The Basics of Pool Ownership:
PH: 7.2-7.8 Ideally 7.4-7.6 as chlorine effectiveness is reduced as ph goes up.
Chlorine/Bromine: Pool 1-5 ppm Spa 3-5 ppm or unless otherwise needed.
Circulation: Filtration Pumps should be ran daily, and for longer hours in the summer when the sun is high and the pools are warm. Increase duration if Chemical readings are OK and your still having problems. Clogged filters, and undersized or inefficient pumps can also prevent you from a clean pool with good readings.
Filtration: Your filter is the guts of your equipment and whether its a Diatomaceous Earth Filter or a Cartridge Filter, it should be cleaned regularly. If you haven't replaced your filters in over 5 years, your probably battling algae.
Maintenance: Weekly maintenance is almost always required, especially in Summer. It may be adding water, emptying leaf baskets or fixing the vacuum that's currently trying to eat your goggles, but forgetting to get out there can be very costly. In the summer heat, a Clean Pool can turn green in a couple weeks in certain circumstances. So get out there brush, vacuum, and net that Pool, check for problems, spend some time feeling that heartbeat!