How to determine filter and pump needs?

[The Mermaid Queen]

I've got a 20'x48" frame pool (8200gal) with a 1600 gph pump (? best info that I could find) and a 12" sand filter. The pump is plugged in to a GFCI outlet on the house wall. The plug is also GFCI. I upgraded to a Hayward skimmer and plugged the original suction hole.
I've had trouble keeping the pool clean... every time someone mows their grass, I get a lovely layer of teeny grass clippings and dust. The pool was used MAX once a week, and the circulation with brushing was just not enough to get the debris into the filter, and the debris is too lightweight to get vacuumed up. I used Revive (floc) once and was able to vac all the stuff up, but that gets pricey.

So, next season I would like to upgrade to a better pump and filter, but don't know where to start, or what I need. Advice?

 

[mas985]

I've had trouble keeping the pool clean... every time someone mows their grass, I get a lovely layer of teeny grass clippings and dust. The pool was used MAX once a week, and the circulation with brushing was just not enough to get the debris into the filter, and the debris is too lightweight to get vacuumed up.

Are you saying that the debris remains on the surface of the pool but the skimmer is just not doing it's job? Or is the debris suspended in the water?

If your current pump was truly delivering 1600 GPH, that should be enough for a single skimmer but I suspect it probably isn't delivering that much flow rate. What is the filter pressure when running?

 

[The Mermaid Queen]

Thanks Mark,
The debris sinks to the bottom of the pool pretty quickly, but for whatever reason will not vacuum up. I expect that it is a combination of 'debris is too light' and 'pump is too weak'. I can vac up leaves.

It dawned on me after reading your reply that I did not have an issue with this debris until I installed the skimmer... before that I had the typical one suction/one return (with 90 degree fixed elbow in the pool) for a frame pool. The brand I have is Polygroup. It was very difficult to even finde what 'might' be the pump flow rate.

I had a minor algae bloom around the time of the skimmer install... I had minor surgery and did not instruct hubby properly on dosing the pool daily.... Since then I've not had a clean pool, except when I used the revive. My Chemistry has been spot on (except for that one week) all summer. Chemistry I know. Physics, not so much.

I'll have to check the filter pressure.

 

[mas985]

My guess is the filter never removed the dead algae from the pool. Sand filters are notorious for not being able to remove dead algae. Have you tried adding DE to the filter and then vacuuming up the "dirt"?

 

[The Mermaid Queen]

My start-up filter pressure is 6.5 That was before I put in the skimmer. The 'green zone' on my pressure gauge goes to about 11.5, and my pressure has never gotten nearly that high.
Did not add DE, as it does not seem that the stuff is actually ever making it to the filter.

In any case, Where do I need to start for next year, since obviously this setup is not working properly.....

 

[mas985]

My start-up filter pressure is 6.5 That was before I put in the skimmer. The 'green zone' on my pressure gauge goes to about 11.5, and my pressure has never gotten nearly that high.

It probably won't. On your system, you probably don't have a lot of head room for filter PSI rise. This is one of the reasons TFP recommends cleaning at 25% rise which is well before the manufacture recommendations. This could be part of the reason the skimming and vacuuming is not as good as it could be.


As for where to go next, it depends on your budget. Many with AG pool find the higher GPM Intex systems to be sufficient and quite reasonably priced. Something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Intex-000-Gallon-Sand-Filter-Pump/dp/B002V1H11W/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1506712000&sr=8-20&keywords=Intex+pump+filter


The next step up would be a combo system from Pentair or Hayward. Something like this:

Amazon.com : Pentair PNSD0035DE2160 Sand Dollar Aboveground Filter System with Blow-Molded Tank, 1 HP : Swimming Pool Sand Filters : Patio, Lawn Garden

https://www.amazon.com/Pentair-PNSD0060DO2260-Dollar-Aboveground-Blow-Molded/dp/B008HYKVF0

There are also cartridge and DE filters in combos as well:

Aboveground Pool Pump and Filter Systems - Products - Pentair


Going with a separate pump and filter is going to be very expensive and probably not worth it.