OK I am going to start with the bleach I have a sand filter and it was green befor I put the 15 pounds of chlorine granuals in it I took my water to another pool store to see what they suggest and that was when I put 9 pouches of burn out by bio gaurd in it and 10 oz of algeside witch they call inhabit in and well still no chlorine reading on my strip. I am just affraid of the bleach I have small children and one of them has very sensitive skin. This is our second year with the pool the first year was bad because it had not been open for 2 yrs and I never did have a chlorine reading last year but it did clear up. I am now over 500 bucks of fancy chemicals in and it is no longer gren but is a milky blue with no chlorine reading. Do I need to get a full blown test kit or am I ok with the strips?I do un 24/7 my filter has been running none stop since April..I had the sand replaced last year about mid season after we got the alge all cleared up from the start up last year so I think I am good there.