Newbie with ?'s (mustard algae) (Deb)

[debs_pool]

REQUESTING FEEDBACK AND ENCOURAGMENT! : )

My NUMBERS FOR TODAY: (7/12/06) (ABOUT 4:30 PM CST)

With [B] ME[B] testing: (with Wal-Mart Kit) (Ben's kit has been ordered!)

pH 7.5-7.8

Cl 5+ (ORANGE color)
(It was still 5+ when I dilluted pool water by 1/2 with distilled water -- but was at least at the HIGHEST YELLOW level.

Total Alk: 170-180

CYA: Not Tested (don't have enough reagent) (I tried to buy some at a pool store today and the kid told me I didn't "want" that -- it was too expensive -- like $30 or something)

(He also said he prefered the "strips" to the drop kit -- OMG -- I think he may have "tested" my water with "strips" -- here are those #'s (written on an AquaCheck Pool and Spa Test Strips Page!):
(BTW - this is NOT my regular pool place.)

Total Hardness 1000 (he wanted be to buy some stuff for this -- but I didn't because I want to continue learning about this before I "do" anything on this one)
Total Chlorine: 5 - 10
FC 3 - 5

pH: 7.8
Total Alk: 180

Iron: 0 Copper: 0

I did buy a bottle of ALGICIL - ALGAECIDE (Poly) (oxyethylene (dimethylimnio) ........ 60% (I won't use it unless I need it but it was $19.99 plus tax and the 60% from Wal-Mart here is $25.88!

So -- I'm trying to keep my Chlorine (bleach) high -- but I don't really have the "correct" number. Carl told me I needed to keep at 20 ppm until this "mustard" algae is gone. I'm hoping I'm doing the right thing -- I will be glad when Ben's kit gets here (wish I'd found the site sooner! I'd have ordered sooner! LOL)