Okay, the first step is to step back, take a deep breath, and make a resolution to stop dumping stuff into the pool hoping it'll help.

Forget the test strips, and go with your drop-based kit. I would also return any unused bags of lithium hypochlorite, since it's one of the most expensive forms of chlorine and won't do anything that plain old bleach won't do. Also return the copper-based algaecide, it won't help, and it will cause problems. While you're there, take a water sample in and ask them to test for CYA, because you need a fairly close idea of your CYA level in order to clear up the pool. Do NOT buy anything else from them at this time, unless they have a good, drop-based kit on sale. If so, buy that. Otherwise, skip it.

To measure higher chlorine levels than 3, you can take one part of your pool water and mix thoroughly with one part distilled water. take your test sample from that, read your result, and multiply by 2 to get your true reading. If it's still more yellow than the 3, then use one part pool water with two parts distilled, mix, test, read, multiply results by 3. You lose a little accuracy with each dilution, but it'll be good enough for now to get your pool cleared up.

Once you've determined the correct CYA level, then you need to use plain, unscented bleach to raise your Cl up to shock level.

Ben's 'best guess' FC/Stabilizer table for algae free operation of OUTDOOR pools
-- as of July 2003 --

Stabilizer . . . . . . Min. FC . . . . Max FC . . . 'Shock' FC
=> 0 ppm . . . . . . . 1 ppm . . . . . 3 ppm . . . . 10 ppm
=> 10 - 20 ppm . . . . 2 ppm . . . . . 5 ppm . . . . 12 ppm
=> 30 - 50 ppm . . . . 3 ppm . . . . . 6 ppm . . . . 15 ppm
=> 60 - 90 ppm . . . . 5 ppm . . . . . 10 ppm . . .. 20 ppm
=> 100 - 200 ppm . . . 8 ppm . . . . . 15 ppm . . .. 25 ppm

So if your CYA really is 100, then you'd shock to 25. There is a bleach calculator here http://home.earthlink.net/~mwsmith70...achCalc262.exe
that will help you determine how much bleach to put in it, based on your pool size. Once you get your Cl to shock level, you need to keep it there by testing and adding more to get back up to shock level at least 2-3 times a day--the more you test and re-add, the faster it will clear. During this time, keep your pump running 24/7, and brush the pool daily. Do not let the cl level yo-yo up and down, it will take forever to clear it that way.

In the meantime, I would take the money you get back from the pool store and order Ben's kit sold on this site--it will test accurately for everything you'll need, and is well worth the money.

Janet