Hello Folks,
Recently, after a long battle with all the dirty and contaminants and some learning curve (thanks for all the help!), I was able to bring my pool to life.
Previous to supercholorinating the pool water for the last time (went overboard with hypochlorite, using 24 gallons overall). I went overboard in part because the CYA level was rather high (between 70 to 80ppm). After the last application of 12 gallons (not all at once), I may have added a 3 extra gallons in the span of a week or so even though the chlorine level was always high (above 10ppm, given that the taylor test kit and other means do not show how much higher it is above 10ppm).
After a week without adding anything, whenever I checked the pool, the free chlorine level was always above 10ppm everyday. I imagine that if the free chlorine level prevailed at such high level for so long, it got the job done (but, I am just guessing). It seems that the only way to know the amount of combine chlorine is to let the total chlorine level to get much lower – what I am doing right now (it is hovering around 5ppm). The water has been consistent clear and clean. What would be the likelihood of needing to add more chlorine (not the normal dose of chlorine (one gallon, maybe) one has to add every week; but a higher dose?
On another issue, I plan on cover the pool to minimize the potential for the water to get worse over time (given that sometime I will absent for a 10 days or so). I bought a winter cover since that was the easier option. But, the winter cover typically is not flush with the pool deck but rescind into the pool a bit. Would it be a good idea to use that pool cover in those circumstances?
Pic depicts the situation regarding the cover:

Recently, after a long battle with all the dirty and contaminants and some learning curve (thanks for all the help!), I was able to bring my pool to life.
Previous to supercholorinating the pool water for the last time (went overboard with hypochlorite, using 24 gallons overall). I went overboard in part because the CYA level was rather high (between 70 to 80ppm). After the last application of 12 gallons (not all at once), I may have added a 3 extra gallons in the span of a week or so even though the chlorine level was always high (above 10ppm, given that the taylor test kit and other means do not show how much higher it is above 10ppm).
After a week without adding anything, whenever I checked the pool, the free chlorine level was always above 10ppm everyday. I imagine that if the free chlorine level prevailed at such high level for so long, it got the job done (but, I am just guessing). It seems that the only way to know the amount of combine chlorine is to let the total chlorine level to get much lower – what I am doing right now (it is hovering around 5ppm). The water has been consistent clear and clean. What would be the likelihood of needing to add more chlorine (not the normal dose of chlorine (one gallon, maybe) one has to add every week; but a higher dose?
On another issue, I plan on cover the pool to minimize the potential for the water to get worse over time (given that sometime I will absent for a 10 days or so). I bought a winter cover since that was the easier option. But, the winter cover typically is not flush with the pool deck but rescind into the pool a bit. Would it be a good idea to use that pool cover in those circumstances?
Pic depicts the situation regarding the cover:
