I agree with everything Watermom said...just wanted to add that since you already have some algae blooming, don't wait for the kit to come in before shocking the pool. You can take a water sample to a local pool store to get a set of baseline numbers. Make sure they use drop-based testing, not strips!! When they hand you a list of stuff they insist you need for the pool, just thank them and tell them you have it at home--don't buy any of it!! Have them give you a printout of your values, especially for Cl, CYA, pH, TA, CH, and come back and post them here, along with the volume of the pool, and we can help you go from there to at least get it cleaned up and maintained, until your own kit arrives (you'll definitely need to do your own water testing--it will save you tons of money from the pool store, and is much more accurate to boot!).

It's not hard at all to maintain your own pool and have it clean and clear all of the time--but getting your own test kit is the first step. Also, read through as much of the forum as you can, including our sister site, Poolsolutions.com, and we'll be here to answer any questions that you have.

Janet