Quote Originally Posted by retyler View Post
When we got home after the weekend and pulled back the cover the whole thing was the colour of tea. Clear, but dark.
No orange tint? That coffee color is pretty specific for oxidized manganese in water. Do you have a softener or 'greensand' filter on your house water? Did you fill your pool with THAT water, or with water BEFORE the softener/greensand, etc.

Dealing with iron is fairly difficult; dealing with manganese is harder.

Do this:

1. Drain the pool.
2. Do the metals bucket test. http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?16946
3. Figure out what you've got, and let us help you make a plan.
4. Refill the pool ONLY after you have a plan AND all the pieces you need.
5. Do NOT add salt or turn on the SWCG till you have the pool 100% cleaned up and ready to go, operating manually!