Missy, with that level of algae (pond-like) and debris in the pool, it can take enormous quantities of chlorine to clean up the mess. In some cases, it's easier to drain. But that is NOT an option for you, with an inground (IG) vinyl pool -- draining would likely destroy your liner.

Regarding more testing at the pool store -- just don't.

Get a cheap OTO / phenol red testkit (Walmart or whereever) and use that. If you go to the store, they are going to try to fix everything at once and that does NOT work. Instead, use the phenol red to make sure your pH stays somewhere between 7.0 and 8.0, but otherwise ignore pH readings for now.

DEFINITELY, ignore all your other readings for now.

I'm guessing your pool is about 24,000 gallons, but without a little more info, I can be sure. However, that will be close enough. At 24,000 gallons, each gallon of bleach will add about 2.5 ppm of chlorine. You need to be adding 20 ppm doses in the evening, and 5 ppm doses each AM, until the pool 'wakes up' with a chlorine level over 5 ppm.

Meanwhile, brush, vacuum, filter, and generally do all the physical cleaning you can do.

Other than that, be patient. Depending on how well your filter and pump are sized, and just how much goo you have, getting to 'sparkling clear blue' could take from 1/2 - 2 weeks.

If you get impatient, a typical pool store will be VERY happy to sell you all sort of stuff to help you 'speed up' the process. And, with their help, you ought be able to get things clear in 1 - 4 weeks.

As I've noted in years past, cleaning up pools takes a few basic chems, appropriate testing, and basic cleaning PLUS the secret ingredient: P.O.P.*

PoolDoc




*P.O.P. - Pool Owner Patience!