Hi Mark;

+ Get your filter manual and READ it. You REALLY need to do this. (If you need help finding it, give me the EXACT manufacturer and model name, and I'll try to find it for you.

+ Don't mess around; running algae through a DE filter with no DE can damage the filter. As it is, you're going to have to open and clean it.

+ Get a good testkit. You MUST do this. You're going to have to kill and clean up that algae, before you will have an operational pool. AND, with DE filter you have to KILL the algae before you can run the filter. (Links below!)

+ If possible, post pictures of your pool, pump, and filter . . . large, in-focus pictures . . . you can use Flickr, Photobucket, Webshots, or Picasa, OR you can email them to poolforum@gmail.com.

+ Meanwhile, start adding 3 gallons of PLAIN 6% (check the %) household bleach, per 10K gallons of pool water, to your pool EVERY evening. If the algae hasn't begun dying by the 2nd AM, go to 5 gallons per 10K gallons of pool water.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend:
HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) @ Amazon