My water is green, but clear. We had a lot of acid rain here over the past few weeks, while I've been trying to clear it. The water is clear, and holding CL (shock levels) for several days, so I do not think it is algae hanging out waiting to be filtered.

I was vacuuming to waste a lot, but even with the rain, I've added 10 inches to a 20x40 vinyl pool (30K gal) from a well between startup and vacc'ing to waste. We do not filter our cold water - just the hot - so it came right from the ground. Sometimes even the bath water has a green tint to it, so I know there is either copper or iron in the water. The liner is stained too.

So, how do I really tell that it is a mineral v. algae? I had quite an algae issue at startup, so it is possible it is still in the water, but I don't see the dead stuff on the bottom anymore. I will take a sample to the store tomorrow, but does my steady CL levels indicate the algae is done? I know I can't do a stain removal if I need to shock within a few weeks. Is the method of putting ph+ on something and rubbing the stain a good indicator of a mineral?

Numbers are:
TC 11
CC 0
FC 11
alk 110
ph 7.2 (finally!)
CYA - between 20-40
30K gallon vinyl

Just need a direction. I have some stain remover but don't want to waste for at least a few weeks to be sure the CL can be left at lower levels without new algae. Plus that water is 60, so we aren't going to be swimming any time in the next few weeks.

We are having a big party on Father's Day weekend, and I really would like the water to look more normal that the clear green water I have now.