Very Green Cloudy Pool

[Robin N]

I think I do have filter problems. I went out yesterday and there was water around my filter, and some green slime. I'm totally new at this. I looked at the filter and the pump and I did find a place that looked like it could open. I unscrewed the two knobs and found the basket that was removable. I dumped it - there were a few leaves and a lot of bugs in it. I got it back on there and thought I had solved my problem. This morning I went back out to backwash and there was water around the pump again. I checked the basket but it was all clear. Then I couldn't get the thing put back together right - I wrestled with it for a while and finally realized I needed help - the previous owner is still moving some things out of his shop, and luckily he showed up within the hour. He oiled the knobs and used a wrench or something. I'm afraid if I mess with too much equipment out there I'll end up stopping the pump.

As for the filter being a sand filter - the pool shop told me that. I know it's a Hayward Super Pump, Self Priming 1 1/2 Horsepower 115/230 V

There is a plastic "wheel" thing that goes to the pump equipment. I haven't found where it goes yet. (Replacement part I think) After looking at the filter again - the Vari-Flo part, I the plastic wheel goes under my controls for the filter. If I unscrew maybe 10 screws, I could take the top off and find where I need to be checking? Or is this something I need to leave up to a pool maintenance person?

I won't do it until I hear more - I don't want to really mess things up. If it is my filter, once it's working will it help filter out what I've been working on or has all my work been wasted effort? (Besides learning valuable lessons the hard way?)