My pool is actually an above-ground pool (24'). If I'm understanding you correctly, you think I should fill from an opposite point from the 'drain'?

You guys are all so wonderful and I thank you for any suggestions and ideas you may have. Here I was thinking I could fill, shock and swim all in one day! CLEARLY a newbie!

I've heard others using towels, pillow-batting contraptions, socks and the like to capture all the metals - but it's too late for that for me, since I've got most of them in suspension now!