my pool. I have just tried to start caring for it using your techniques. I have my taylor kit on the way but it won't arrive until Thursday. In the meantime, I am relying on Leslie's pool store for my testing. I have a fiberglass pool, 8 k gal, paper filter cartridge.
On Saturday here were the results:

Fc 0
Tc 0
Cya 100
TA 75
Ph 7.7
Phos 1000

They told me to add 2#13oz alk up (I know it's baking soda but I bought it out of convenience) then do 1# chlor brite dichlor 4 hrs later. I immediately put in the baking soda but waited on the chlor brite.

After reading your wonderful site, I knew the cya was a problem and further investigation about the di chor made me suspicious of using it. So I bought regular bleach at my grocery store and added it the next morning directly to the skimmer. I used about 1/2 gal. Since I didn't know the strength of it. Soon the pool took on a greenish glow. So I thought algae was starting...About 8 hours later I added a gal more of the bleach. Then the pool turned more green. My lousy test strips still showed no FC. So last nite, I added the chlor brite which cleared up the green. But my test strips still show no FC. I'm going to go the Leslie's again to test the water but I don think I trust them. Can you please advise me? I still have an association with a local pool service company who can come out with a phone call. Thank you so much.

Lisa
Frazzled new pool owner