I know this thread is not about test strips, and the OP has a proper kit. But I really can't let the post above go. I feel this needs to be said right here and now.
Shooting from the hip with your pool may work for a while, it even might work for a long while. But that's not what TFP is about, nor is it any part of the recommended protocols to have a crystal clear sparkling clean pool for people to use.
It's not helpful to post about shooting from the hip and dumping in unknown quantities of powder shock product when someone wants to deal with an algae bloom and cloudy water. Those here who are trying to help the OP are doing so out of the goodness of their heart, taking valuable time away from whatever else might need to be done in life... having often been through the experience of shooting from the hip and not being successful at it. We know what works every time if done properly and have taken the time to try to help the OP. Making statements that one doesn't actually need to do what we say in the middle of a thread is not helpful at all. It sounds like the OP tried shooting from the hip already, and clearly that did not work. They spent $1000 and never saw a clear pool, and can't use it. Time to follow TFP recommendations and swim already this summer.
I shot from the hip with strips for 4 years of pools before I found TFP. No, my pool wasn't green and swampy, no it wasn't cloudy all the time, nor was it unpleasant to swim in. But it was NOTHING like the pool I have after using a proper test kit and maintaining it the BBB way and the chemicals we used all the time to adjust this, or that... based on strip results have sat in the garage unused for 3 seasons now. We were always finding it too low or too high on this or that, would adjust with the chems only to have to adjust again the next day. It was EXHAUSTING. And that's just the work part. The difference in water quality is clearly noticeable once you experience it, and until it's experienced first hand anything less does seem "just fine".
It's similar to the difference in clarity in diamonds. All diamonds are pretty, they usually sparkle. But a quality diamond, once you get down close to it to see... well, there's a reason the better diamonds cost more.
At TFP we advocate testing with a proper test kit, dosing with bleach to the maximum for the CYA level daily, and shocking if needed at appropriate chlorine levels until the three criteria are met. This includes testing for combined chlorine. Strips not only don't allow for this essential test, they give absolutely unreliable for results. I've tested with fresh strips side by side with a quality test kit and the variances are far too wide to ever think I could adjust the levels based on strip results. The worst test on a strip is the CYA. I've seen a strip tell me I've got 30ppm CYA in tap water and 50ppm CH in the same tap water that is actually 2ppm CH.