Unfortunately, you'll have to wait for a mail order test kit unless you can find a Taylor K-2006 somewhere locally. The test kits you find at pool stores and big box stores don't test for the chemicals you'll need to know about if you want that algae gone and to keep it away. Fortunately the recommended test kit (
http://tftestkits.net/TF-100-Test-Kit-p4.html) ships very fast and if you order it now, will probably have it Wednesday or Thursday. Get the XL option because you'll be using up a lot of reagent until the pool is clear. The speedstir option is also very awesome and I wouldn't want to test without it.
You do sound like you are frustrated.
Know that this will not be a fast and easy process no matter how you try and go about it. You probably won't have crystal clear water for a
couple weeks. It just takes TIME and the knowledge of what you need to do. Order the test kit and read "Pool School" (link at the top of the page on the right) while you wait on it to arrive.
You don't need to mess with the sand, it probably just needs a good backwash. Until you get your test kit and tell us the results there's not much we can tell you. For now, you can start adding bleach or
liquid shock. Don't use powdered shock or tablets for now. Just regular unscented bleach from the grocery store. I'd add about two jugs now and then another each day until the test kit comes. Backwash the filter good then take note of the PSI on the gauge. That's your "clean" PSI. You'll want to backwash again every time it increases by about 20%. Get a leaf rake (like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Pro-Strength-Pool-Leaf-Rake-Net/dp/B002WKJBI8) and just start blindly scooping out whatever you can on the bottom. The more you get out the faster this process will go.
It will be a process. There's not magical way to fix it NOW, our way or the pool store way. You just need to be patient. It
will get crystal clear if you follow the advice here, including getting a good quality test kit.
OK, I lied a little. There is a "magical" way to fix it now and that's draining, cleaning and refilling. Just know that there is a small danger of damaging your pool depending on a few things, mostly whether there is ground water under your pool. If there is, emptying the pool could cause it to "float" out of the ground like a boat or cause water to get behind the liner - if it's a vinyl liner pool. We can help you through that process as well, but know you'll need to pay for water to refill and the chemicals will run a couple hundred dollars or so. It is a lot faster, though.