Thanks once again, and apologies for my denseness.

I will add more tabs when I get in tomorrow, then, and get the muriatic acid and cheap algicide at the next paycheck. I'm surprised it's so strongly alkaline - I thought oak leaves were acidic. Shows how little I know.

Lessee, how far am I on that To-Do list you gave me?

+ [...] add ALL the chlorine chemicals to the pool [in a floater]. The primary reason for adding this stuff is to dispose of it.
- In progress.

+ Post a list of all chemicals you have INCLUDING CHEMICAL NAMES (not brand or product names!) here.
- Done.

+ Get a cheap ~$10 OTO/phenol red test kit, and post pH test results here.
- Done.

+ Buy a quart of cheap 50% algicide at Walmart (~$15) and dump it in. It won't kill the algae, but the lowered surface tension will probably kill the larvae, without causing future pool problems. If you had more than 10# of chems, add the chlorine first, wait 2 days, and then add the algicide.
- Still to do. Waiting on paycheck. This one's actually to kill the larvae?

+ Get muriatic acid, mix and add per your directions.
- Still to do. Waiting on paycheck. This one's to prevent the acid etching the walls?

+ Go ahead and cover the pool.
- Still to do. Cover has gone missing. Likely in the garage somewhere, which will be an adventure in itself.

+ Post your location and we'll look up winter weather norms, before telling you how to winterize.
- Done.

+ Forget about cleaning up the water: with your budget, it's not an option, even if you use plain bleach.
- Done. *sigh* The hardest one you've given me, but I agree it needed doing


Questions:

1) What does a $15 plastic floater do more than, say, a loose-woven cloth baggie tied around a tab and a brick of wood? Assuming the brick's large enough to prevent the tab touching the sides of the pool, that is?

2) I won't add the other stuff until the chlorine's used up, unless you recommend otherwise: but is it OK to put the muriatic acid and the cheapo algicide in on the same day?