Longtime creeper, first time poster

Add me to the "Rookie" list. I've been creeping on the site all summer, but decided to take the plunge. (See what I did there?)

We have had our pool for about 8-10 years and never had problems with the water that we couldn't clear up.

Specs:
27ft AG, 52" deep
Ranger sand filter
1.5 Hayward Power-flo pump

My husband always took care of the water tests and chemical balance. He began working a second job this past spring (kids in college will do that to ya) and has not been able to take care of it like it needs. This is where I come in. I have no clue what to do with it except crawl in and adjust my self on my float and turn over after about 5 songs have played on the radio =)

The water has been blue all summer, but slightly hazy. We've had a couple of rain storms along with our regular Texas heat and now I have water that is a lovely shade of avocado green. Ummm, gross!
I checked the levels this evening while the sun was still up, but not beaming on the water. I have the HTH 6-way kit (I know, I know, I need a Taylor kit). Basically, it looks we are starting from scratch here. I want to do the BBB method because we live in a small town and the only place that sells pool chemicals is Wal-Mart. Once I find the form to fill out my terribly out of whack readings, I'll do so!

Hi, and welcome to the forum!!

Here's the form you're looking for..
Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

If you'll just fill it out, and post your test results (particularly CYA), as well as what chems you've used in the pool this year (ingredients, please--not product names) we'll be glad to help you go from there!

Calculated your pool volume (3' 10" actual water depth) as 16,000 gallons, for a PF of 7. Each gallon of PLAIN 6% store brand bleach will add 3.5 ppm of chlorine.

So . . . add 5 gallons of bleach tonight! If you can remove all chemicals and mineral cartridges, pour the bleach through your skimmer, to kill algae trapped there. Plan to add 5 gallons tomorrow night, too.

Meanwhile, post your readings, here!

OK! I bought 4 giant jugs of bleach on my way home. They are going in tonight! Stay tuned.

OK:
CL <0.5 big surprise there, huh
pH >8.2 but, it was a really pretty shade of fuschia =)
CYA >40 the black dot never went away? Did I not do it correctly?
Hardness test was 230 ppm

Did you run the pH test before or after adding the bleach? High chlorine levels can give falsely high pH readings. But, if your pH results are before the big dose of bleach, you need to lower it to between 7.2-7.8. You can use muriatic acid to do so but please read the link in my signature about using the acid safely.

If the black dot never went away on the CYA test, it means that your CYA is less than 30 and you need to raise it up to around 40-50.

Watermom,
I haven't added anything to the water yet. The readings were taken on the water as it was when I got home from work today. We'll add the bleach in a little bit when it gets cooler (as if!) outside. I'll check the levels again in the morning before the sun gets too happy.