Prior to reading this post I had returned the items I purchased. Items I currently have:

Complete Taylor test kit from Leslie's
Walmart brand 6% bleach
2 gallons of muriatic acid
one box of 20 mule borax

I had the water tested yesterday by leslies and got the following results:

pH - 8.0
FC - 1
CC -
TA - 100 ppm
CH - 250 ppm
CYA - 30 ppm

I added the muriatic acid and dropped the Ph to 7.6. Before going to bed I added a shock dosage of bleach (4 gals 2 quarts)

This morning I tested the water and only got a reading of 1.5 ppm FC and a Ph of 7.4. I again added the same shock dosage of bleach and tested about 40 mins later. The chlorine was still reading low at about 1.5. Confused and frustrated I went to a different pool store and had them test the water. Their test results stated:

FC - .4 ppm
TC - 1 ppm
CYa - 25 ppm
Ph - 7.1

Phosphates - 2000 ppb

While I realize these tests are somewhat subjective depending on the tester reading the color scale, it is consistent with my low chlorine reading. Their Ph test said it was low but the Taylor kit was right on with 7.4 when I tested. They also stated I had a high level of phosphate.

Im sufficiently lost at this point and need direction. I mean 40 mins after adding a shock dosage it shouldn't be all gone right? What to do?

serenity now, serenity now :rant: