The K-2006 is about $50 plus shipping now directly from Amato. You've very likely spent more than that on chems you can't use. If you get it now and learn to use it, you'll be ahead of the game next year. I gurantee you won't regret this purchase.

I would disolve the trichlor granular in a bucket of pool water then pour it in; if that didn't work, I'd hang it in a sock.