I have a painted concrete pool - pretty old. This is our second year having a pool and I'm struggling to keep the levels correct. Thank goodness I found you guys - everytime I got to the pool store, every solution is $100 or more. I can't afford it and have considered just covering the pool and never swimming again. My kids would hate me - but I'm incredibly frustrated and now broke.

The pool is 27,000 gallons to the best of my knowledge. I am trying to clear it up. I can't keep chlorine in it. We were at 155 alkalinity level, so I put in a gallon of muriatic acid. I had my water tested today prior to adding the gallon on Muriatic Acid and had the following results: Free Chlorine .05 ppm; Total Chlorine, .05 ppm; Combined Chlorine, 0 ppm; ph 7.2; Hardness 151 ppm; Alkalinity (w/ stabilizer correction) 155 ppm; Cyanuric Acid 4 ppm; Copper 0.1 ppm; Iron 0.1 ppm; phosphates 100 ppb

In addition to adding the Muriatic Acid, I also added 2 lbs of Power Powder Plus Shock from Leslie's. Those levels were before adding the acid and the shock. I know I need to get the water tested again after adding the new chemicals. Any other suggestions?