Pre-purchase questions - 1st AGP

[mgk645]

Hello all!

We are closing in on our first purchase but wanted to get some questions answered first to make sure we are getting the correct equipment. We are looking at 21/52 or 21/54. We are mainly looking at Pool Supply World (based on what i've searched here, theyre pretty good) and are looking at the below pools:

Sharkline Venture

Verona by Lomart

We like the Sharkline because of the slightly longer warranty, but the Lomart has the resin uprights and is made in the same factory as Doughboy.

Opinions on the 2 pools?

We were looking at the pool pump that PSW supplies in their package - Waterway 16" Sand filter with pump, is this a good combo?

Should we look at a Hayward? I found the following on Amazon and thought it was a good price:

Amazon.com : Hayward SP1580 Power-Flo LX Series 1-Horsepower Pool Pump with Cord : Swimming Pool Water Pumps : Patio, Lawn Garden

Amazon.com : Hayward S210T Pro Series 21-Inch Top-Mount Pool Sand Filter : Swimming Pool Sand Filters : Patio, Lawn Garden

Regarding filter size - 16" big enough? is 21" too big?

Does PSW provide the skimmer if we DO NOT purchase the "Base Kit"?

We will be purchasing most of our accessories on Amazon, prices seem to be a bit better there.

Also, we have rabbit burrows in our back yard, any idea if these will be a problem for the pool? I wouldnt want rabbits digging through the liner!

Thanks all!

 

[unkyjoe]

Okay here goes:

I have a 16" pool and wish I had gone bigger. Had a 24" AG years ago and it was huge. For me the sweet spot would be 21"
I have heard good things about the Sharkline.
If I could afford it I would go with Doughboy as they seem to last forever. "If you can afford them"

Okay, thats my 2cents worth.

 

[mgk645]

We priced a Doughboy locally, its was $2800 for a 21/52 with Doughboy Liner and Filter/Pump combo. Unfortunately, thats outside our price range as we need to have some trees cut down and have our service panel updated to accommodate newer breakers (currently using a split-bus system that we can no longer source breakers for).

If we went Doughboy, it would be a 16/48, which we feel is too small, we have 2 kids (6/8) and they like to invite their friends over lol.

Unkyjoe - sorry, I was referring to the sand filter size when i said 16" or 21", i have since edited the post above to reflect this. Thank you for your input though!!

 

[mgk645]

OK, so we have decided and purchased the pool -

Sharkline Harbortown 24' Round 54" Depth
Pentair Optiflo 1.5 HP 2 Speed pump (should we get a 1HP instead?)
Pentair SD60 Sand filter (is this big enough?)

Does this sound like a good combo?
We are getting it from our local store (comparable to online prices).

 

[duraleigh]

Pentair SD60 Sand filter (is this big enough?)

what is the flow rate (in gpm) of that filter. It should be 70 gpm or larger.

 

[snuhjr]

I don't know much about the filter combo you have but I will say that we just had a sharkline Harbortown 18 x 33 oval installed in late April. We love our pool! I have a 2HP 2 speed pump and a 150 square foot cartridge filter.

 

[unkyjoe]

I think you will like the 24" pool, I know we did when we had ours years ago, that thing was HUGE!

 

[mgk645]

what is the flow rate (in gpm) of that filter. It should be 70 gpm or larger.

We could also choose a 150 Sq ft cartridge filter, by Hydromatic, but in my research I could not find anything about them, so opted for the SD60. We have not picked the pool up yet, and can still change it out if suggested to do so.

Per Pentair's site:

Product	Model	Effective Filtrtation Area (Sq Ft)	Max Pressure (PSI)	Flow Rate (GPM)	8 Hour	10 Hour	12 Hour	All Sand Required (Lbs)	Carton Qty	Carton Wt (Lbs)
145315	SD 35	1.4	30	35	16,800	21,000	25,200	100	1	22
145320	SD 40	1.8	35	40	19,200	24,000	28,800	150	1	24
145322	SD 60	2.3	40	60	28,800	36,000	43,200	200	1	28
145367	SD 70	3.15	50	70	33,600	42,000	50,400	300	1	58
145386	SD 80 2 in.	3.5	50	75	36,000	45,000	54,000	350	1	76

 

[mgk645]

This is the spot we will be putting the pool, ignore the dead grass/sod removal in some of the pictures. We were going to put the pool there, but the power lines were too close. We had to have some tree's removed, which is that big dirt mess you see there.

 

[duraleigh]

If you can move that filter up to the 70 gpm SD 70, you will enjoy less backwashing, better filtering, etc. The SD 60 is OK but I would say, if the upgrade is not outrageous, get the sd 70....you'll have a great combination of pump, filter and pool size.

 

[mgk645]

Dave, thanks for the input, I'll call the pool store tomorrow and see about upgrading.

 

[mgk645]

Got in touch with the pool store, they dont carry the SD70 (but they have one on display?!), they only have the SD80 and its a $250 upgrade cost!! We'll be sticking with the SD60 at this time due to the install cost being higher than originally quoted. Pool store said it would be $1k to install, its leaning more towards $1500. Not too happy with that.

Also, is this the appropriate place to post pics during the install? Would like to document it!!