Confused about CYA and Chlorine levels.

[CarlD]

It's very hard to tell what's going on without good numbers. That's why we always suggest you invest in a good test kit, one that uses the FAS-DPD Chlorine test (not to be confused with the DPD test). You CANNOT rely on strips to give you precise information, particularly on CYA levels.

In lieu of that, you'll need to take a water sample to a pool store and get them to test it and provide us with the following information:
Is your pool vinyl or concrete/plaster?
How many gallons?
Do you use an SWG? (if you don't know, the answer is probably not)
FC (free Chlorine level)
CC (Combined Chloramine level)
pH
T/A (total alkalinity)
CYA (Stabilizer/Cyanuric Acid).
CH (Calcium Hardness)

Since you have a MAJOR Algae bloom you are going to need lots and lots of chlorine to kill it.

Now I suggest you look at PoolForum and see that there are various categories and within them are Stickie'd threads. Read those threads because we've discussed this many, many, MANY times and the advice is pretty much the same.

[tbkp]

Is your pool vinyl or concrete/plaster? Fiberglass
How many gallons? 18,000
Do you use an SWG? Zodiac Clearwater (was in need of cleaning when I got back)

Not real sure of these... Pool test kit are lousy.
FC (free Chlorine level) 2 or 5 depending on which test lit to believe.
CC (Combined Chloramine level)
pH 7.0
T/A (total alkalinity) 170 (test strip)
CYA (Stabilizer/Cyanuric Acid). 125 (test strip)
CH (Calcium Hardness don't know

Pool temp was about 92 when I got back from vacation. I've been running my cooler and now it's about 84. The pool is in much better shape now. I think my new test kit is garbage. I was adding more bleach than ever, by far. The test showed high chlorine. Never had this big of a problem. I thought adding 4 gallons of bleach would last forever. I think I underestimated how fast the bleach would disapear fighting the algea. I've added 5.6 gal 6% bleach and 4 gal 10% chlorine since thursday morning. Wouldn't that be about 60ppm?

[doggie]

You'll never get on top of things until you get a FAS-DPD Chlorine test like Carl suggested. In fact, you need a total test kit for accurate testing of all the things. Throw the test strips away. They are useless, as I've learned by testing them against good test kits.