To add to what Carl said, also go and buy yourself a drops-based test kit (no test strips) so you can test your own water. You can probably find something at a Walmart. They usually have a 5-way kit that will suffice for now. You need to be able to test AT LEAST 2 of the following: FC- free chlorine, CC- combined chlorine, TC - total chlorine. Also, PH and TA (alkalinity). If your pool is not a liner pool, you'll also need to be able to test calcium hardness. Not sure if any of the cheap kits will let you test CYA (cyanuric acid, also called stabilizer) or not. Cant remember. It has been awhile since I looked at some of those cheaper kits.

After you do some reading as Carl suggested, test your own water and re-post with your numbers and we'll help you get this thing going!

BTW -- Welcome to the forum!