Your pumps should be bolted down on a pad to reduce any vibration. On gravel they would eventually move around to the point of breaking a coupling or pipe.
I agree that a cement pad would be best. Mine are sitting on separate pavers which leaves me at risk for settling. I do not think that most people actually bolt their pumps down though.
I also have mine on cement pavers. The cement pavers sit on 2B stone that I tamped down. I haven't had any settling problems as of yet. My pump is attached to a base and my filter sits on the same base. It's an AGP though. I also think poured concrete would be the way to go. ?
Ours has been sitting on a few stacked cinder blocks for about 20 years now. We did this so we don't need to bend down to do any work on the pump. No issues not being bolted ever.
I'd say concrete as it's easier on the feet. I'm sure there will be one "middle of a swim" issue with the pump where you'll hate walking across rocks to do something with the pump.
Our equipment is sitting on 4" inches of 1-3" river jack which is on 4" of 1/2" grey drainage stone on undisturbed soil. Our PB generally does the equipment on concrete because that's what most people want. Our application lent itself well to the stone. He actually prefers stone for ease of access and doesn't feel it affects longevity of the equipment/pipes. The stone is round and therefore benign to step on.
A lot is going to depend on local soil conditions, I would tend to vote concrete though, and I would also tend to vote covered or enclosed shed if possible
My filter and pump are on concrete , but my heat pump is on a black plastic pad marketed(i saw one on online) just for pool equipment.it is actually pretty nice, no vibration noise, but i think it was about 35.00.
Mine is sitting on an air conditioner compressor/fan outside unit gray plastic pad. Pump was bolted once. You need to work on it/pull it-------you'll never bolt it again!
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