New Build Southern California

[Flyis4ever]

Hello everyone. First off thanks to this forum it is a wealth of knowledge. I just donated to the forum because I believe the information on here is invaluable. So I am venturing into the wonderful world of building a pool. And IÂ’d like to run the numbers and specifics by everyone before I sign this contract. Please feel free to let me know what IÂ’m missing and what I should do and not do

Freeform 37x25
800sqft
132 linear feet
gunite
mini pebble
3.5x6ft
spa
2 skimmers
2 deluxe anti vortex drains in spa
6 1 1/2 jets for spa
supply line from owners source to pool
pentair intelliflo vs pump
mastertemp 400btu
intellichlor ic40
clean and clear 420
intellibrite led for pool
intellibrite led for spa
easytouch 4 pool/spa/intellichlor 40
screenlogic 2
pour In place coping
dolphin robot cleaning.
Please pick it apart and let me know what to change or add. Also if you can add any plumbing recommendations. That would be great. I donÂ’t understand what you mean by returns and also if I need drainage at the bottom. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Pics to follow.

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[Flyis4ever]

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

Great start with that shiny Supporter badge!!

Your equipment list looks pretty good. Be sure you do not want the ET8. You really only have three relays available on the ET4 (one is Pool dedicated) so controlling lights, etc will take up the others.

Also be sure the pool volume is under 20000 gallons. Looks like it, but check. Your SWCG needs to be rated for at least 2X your pool volume.

The spa spillover is really going to drive your pH up. Be sure you can either turn it off or somehow reduce it dramatically for daily maintenance purposes. Do you have hard water in Glendora? Do you have a water softener?

I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.

 

[Flyis4ever]

The spa will not actually have the spillover effect. But the water will sit flush on top of the tile. And as far as hard water is concerned. I don’t think we have much of an issue. And I will double check the gallons. And I think I will upgrade to the easytouch 8. Now what if I went to the ic60 as well just to be safe? Will it harm any other equipment because it’s a large swg?

 

[mknauss]

It will not harm anything to go to IC60. As you can see from my signature I oversized my SWCG too.

It might not (and mine probably was not) be economic as the Pentair SWCG's are pretty linear in cost as you increase in size.

 

[GregInClaremont]

Hi neighbor! We just built a pool in the last year too and I second the ET8 upgrade, also, If you don't have many outlets around the yard, maybe plan for some of those for yard tools or landscape lighting, etc. Your design looks interesting with the spa set up that way but I feel I have to say this one thing after having cut my lawn this afternoon, prepare yourself for grass clippings in your water every.time.you.mow!

 

[HmnRcn]

I agree that you should upgrade to the ET8. You will also want more lighting in the pool and possibly even on your sun shelf. I would also see about adding a couple of deck jets. I added two to mine that were pretty inexpensive and now that I have had it for 8 months, I would have liked to have added more. Just my suggestions on things to think about.

 

[Flyis4ever]

So here is my equipment list that I ordered. Should be here by the end of the week. Also have a clean and clear 520 coming. Plans need 2 minor changes with pool equipment label and gas line label. Then we should be ready to rock and roll. All subs are lined up and waiting for us.

 

[Flyis4ever]

Day 1 is done. And I’m already over budget. We had no plans of tearing out the patio. But there was not proper drainage there and always flooded. And the patio was too low. So here we are.

 

[jatkinson]

The spa spillover is really going to drive your pH up. Be sure you can either turn it off or somehow reduce it dramatically for daily maintenance purposes.

I know he's not doing a spillover, but why is this? Is it from the aeration?

 

[bdavis466]

Why 3 pumps? The Whisperflo is often incorrectly spec'd and the Superflo does not integrate with automation very nicely.

The Intellicenter and IC60 were good picks.

Your spa still will have the spillover feature and that's how the spa will get circulated and chlorinated. Since you have automation this will be something easily controlled and we'll help you set it up later on.

 

[Flyis4ever]

Why 3 pumps? The Whisperflo is often incorrectly spec'd and the Superflo does not integrate with automation very nicely.

The Intellicenter and IC60 were good picks.

Your spa still will have the spillover feature and that's how the spa will get circulated and chlorinated. Since you have automation this will be something easily controlled and we'll help you set it up later on.

Thanks for the advice. The 3 pumps are for water features. Laminars and bubblers. Are there better choices for these?

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I know he's not doing a spillover, but why is this? Is it from the aeration?

my mistake. It will still spillover for filtration. It’s a learning curve.

 

[bdavis466]

Thanks for the advice. The 3 pumps are for water features. Laminars and bubblers. Are there better choices for these?

A second Intelliflo would probably be your best bet. It's less expensive, will cut down on the plumbing and work better in the process

 

[Flyis4ever]

So the intelliflo can run 4 laminars and 3 bubblers? I want everything to be independent of each other. Or be able to run all at the same time and have enough power.

 

[kimkats]

Jumping to watch this build and to get it in front of bdavis466's eyes again.

On the pH rise question, yes the aeration from a spill over, fountain, bubblers, heavy rain, etc will push pH up. I can roll my one return up so it rolls the water good and push my pH up.

Kim

 

[bdavis466]

So the intelliflo can run 4 laminars and 3 bubblers? I want everything to be independent of each other. Or be able to run all at the same time and have enough power.

Yes. The intelliflo XF would be ideal and the beauty is you can dial in the flow for the actual needs instead of being over pressurized by a single pump.

The Intellicenter well soon be able to automate all of that with a single valve but not just yet. You'll have to wait for a programming update.

 

[Flyis4ever]

Yes. The intelliflo XF would be ideal and the beauty is you can dial in the flow for the actual needs instead of being over pressurized by a single pump.

The Intellicenter well soon be able to automate all of that with a single valve but not just yet. You'll have to wait for a programming update.

Thank you immensely.

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Rebar will be here tomorrow. Plumbing is starting Thursday.

 

[kimkats]

MUD! Let the mud begin or get worse LOL

What did they do with the fire pit?

Run out there with your plans and a measuring tape. Add about 8" for steel, gunite, and plaster. Is it deep, wide, long, etc enough? NOW is the time to tweak.

Kim

 

[Flyis4ever]

MUD! Let the mud begin or get worse LOL

What did they do with the fire pit?

Run out there with your plans and a measuring tape. Add about 8" for steel, gunite, and plaster. Is it deep, wide, long, etc enough? NOW is the time to tweak.

Kim

Done!!!! Thanks to you. I did it with the excavator. Thanks for the advice.

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The fire pit is still here.

 

[Flyis4ever]

Here’s the latest update. So far so good. Now we’re trying to decide tile and plaster finish.

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I don’t know why pics are upside down. Sorry.