1. Stop adding copper and mystery shock.

2. Start dosing with 1 gallon of PLAIN 8% Walmart bleach each evening, to keep your pool from turning green, again.

3. Get a cheap OTO / phenol red drops kit -- NOT STRIPS!! -- at Walmart, while you are there. Report results as soon as you can.

4. Order the K2006, as W-M told you.


There are several reasons why your chlorine could be 'missing', none of which is "chlorine lock". "Chlorine lock" is just a pool store's way of saying, "We have no idea what's going on, but don't want to say that!".

The most likely problems relate to stabilizer (CYA), but we can't tell till you get the K2006. Strips are never very good, but the CYA test capability of strips is HORRIBLY BAD.

If you add the bleach daily, it's unlikely your pool will get messed up before you an get the K2006. Do report pH levels. Low pH, in particular, can damage your pool. If you like, you can pick up 4 boxes of 20 Mule Team borax (NOT: Boraxo, a soap!) in Walmart's detergent section. You can use it to raise the pH, without complicating things . . . and it will keep forever if you don't need it right now.