Help with new pool owner

[tim665214]

I have owned my pool for about 3 months now. I have been having lots of problems with algea. My pool company told me that I have high phosphates, and that will kill my chlorine levels. So for the past month I have been spending lots of money on Phosphate removers. (I wish I would have found this sit sooner.)
Now that I have found this site, I am anxious to try the BBB method, but I have a few questions.

1. Do I need to add bleach every evening, or just every few days?
2. How often to I need to shock my pool? (With the BBB method, does this just mean adding extra bleach?)
3. My pool company told me yesterday that my CYA levels were at 140. I drained out about 18 inches of water and refilled today to try and get the CYA levels down. I am guessing that this is why I was probably getting Alge, and not phosphates correct? (My chlorine level was not high enough for the high CYA levels)
4. Can I add the bleach directly to my skimmer basket? I do not have any type of inline chlorinating system. Currently I just have a floater full of tablets in my pool?

Sorry for the long post, but after going through 3 months of frustration, I found this site, and I am very excited about taking care of my pool the correct way.

Thanks

Tim

18ft above ground pool. Vinyl liner. Sand filter. 1.5 hp pump (running on low)