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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

Newdude
Rockstead said:
But a new one seems to be 3-4x times the price of used.
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Is longevity or automation control more important to you ? I had a heater and SWG and ran it 24/7 high enough to turn both on. I didn't need automation and the $519 Calimar would be the best play here. If you needed the automation, Hayward is the way.

If i bought the used pump, I would do so expecting to need to replace it much sooner than a new pump. I like that a guy who repairs pumps has repaired and/or bench tested it, but used is still used.

So in this instance its your risk tolerance level that will decide new vs old. Or. You expect finances to be better in a couple of years when the used one dies. (Protip: Mo money Mo problems, same relative struggle)

*edit as Poe pretty much said this and beat me. Lol.
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

S
It doesn't seem to be listed as current on the Hayward site. So while parts are probably readily available, who knows for how long? But I get the appeal of $600 vs up to $2K for new....

I can't advise, but the minimum for me would be integrating with the SWCG, so that it doesn't run when the pump isn't running, if your current system already has that as part of whatever automation you do have.
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

SJPoe
It really comes down to how much 'automation' you need / want. One of the advantages of the VSP pump is that you can run then 24x7 at much lower speeds, saving you money, and only bump them up when you need extra flow for cleaning or skimming, or running a waterfall etc. Any VSP pump can do this. The Automation just makes controlling the pump speed etc easier. If you have lots of different 'scenarios' involving valves, heaters, different schedules and so on, then automation may be important to you. I don't, so automation is more of a I'm-a-nerd-and-like-to-tinker-with-stuff thing.

I have the Calimar pump, and I can manually push a button to give me 4 different speeds, or set a schedule. I have the automation board that allows me to essentially push 3 of the speed buttons remotely (via a Raspberry PI / Node-Red automation setup - it's just a momentary trigger via a relay). I don't have anything else that really needs 'automating', so while the RS485 interface would be cool, its not worth $1000 bucks more to me.

Really is more down to your current and future plans - and obviously your budget. I saw no real reason to spend triple on a 'name brand' pump for features I really didn't need, that my old pump didn't have, and instead spent the extra money on an SWG ;)
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New In-Ground Pool Owner in Jarrettsville, MD – Excited to Learn!

V___25
Hello and welcome! You are in the right place for lots of information and support.
When we bought this house, neither of us had ever owned a pool and absolutely zero pool knowledge. You will learn quick though. There is a ton of reading to do in the Pool School links so start there.

If you don't have one already, one of the first things you'll want to do is get a good test kit. Stay out of the pool stores for testing - they only want to sell you stuff.
Also, if you can, fill out your signature so we know more about your pool and your equipment. It helps people give the best advice.

We have plenty of trees around our pool too and with this rain and wind we've been having, it does get messy. And tons of worms if you have grass near your pool. For the winter did your pool come with a cover of any sort? That helps keep the leaves out in the fall.

Last thing I'll say, if your pool does not have a salt water generator, you'll want to find a good supplier of liquid chlorine. Many people use Walmart but Home Depot, Lowes, and hardware stores often carry it as well.
Good luck and don't hesitate to ask questions.
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HermanTX
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HermanTX
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18 x 33 x 56" Semi-In Ground NJ

D
Dingos are also incredibly fun to operate, so there's an entertainment value included in the price as well. I'm seeing we got 1.5" of rain last night, so you got that done just in time. It might look messy this morning, but you can relax a bit now and take your time getting that back filled and then regrading as necessary around it.
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

R
SJPoe said:
Used pump is like a used car - you might get a good one...and you might not. They are selling it for a reason ;)

Based on some quick googling, that serial number suggests a manufacturing date of early 2021...so it could be over 4 years old already....
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But a new one seems to be 3-4x times the price of used.

Which new one would you look at for Aqualogic compatibility?
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Adding a PVC return to AGP that does not go through the pool wall?

C
This is the first season with my pool. It has one stainless steel wall panel that has the skimmer and return running through it. I can already tell that circulation for the pool could be better and I'm pondering adding another return by tee-ing off of my existing return PVC and routing PVC pipe around to the other side of the pool and making a return that goes over the edge of the pool so that there are no additional penetrations through the pool wall (I haven't read it speciically, but it wouldn,t surprise me if penetrating any other pool wall section would void the warranty...).

Has anyone seen this done before? Is this a stupid idea from the good idea fairy?

Thanks
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SLAM

HermanTX
ldh_14 said:
pool is clear so Im happy with that. I added stabilizer to reach 30 however testing after 24 hrs, it's still low. Im guessing 20 since my vial only goes to 30.
When you say raise FC to SLAM level I add per pool math app but I never actually get to that level is that normal?
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On the PM app, on the FC icon, do you switch on the SLAM mode? That will give you the higher SLAM level for FC.
If you add LC per the recommendation it should get close to the targeted FC level - unless the LC is old (degraded) or your pool volume is slightly off.
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Water is still cloudy after multiple treatments

S
Bperry said:
The algorithm works by assuming the largest number of internet posts that agree on a subject is what’s “true”. The problem with that is there’s a very large number of pool forum, reddit posts, etc that fill up in the internet with questionable and bad advice. Quantity of knowledge doesn’t equal accuracy of knowledge. Enjoy the experiment, just don’t rely on it for anything.
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Good point, and thanks for elaborating for others! I have to learn to post emoji's when I'm being sarcastic.
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Aiper Scuba X1 First Use

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Update:

I’m at about a month in with the Aiper X1, and I’m pretty happy with it now. After changing the settings it is working great! This morning there was some sand along the walls and safety ledges, and some debris in the middle, so I threw it in on Eco mode, and the pool looks pretty good 1.5 hours later. You can still see some debris in my photo, but it hasn’t finished its cycle and that will be easy for me to just brush up. After a month of use (84h of cleaning run time) I think the charging dock is a huge plus on this model. Performance wise, the S1 with ultra fine filter is probably a better value for your money, but for many the X1 may be worth it if you don’t want to mess with the hassle of the charging port. You can also see from the attached photo that this little guy has really helped our pool come a long way from where we started.
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Hayward filter leaking a little at after cleaning.

HermanTX
Yes. just remove the top part of the filter and reset the oring. Be sure there is no grit or debris on the mating filter halves or on the oring. I am not familiar as to why Hayward would not want to lube an oring seal. I always lubed mine (Pentair model).
You may also want to rotate your top an inch or so from where it is now.
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

SJPoe
Used pump is like a used car - you might get a good one...and you might not. They are selling it for a reason ;)

Based on some quick googling, that serial number suggests a manufacturing date of early 2021...so it could be over 4 years old already....
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SLAM

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HermanTX said:
It’s all about patience. Let the SLAM process work. Continue to test every 4-5 hrs and raise FC back up to SLAM level.

We are trying to help to avoid draining 30k gals and you still may have algae when you refill.
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pool is clear so Im happy with that. I added stabilizer to reach 30 however testing after 24 hrs, it's still low. Im guessing 20 since my vial only goes to 30.
When you say raise FC to SLAM level I add per pool math app but I never actually get to that level is that normal?
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New to TFPC

S
Welcome! You are in very good hands here. We're all generally individual pool owners, many of whom have learned through the school of hard-knocks, and some who have extraordinary levels of professional expertise in the appropriate aspects of managing a pool. Lots of deep research and scientific reasoning for the methods noted here. No money being made - it is all free. Just donations asked to keep the servers for this site, and the associate phone app, running. One member runs his own small business selling pool test kits configured to meet what is needed using the methods outlined on the site, elsewhere - as you have discovered by ordering the great test kit.

The most important - keep your chlorine up! Right now! Even a 24 hr low dip is a huge invitation to algae to start growing. Get a gallon of some liquid chlorine (Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc.) and add it ASAP. Without knowing your pool size, in gallons, assume about 1/2 gallon per 10,000 gallons. We'll refine that once we know more details, and even more after you get the kit and can run all the tests. You ordered the Salt kit, so I assume a chlorine generator - get that fired up and running to keep the Cl (chlorine) level stabilized. But if your FC is low, it will need the bump from the liquid to get the levels back up quickly. If it cannot currently be run, continue with the 1/2 gal per day/10,000 gal, until your kit arrives.

Some homework for you while you wait for the kit:

As much as you can, add details about your pool to the signature line, as detailed here: Create Your Signature - Further Reading
Helps us, and helps you from having to repeat basic information over and over.

Download the PoolMath app. to your phone, from your phones App store. It's free.
You can enter your test kit readings, and it will do the work to tell you how much of what is needed to bring the pool into balance. Consider subscribing ($8/yr), which will allow a running history to be kept, and if you use the same username as here, you can link it, so on this site we can see the history too! Helps you avoid lots of typing or photo shots of all the test numbers. Click on my user name to see my attempts currently to bring my pool into balance ("PoolMath Logs" button).

Whatever you need for learning about caring for the pool, or fixing anything that may not be optimal, we can help. The whole goal is to make it, as named, as Trouble Free (and inexpensive) as possible.
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New to TFPC

HermanTX
brennerc said:
Just ordered the TF100 Pro Salt kit and waiting for it to deliver but had the water tested at a local store for free. Just don't trust them as I feel like they try to sell me everything regardless of need. PH is a little high, stabilizer is low, FC is way low....what order should I be addressing?
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Welcome to TFP.
Thanks for purchasing one of the recommended test kits.
Adding chlorine to raise FC is always a priority as that is your sanitization method. You be using liquid chlorine (LC) to raise FC quickly

Post a full set of data once your kit arrives but suggest you purchase 5 gals of LC now as well.
What size and volume is your pool?
Please fill out your signature -- Create Your Signature - Further Reading
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

B
Rockstead said:
I tried asking ChatGPT based on my pool config on which used VSP pump to buy and also asked it to compare to the Calimer, I would like to know if you guys agree with the answer as I found a used Tristar.

Based on my config of 26K Gallons, 300 pound sand filter, Heat pump, 5 returns, Aqualogic P4 automation system

Pump Comparison for My Pool (100,000L, sand filter, heat pump, AquaLogic P4 w/ firmware 2.65):


1. Hayward EcoStar VS (SP3400VSP)

  • 2.7 HP / ~150 GPM
  • Fully RS485 compatible with AquaLogic
  • Works great with sand filter (you’ll run it at lower RPMs)
  • Removable, user-friendly display
  • Often cheaper on the used market
    ✅ Best value used pump for full automation

2. Hayward TriStar VS (SP3200VSP or SP3202VSPND)
  • 2.7 HP / ~140–150 GPM
  • Fully RS485 compatible with AquaLogic
  • Compact and very quiet
  • Integrated display (not removable)
  • Slightly more expensive than EcoStar used
    ✅ Best for tight spaces or quieter operation

3. Calimar VS (VGreen motor-based)

  • 1.65 or 2.7 HP models
  • No RS485 – not directly compatible with AquaLogic
  • Standalone use only (or basic relay toggling with optional module)
  • App control via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi (model-dependent)
  • Some parts may be proprietary
    ⚠️ Good budget pump if not using automation – not ideal for AquaLogic setups
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I wouldn’t buy a used pump.
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ChatGPT made a recommendation for a VSP Hayward Aqualogic P4 compatible pump, can I have your opinion on it please

R
Newdude said:
None of that above is useful except for the automation control of sticking with one brand, which is likely going to be the answer you were looking for.

The Tristar is a great pump. How old is it and how much are they asking ?

Is there a story with the pump ? Seems kinda sus to be selling a perfecly working flagship pump. It’s a little big for the 'we took down the above ground pool and are selling the pump' story.
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I’m not sure of the year, they provided the following information sticker and other photos. Pre-negotiation they want $600USD for it with a 1 month warranty.

In regards to story, from their marketplace profile I see they buy and sell a lot of pumps.
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