new user--trying to fight the algae!

[Shellywings]

Hello all, and let me say thank you so much for everything that I have learned already. I just wish I had found y'all two weeks ago!! I am a new home/pool owner and trying to get our pool open for the summer. We unfortunately let our pool go uncovered and untended during the winter and so we started with a swamp. No frogs thankfully! lol but we were probably close. I went to the pool store and have dropped at least $250.00 into our pool and we still have algae and milky water. I have been vacuuming every day at least once (some days two or even three times) since Thursday. We have a rectangular pool (with the corners cut off at angles) the measurements are approx 18x33. If the online calculator is correct we have about 25,000 gallons. I have a Taylor kit on order (will arrive next week) and I am making due with a basic OTO kit right now. I am going to try the diluted chlorine test this evening after the sun is off the pool. here is a list of everything that has gone into our pool in the last 10 days:

Swamp to swim 3 boxes (appears to be cal hypo 52%) approx 18lbs total (almost 6lbs/box)
25lbs of ALK up
20lbs of pH up (sodium carbonate 100%)
32oz Algimycin2000 (polyquat 20%)
6lbs SuperSonic (shock treatment) (cal hypo 73%)
approx 1/2 box borax (since reading on here)
5 gal basic unscented bleach (since reading on here)

My current levels
chlorine around 4.0 (but going to do the diluted test this evening)
pH 7.4
alk 290

I am not sure if I need to try to bring the alk down or just leave it for now and try to focus on the algae first. And if I do need to get the alk down ----how? I have put so much in the pool to try to raise the pH--should I lower it to lower the alk then raise the pH with Borax so that it won't affect the alk? or just leave it alone for now? Also if I need to do something different to fight the algae please let me know.

Thanks!!
Michelle

[PoolDoc]

1. Do not worry about alkalinity right now.
2. Run your pump / filter 24/7
3. Keep your chlorine high
4. Do not purchase any more 'blended' chlorine -- chlorine % for dichlor should be 55% or higher; trichlor 89% or higher; cal hypo 65%.
5. Remove all the physical debris -- brush, vacuum, filter.
6. Once the debris is gone, you should have the K2006 (hopefully) and can focus on finishing the job.

[Shellywings]

I forgot to include that I have an inground pool with a vinyl liner, and a Hayward pump S-220T model

[Shellywings]

Thanks Ben!! so it sounds like I am going in the right direction then. yay!! How much bleach does it take to raise the Chlorine level typically? I haven't found that info on here yet. I haven't bought anymore blended products since finding the site--the others were from the pool store, but I know better now.

[PoolDoc]

1 gallon of 6% bleach will add approximately 2 ppm of chlorine to your pool.

[Shellywings]

Thanks!!!

[Shellywings]

My Taylor kit came in today!! Way ahead of the promised date of June 4th!! Yay! so after reading the manual and feeling a bit like a mad scientist, I have readings:

FC 25
CC 2
pH 7.4
Alk 600 (and sample was still yellow--I gave up after 60 drops and no red)
CH 210
Cya 130-ish (the test read over the 100 mark-well technically below the 100 mark)

I am still keeping the algae swept up into the water and running the pump 24/7. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!