Hi Linzy,
Welcome to TFP!
Casey gave you some excellent links to pool care. Its a lot to read and of course its understandable that feel overwhelmed.
The truth of the matter is that pool care using the TFP method is simple. You dont need to be a scientist using TFP! All of the science has already been done is available to you - for free!
The main ingredients for the clean pool recipe is;
- Unstabilized Chlorine - Bleach from teh supermarket is usually the most cost effective source.
- Cyanuric Acid - also known as Stabilizer. This help protect your chlorine in the pool from being burned up by the sun. available at Walmart and pool storesl, Lowes and HD in the pool sections.
- Muriatic Acid - This helps adjust the Ph if it needs to be lower. Dont worry, when this is added to pool water, it immediately breaks down on into salt.- Hardware stores, Lowes, HD, ad some supermarkets.
Depening on the minerals and what not in the water that you fill the pool up with might determine what else might needed to be added, such as Arm and Hammer baking soda.
You deifintely need a test kit. Without one, there is no way to know what your pool chemistry is, and if you dont know that, then you cannot make an intelligent decision on what to put in it.
Read the stuff Casey sent you, get a test kit and relax. Dont sweat it. When you get the kit *and its very easy to use* , post your test results here, and we will be happy to hlep you out!