Pump and filter recommendations for small pool

[Tjie77]

Gday all

My GAME sandpro filter has kicked the bucket (faulty lateral), so now I have decided to go cartridge. Reasons for this is:

1. No backwashing required. The pool is 8500L and it surprising how fast the water level goes down when backwashing. I just about have to top it up again afterward which throws my balance out slightly.
2. Cartridges can filter out smaller particles.
3. I like to buy new things. (Just kidding - maybe)

I realise they are a bit more fiddly with cleaning but I'm fine with that.

Do you think a 100 sq.ft. filter with a 0.75HP motor would be OK? I had a 0.75HP motor on my sandpro and it was just right.
I have read that oversizing will reduce maintenance time, but you can't have it too big apparently.

Also, is there a go-to brand I should be considering?

Thank heaps for your help!

 

[Texas Splash]

If my conversion is correct, 8500L is about 2245 US gallons. If that's the case, the items you noted should be fine to handle circulating water. In addition, pools under 3000 gallons can benefit from using the Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools - Trouble Free Pool page. Makes things a little easier perhaps. In any case, let us know if you have any further questions. Have a nice day.

 

[Tjie77]

Thank you Texas Splash.
I will go ahead and get that size.
too many brands out there. Any recommended brands?

 

[Texas Splash]

Any recommended brands?

Yes, lots to chose from. Not sure about the options you have locally there, but there are indeed tons of separate pump & filters, to include the pump/filter combos available. Most major brands like Hayward, Pentair, or even Intex for smaller pools have lots to chose from.

@needsajet or @aussieta any additional thoughts?

 

[AusPhil]

Depending on financial consideration it would be worth considering a variable speed pump, specifically the Pentair Enviromax 800 that is 3 setting variable speed unit that can save considerable power over a single speed unit.
Mine is currently running at 1700 rpm on the med setting and uses 210w .... i could easily crank it down a bit further but this actually matches the power used by the original small bestway pump whilst giving more flow

Filter wise sorry can't help with the cartridge filter selection.

Edit: the pump is also super quiet at the speed and not a lot louder at full speed

 

[Texas Splash]

I have a Hayward C1200 single cartridge filter in my almost 18000 pool and it works fine. (My pool link in my signature) In a pool your size, a single cart would probably work very well, and depending on the size may even be more than you need. It may only need to be rinsed-off once a month or so if the water is well maintained.

As for the combos I noted earlier, they are convenient for a pool your size. You mentioned you prefer to avoid sand filters, but they are the most predominant in the smaller combo set-ups and seem to be much cheaper. Here are a couple I pulled up just to give you some ideas:
Amazon.com : Hayward C2251540LSS Micro StarClear 40 GPM Above-Ground Pool Filter Pump System : Swimming Pool Cartridge Filter Inserts : Garden & Outdoor

https://www.amazon.com/Intex-Krystal-Filter-12-inch-110-120V/dp/B07F3RXVBC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=SPX4WWGAXS2P&keywords=pool+filter+and+pump+combo&qid=1574081118&sprefix=pool+pump+filter+combo%2Caps%2C287&sr=8-1

 

[Tjie77]

Depending on financial consideration it would be worth considering a variable speed pump, specifically the Pentair Enviromax 800 that is 3 setting variable speed unit that can save considerable power over a single speed unit.
Mine is currently running at 1700 rpm on the med setting and uses 210w .... i could easily crank it down a bit further but this actually matches the power used by the original small bestway pump whilst giving more flow

Filter wise sorry can't help with the cartridge filter selection.

Edit: the pump is also super quiet at the speed and not a lot louder at full speed

thanks so much. I can’t find a price for it? How much was it? Sounds like a plan though!

 

[AusPhil]

thanks so much. I can’t find a price for it? How much was it? Sounds like a plan though!

Yeah finding a price is near impossible online.... it seems to be around 799 when you ring around a bit... I got mine from best pool supplies when they had a 20% off sale so got it at a bargain.

I noticed they had pricing on the Onga Pantera cartridge filters and they seemed reasonable priced considering the over pricing we see via some of the pool stores etc ..

my AGP is about 3x your volume but I’m working on the premise that you can slow the vs pump down and on the enviromax 800 you can completely disable the priming functionality as we don’t need it with an AGP.

 

[Tjie77]

What a score! Do you think Onga or Davey are brands worth considering? Davey has a five year warranty on their cartridge filters.

 

[AusPhil]

What a score! Do you think Onga or Davey are brands worth considering? Davey has a five year warranty on their cartridge filters.

I haven't managed to fully understand the Onga/Pentair relationship with some of the Onga pumps now being Pentair, the Enviromax 800 is one of those as it was sold last year everywhere as the Onga ECO 800.
Onga, Davey, Monarch, Zodiac are all the decent stuff, Astral is in another price range but seems to be respected and then you jump into the Waterco stuff that is definitely the some nice equipment but out of my price range.

It seems hard to go wrong with most of the stuff stocked and for the cartridge filter it may come down to availability and price of spare cartridges bearing. Do you want to buy from you local pool place or are you prepared to buy online with the respective warranty pain.... are spare parts a concern such as o-rings etc.

The five year warranty from Davey sounds nice and Davey does have dealers everywhere it seems

 

[AusPhil]

I meant to say in the last post that most of the equipment we are discussing would (and is) normally considered way overkill for smaller Above Ground Pools and the cost of the gear starts to exceed the cost of the pool in a lot of cases.

The big benefit with "real" filters and pumps is the major reduction in filter cleaning requirements and the better pumps can lead to better overall circulation and with variable speed reduced power costs

 

[AUSpool]

Ive been running a Davey 3speed Eco pump for about 7 years now and would replace it like for like without thinking. We’re in the process of building a new pool and decided on the Astral VironXT. Austral are kind of the Commodore or Camry of the Aussie pool world. I’m sure Hayward are good but they are a pricy alternative in Aus. Similarly, the Zodiac is on the pricey side too. I’ve bought a lot of gear from Best Pool Supplies online from Byron and have been happy with there service. In Aus, several of the major equipment companies are linked to specific pool shop chains, you have to go to the LPS for info and they only sell that brand.

I assume your running 40mm plumbing, check with the supplier to ensure your existing plumbing can handle your new pumps max pump output, most if not all eco type pumps always startup at the max flow rate.

 

[Tjie77]

Thanks guys. I ended up buying a Pentair Enviromax 800 for $739 and a Zodiac Titan ZCF100 for $319 delivered from Best Pool Supplies (I'm about a 2 hour drive away from them). The reason I went this way is eventually I will replace my pool with a bigger one and don't want to replace the pump and filter. Yes I will be converting the plumbing to 40mm PVC - good point about the max flow rate at the start.... I did have an inground pool at another house and I had a Zodiac Eco flopro and it started at max speed.
The programmable speed will allow me to tailor it to the pool size, and the relatively large filter should allow a fair bit of time between cleans - sounds good in theory!

 

[AusPhil]

@Tjie77 you will love the 800, you can disable the priming function so that it doesn't start at max speed and will start at the last selected speed, it also has a soft start so it ramps up speed and consequently the current draw which is really nice.

On the subject of pipe sizing, if you are converting to PVC and you are planning a bigger pool then I would move straight to 50mm PVC and only drop down if you need to at equipment points. I'm just shifting all my equipment from beside the AGP to a dedicated pad and ran 50mm, details in The AGP journey part 2 - it's swim time down under

 

[Tjie77]

I downloaded the manual and yes I did see that the priming function could be disabled. Perfect!
I noticed in your linked thread that you have flexible hoses. Where did you buy them from, and what did you use to connect them to the 50mm PVC?
Thanks for your help!

 

[AusPhil]

I downloaded the manual and yes I did see that the priming function could be disabled. Perfect!
I noticed in your linked thread that you have flexible hoses. Where did you buy them from, and what did you use to connect them to the 50mm PVC?
Thanks for your help!

I didn't buy them, they were part of the original Bestway pool/pump/filter package and we have hard plumbed the two drain connections and as part of the re-plumb will be hard plumbing the return connection at which point the flexible hoses will be redundant.
pvc hard piping by aussiephil1960, on Flickr

looks like best pool supplies has a 3m version Bestway Flowclear™ 38mm Replacement Hose - 3m Long - 58368
Assuming the threaded collars are the same as used on the pump/filter i have then by happy coincidence a standard 50mm PVC valve socket has the same thread and with a simple rubber washer makes a water tight seal to 2"/50mm pipe
Pool Plumbing by aussiephil1960, on Flickr
It's easy to cut a rubber washer from flat rubber strip.

You can't see the connection for the flexible pipe for evmx800 but it is a reuse of the section that went from the old pump to the sand filter
_Z206877 by aussiephil1960, on Flickr


Glad i can help

 

[needsajet]

Glad you got it sorted. You also now have the benefit of a DC brushless motor (long lasting and efficient). My Onga Eco800 is plugging away and doesn't sound any different after four years than when it was new (touch wood). To the best of my knowledge, all or most of the variable speed pumps here in Aus use the same Fasco motor. (Italian company, I believe)

 

[needsajet]

I found a site where a gent had taken one apart, described it and also published the wiring diagram, worked out by his talented observation. An interesting comment he made is that the finned case around the motor is constructed to be the same size as an AC motor. He supposed this was so people would find it more 'normal'. The DC motor inside is much smaller than the outside case.

 

[Tjie77]

Thanks guys.

Well the pump and filter arrived the next day! Very happy with the price and service.

By the looks @AusPhil your flexible hoses may fit my bestway attachments. Do these look familiar? See pics.
I'm hoping that those 3m hoses you linked to may fit the bill. Can they be shortened?

Thanks heaps!

 

[AusPhil]

Thanks guys.

Well the pump and filter arrived the next day! Very happy with the price and service.

By the looks @AusPhil your flexible hoses may fit my bestway attachments. Do these look familiar? See pics.
I'm hoping that those 3m hoses you linked to may fit the bill. Can they be shortened?

Thanks heaps!

Well they are listed as a Bestway hose and it seems at least Bestway has a single sized threaded connection.
I can think of no easy or effective way to shorten the corrugated hose.

I just went and pulled the hose off the same inlet valve on my pool as i couldn't remember the o-ringed pipe section but it was identical and your skimmer seems the same so i'd say pool the pool end it's a straight screw on connection and using the 50mm fittings from bunnings i showed before will let you connect direct to 50mm pvc.
You just need to get some sheet rubber to cut a rubber washer from.

I'll likely be pulling mine apart on the weekend so i can grab a photo of the rubber washer i made.

My big sand filter finally arrived today so i can work on all the hard plumbing now over the weekend