Hi and welcome to the Pool Forum!
Do you have a drops-based test kit? If so, post some current water testing numbers. ('Guess-strips' don't count. )
The test kit that we think is by far the best is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). Not available locally but you can get it through this link that takes you to Amazon: http://pool9.net/tk/
But, in the meantime, go to Walmart and see if they have the HTH 6-Way drops-based kit (no test strips!) and get that. If they don't, get an OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops) instead. Use it to test and then post your numbers. Also while you are at WallyWorld, get several jugs of their generic 8.25% bleach, a couple of boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle) and a gallon of distilled water
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Some questions for you:
--Is this a freshly filled pool?
--Did you fill from a well or from city water?
--What all have you added to the water? Post ingredients and not just product names, please.
--What size (hp) pump do you have?
--What kind and size of filter?
To try and answer a few of your questions:
--There are a lot of varying opinions about how long to run the pump. I typically run mine for about 8 hours per day.
--It is critical that your pH be above 7.0. Readings lower than that are acidic and can damage your pool.
--Wait a couple hours after adding chemicals to retest.
--The kids can swim if the pH is between 7-8ppm and you have adequate chlorine in the pool.
Re-post with requested info and then someone here can try and help you. Depending on what all you have added, it may be that you can use our Super Simple Start up Recipe:> http://pool9.net/sspool-info/
(Until you registration is completed, you won't be able to see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and then paste it into a browser window after you log out.)
Hope this helps.
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