First Battle with Algae

[tracker1412]

Went out of town for a week and friend was watching the pool; she and her son went swimming twice, but neglected to call when they couldn't figure out how to put the chlorine tab in the feeder! Needless to say, came home to a green pool Anyway, initial pH was off the HTH 6-way drop kit chart and chlorine was 0... so, we used Sparco pH decreaser x2 doses (per instructions on bag) to bring the pH down to 7.2 and then used White River Simple Blue Power Boost Plus (Ca hypoclorite 47.6%) x 8oz. Hated trying to dissovle the granules with little result, so switched to bleach 6% instead. Figured our CYA level at 50ppm, so we used 182oz. at night. Didn't see any results overnight and had to work the next two nights, so waited to try again... Next off day, checked the pool and water was blue again! Just had extremely dirty floor Tried to vaccum and water ended up extremely cloudy, almost muddy looking! Let this stand over night (with pump still on), keeping pH @ 7.2 and chlorine reading 5. Pool looked better the next day, but still cloudy with brown residual on the floors... tried to vaccum again with same result. Is my filter not catching these small particles? Is there anything I can do other than vaccuming to waste?
These are my current stats:
HTH test- pH just over 7.2, Cl 5, Alk 130-140
Strip test- pH 7, Cl 3, free Cl3, Alk 180
From a distance, you can see all four steps (off-white against blue liner) and standing over, you can see the design on the liner floor as well as brown residual in creases, but water is cloudy.
P.S. we usually run perfectly clear at Chlorine of 1 and free Chlorine reading 0.5

[PoolDoc]

Keep the chlorine high so the algae doesn't re-grow, and read this: Read this: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?9755 -- fill out the Pool Chart.

The most common cause of the problem you describe are pump and filter problems -- but I need your Pool Chart info.

[PoolDoc]

With a cartridge filter, it usually means you need a new cartridge . . . make SURE you get a Unicel or Filbur, not another brand.

[Watermom]

Just wanted to welcome you to the Pool Forum!

[PoolDoc]

membership updated. -ben