Another algae question

[jstkiddn]

Hi and thanks!! Will update later with exact water test results. Only have strips but can pick up drop based kit this afternoon. Hopefully can order the good kit online soon, but hoping the locally purchased one can get me started.

For starters:

Approx. 28,000 - 30,000 gallon??? in ground vinyl liner. Can't exactly remember the gallons but it's this pool minus waterfall and spa: http://www.foxpool.com/DesignAndPlan...pageName=Ionic

Salt water pool. Pool Pilot. Sand filter. PENTAIR SUPERFLO 1 1/2 HP SWIMMING POOL PUMP

Took the cover off to find a swamp. Have managed to clear the green with shock and then hubby used some sort of clarifier. I used baking soda to bring PH/Alk into range (according to strips)

Pool is cloudy and milky looking. There appears to be a lot of sediment on the bottom. Some is brownish, but other stuff you really don't even notice until you see it moving around....so it's a lighter color. When I vacuum I have to be VERY careful or it just all gets stirred up into the water. I'm thinking one big mistake so far is that I have been vacuuming to filter intead of to waste. Read something that led be to believe that I may just be putting it right back into the pool.

Frustrated as heck! We've had the pool 6 or 7 years and have NEVER had this much trouble getting it going! My poor daughter looks pretty pitiful playing in the sprinkler while she has a lovely in-ground pool in her back yard. LOL

edit to add: Just spent a bit of time vacuuming to waste. Naturally couldn't do for very long as the water got too low fairly quick. Refilling now, which I'm sure is going to really change the levels of everything in pool. UGH! Will refill, test with WallyWorld kit and post later. I'm sure you guys can lead me in the right direction. I'm about ready to bang my head against a wall.