Hey everyone! I found TFP after a failure of a first year in our new house that came with a pool. I’ve followed the TFP way since 2016 now and will never go back! I live in Maine and since we lost our hard-sided above ground pool to frost heaves two winters ago, we now have to drain/take down our pool each fall and put up/fill each spring (26’ INTEX). We fill from a pond and I thought it would be helpful to some if I shared our pond-to-paradise story, as we have successfully filled our pool with pond water the last two years 
and when searching the forum, not a whole lot comes up for people who have done or need to fill from a pond.
#1. you HAVE to use PoolMath, you HAVE to do your own testing, and you HAVE to trust the advice from the experts on here. I have not even stepped foot in a pool store since my first summer with a pool (which was a failure). Just don’t do it.
#2. KEEP YOUR FC LEVEL AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE SLAM LEVEL AT ALL TIMES. I added chlorine several times a day to keep the level where it needed to be.
#3. Trust the process! As you can see, on day two my pool actually looked worse than day 1 with a reddish tint. I didn’t run off to the pool store convinced I had metals or the process wasn’t working, I kept adding chlorine as prescribed and waited it out. As you can see, the very next day there was a HUGE difference!
Overall, it took a full week. I used 10.5 gallons of 12.5% pool shock And added the required amount of CYA per pool math to get to 40. THAT’S IT. I brushed the walls nightly and vacuumed twice (it actually needs it again). The pump has run continuously and I backwashed whenever my pressure gauge on my sand filter went from 10 to 12. I waited. And I watched. And I trusted. You CAN do this!
CCs have been at zero for a couple days now and the pool is beautifully clear. Next step is the OCLT tonight and my SLAM will officially be over! Then I will let my FC fall back to where it needs to be and adjust pH as needed. Happy Summer, Everyone! ☀
and when searching the forum, not a whole lot comes up for people who have done or need to fill from a pond.#1. you HAVE to use PoolMath, you HAVE to do your own testing, and you HAVE to trust the advice from the experts on here. I have not even stepped foot in a pool store since my first summer with a pool (which was a failure). Just don’t do it.
#2. KEEP YOUR FC LEVEL AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE SLAM LEVEL AT ALL TIMES. I added chlorine several times a day to keep the level where it needed to be.
#3. Trust the process! As you can see, on day two my pool actually looked worse than day 1 with a reddish tint. I didn’t run off to the pool store convinced I had metals or the process wasn’t working, I kept adding chlorine as prescribed and waited it out. As you can see, the very next day there was a HUGE difference!
Overall, it took a full week. I used 10.5 gallons of 12.5% pool shock And added the required amount of CYA per pool math to get to 40. THAT’S IT. I brushed the walls nightly and vacuumed twice (it actually needs it again). The pump has run continuously and I backwashed whenever my pressure gauge on my sand filter went from 10 to 12. I waited. And I watched. And I trusted. You CAN do this!
CCs have been at zero for a couple days now and the pool is beautifully clear. Next step is the OCLT tonight and my SLAM will officially be over! Then I will let my FC fall back to where it needs to be and adjust pH as needed. Happy Summer, Everyone! ☀
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