Let me start by saying how happy I am that I found this great forum with such knowledgeable people willing to share information.

Background info - I've been around pools a lot my whole live but never had to deal with the chemicals and such. I've had the pool about 9 months and have been winging it and keeping things pretty much in check until a couple weeks ago when I was super busy with work and my pump died and things went south with a major algae issue. I've been using pucks and the packages of shock. I got the algae killed off but now I have super cloudy water.

After reading the info here, I'm ready to switch over to BBB. I'd been using HTH test strips but went out to Wally-World yesterday and got the HTH 5 way test kit. I just need someone to hold my hand while I do this so I don't make a bigger mess.

The pool is an older in ground with cartridge filter. It's an odd shape, and I'm bad at math, but I figure it is around 9000 gal.

Heres what the test's I just did show.

Using the 5 way kit:
Hardness - 460
Total Chlorine - 2
PH - 7.2
Alkalinity - 120
CYA - only made it about half way to the scale that starts at 100

Using the test strips
Hardness - 400
Free Chlorine - 1
PH - 7.2
Alkalinity - 180
CYA - between 130 and 300

Also, I rigged up one of the pool coolers from the how to in the equipment forum (can't find the thread now) is it OK to start using it now, or should I wait until I have the other issues worked out?

Thanks for any help.