I have a 3000 gallon SimpleSet pool (the kind with the inflatable ring on top). I use an Intex salt water chlorine generator. Unfortunately, my husband set up the pool before I had salt to put in the water, so I'm fighting an algae problem. It's not terrible...the water is pretty clear, but it has a very slight greenish tint. I've been running the chlorine generator a lot to try to kill the algae, and the water definitely has that "chlorine" smell.

Last year, I bought a Waterpik test kit (contains 5 little bottles of chemicals to perform various tests.) According to that test, my numbers are:
FC: Kit tests up to 3ppm; I diluted 1:7, tested, and multiplied result by 7, giving me about 21ppm.
pH: 7.2
TA: 80

I didn't have any CYA or polyquat, so I headed to the local pool store to get some. I figured I'd have them test my water as well. Their results were VERY different:
FC: 1.9 ppm
TC: 1.0 ppm
pH: 7.2 (aah...we agree!)
Hardness: 70
TA: 0 ppm
CYA: 10 ppm
Copper, Iron: 0

I'm thinking about taking another sample to another pool store...I don't think I'd be smelling all that chlorine if the level was only 1.9, right?

Do I need to increase the hardness based on the type of pool and chlorinating system I have?

Thanks!