Tried everything, still have green pool

[carolpotts]

I have the DE powder and will give that a try. I have been putting in about 1/2 cup daily in the skimmer and backwashing daily.
I use test strips and the accu-check meter and also a basic yellow red compound test kit for ph and chlorine. Been running the filter non-stop for 2 weeks now.

[PoolDoc]

Sodium tetraborate is borax.

You can use it -- doing so makes your pool less 'friendly' to algae -- but to reach an effective level, you need at least 30lbs more. You can buy it at Walmart as 20 Mule Team borax in 4.75 lbs boxes, so you'll need about 7 boxes. PLUS . . . borax is basic, with a pH a little above 9, so you'll need 4 - 5 gallons of muriatic acid.

Do NOT backwash, unless you see a pressure increase -- otherwise, you'll have a hard time removing the fine particles. When you do backwash, notice what color the backwash has -- if it's green, increase your chlorine levels a lot!

See if you can find an HTH 6-way kit at your local Walmart; if not please order a K2006. Test strip measurements of CYA are more often wrong than right -- and CYA level is a KEY factor in algae control.

[carolpotts]

Ok so here's an update. Didn't do the borax yet just been putting in great value bleach 2 gallons at a time twice a day. Its holding chlorine level at about 10. CYA is only 27? Ph is 7.6 alk is 112. Pool is still green but looks almost like its turning a blue green. Would like to post a picture but don't know how. Any advice on numbers? I back washed this morning after leaving it for 2 days. Color was deep green for about a minute. Thanks

[PoolDoc]

How are you testing?

A reading like "alk=112 ppm" looks like a computer read test strip. Test strips do NOT allow accurate readings of chlorine, and provide horrendously inaccurate readings of CYA.

What is the OTO test result? Have you ordered a K2006 . . . or purchased a local HTH 6-way kit (contains the Taylor CYA test)?

If you've been adding 2 gallons 2x per day, on 17,000 gallon pool, and are still "blue-green", you need higher chlorine levels. Continue with the 2 gallons in the AM, but go to 4 gallons in the late PM . . . and TEST WITH OTO!!!!

[carolpotts]

A week later update:
Pool is finally blue with no sign of green anymore. I ordered the k2006 test kit but until then using the accu check strips and tester.
Pool is still very cloudy and I can not see the bottom. Anything I can do for this? Hasn't seemed to change at all even with adding 8oz of a clarifier called sparkle 3 days ago.
I have used a sock in the skimmer and also been using DE powder. Back wash every couple of days. I have not put in any more shock for 4 days now.
My numbers this morning were

ph 7.1
alk 122
chlorine 6.7

Used the 6 way strips and the cya looks like a light orange so not sure on a accurate reading there other than it looking low on the color chart.
I do have stabiliizer in a sock tied to the ladder.
Any suggestions for the cloudiness? Thanks

[PoolDoc]

1. Don't backwash, till the pressure goes up.

2. If the pool is gray/blue with NO green, but still cloudy, it's a filtration problem, not a chlorine or algae problem. (DEAD algae is a filtration problem!)

3. Do go ahead and put 3 - 4 cups of DE in the filter. Do NOT backwash till you see a pressure increase, over the just backwashed pressure. If this does not happen after 2 - 3 days, post that info. (I'd really expect it, after 24 hours).

4. Make SURE the DE is not going back into the pool.

5. If you haven't already, add several gallons of bleach and then carefully brush the pool. There may be unseen pockets of algae that you need to expose and kill.