Mud and algae in pool

Just joining so posting this to be accepted. Will continue reading thru existing posts to find help. Just bought house in Nov 2011 with a 20 x 40 rectangular (with step section) in-ground vinyl liner pool. The deep end is like a square funnel about 8 feet deep (have diving board and slide). Pool has been closed about 4 to 5 years with a torn cover. Have been scooping out mud and algea since found black/green water when took cover off this month (June 2012), using screen net. Found good advice and pics on your site, so will keep at it. Located in NW Pennsylvania so hoping to be able to use pool before fall, or at least get it ready for next season. Bought small Walmart 3-way test kit which showed 7.4ph and clear on cholrine side. Figured on getting most of mud and algea out by hand before spending money on treatment and ruining filter and pump system.

Hi, and welcome to the group!!

Sounds like you have a mess on your hands, but it's nothing that can't be fixed. Does the pump/filter work? Do yourself a favor and get a good test kit--you're gonna need it for the cleanup. The small tester that you have will work for daily testing AFTER the cleanup, but you're going to need to be able to accurately test for high levels of FC and any level of CC, which that tester won't do. We highly recommend the K-2006 that can be found online several places, but at a good price at the link in my sig. If you'll take a few minutes and fill out this chart about your pool, we won't waste posts back and forth trying to gather information, so when you're ready to get it cleaned up, we'll be ready to help!

Pool Chart Entry Form

membership upgraded. -ben

Have not run pump or filter yet. Have been slowly removing mud silt from bottom using screen net. Noticed filter is leaking at filter drain and at waste hose. As we have removed most mud now, leak seems greater. Capped filter drain and folded waste hose and now see water drain by pump. Filter has 10psi reading and multiport valve is at "winter" position. Assuming that removal of mud over pool floor drain is causing this, should we start up pump in recirculate mode? First time pool owner. Vinyl 20 x 40, Hayward S244T filter, Pentair Challenger pump 1hp. Was told pool not used in 4-5 years when we bought house in Nov 2011 and told liner was about 10rys old. Thanks for any help - Tex.