Free chlorine is non existent

[PoolDoc]

Yes, we are familiar with it.
No, you shouldn't use it -- it won't do ANYTHING to solve your current problem.

The fact that several days ago your chlorine went to 1 ppm in just an hour after a large dose tells me you have a VERY high chlorine demand, most likely from ammonia. Please read this page:
spring-swimming-pool-startup-problems.html

It's possible to have NO stabilizer (so you lose chlorine during the day) AND ammonia (so you lose chlorine day AND night).

Draining 100% and refilling is an option.
Draining 50% will remove 50% of the ammonia

If you don't remove it all, you'll have to add bleach till you destroy all the ammonia gone. Since I don't know how much ammonia you have, I don't know how much more bleach it will take.

But, if you aren't going to drain, do like Carl says, and add larger doses at night. Once you see high chlorine in the morning, you are close to being done.

Ben

[Mdpools]

Carl/Ben: Thanks. I will stay the course with massive doses of bleach night and day until I can get the FC up. I also bumped up the ph a bit as recommended in the link.

Oh man, these pool stores...all they want to do is...well...sell us chemicals and make money. : (

I really do not want to drain and refill.

[Mdpools]

Happy to report that, for the first time this season, my pool is holding a FC level in the morning.

Ph is 7.6
Chl is 3.0

Friday night I added bleach. Sat morning the FC was still weak. Sat I added borax to bump up the ph followed by more bleach. Sat night I added more beach and finally Sunday morning things are good. I have also been running the pump 24/7 since Friday.

Now on to the phosphorous. Should I attack this as a separate issue or are you saying I can ignore this? Thanks much.

[Watermom]

Glad to here of the progress. I'd go ahead and smack it hard with bleach one more day. If you again maintain FC over night without losing more than 1ppm, then you should be ok. Don't worry about the phosphorous. It is usually just another way for pool stores to drain their customers wallets selling them phophate removers.

[Mdpools]

All is good here. I hit the pool with another dose of bleach last night. The pool continues to hold a good free chlorine level in the morning. Thanks for all the help. I am glad I found this web site!

[Watermom]

Great to hear! Keep up the good work!