Ok last night I added CYA, then about 2 hours later I added 3/4 gallon bleach
this mornings test:
10am
FC 2.5
ph 6.8
alk 130

then I did the test strips
h 1000
fc 0
ph 7.2
alk 180
cya 0

so results = test strips are corrupt just like CarlD implied!

Just the fact that the pool is holding chl for the first time in days implies I'm at least on the right track now!

But I would also aerate my water and keep aerating it. With pucks, that's all I'd do, just keep pH between 7.0 and 7.2 and Alk should come down.
Ok I looked at the return jets and ours look like they don't move, and they point down. Any ideas on how to aerate the water with these type of jets? Or is this a case of "user error"? lol!

thanks!
Di