How many Supply and return lines

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Aquaman7

Well-known member
Sep 15, 2019
502
NJ
Pool Size
21000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I’m planning on installing a 20,000 gallon saltwater vinyl pool. All plumbing will be 2 inch with an Pentair Intelliflo vs pump. How many skimmers, return and supply lines would be adequate for this gallonage of water. The pool will start at 3’5” - 6’ deep. The filter is a Pentair Quad 80 which is 160 gpm.

Also I know people advise against a main drain but I would like to use them to lower the water in the pool beneath the skimmers for winterizing. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks,
Joe
 
One skimmer will usually suffice as long as the wind blows in one direction most of the time. If you get wind in multiple directions then you might want to think about two skimmers.

As for return lines, I have about the same size pool and 4 is more than enough. However, you might want to place 1 or 2 near the stairs to help keep them clear.

As for main drains, I would avoid them if possible. You can use skimmer equalization lines instead to accomplish the same thing. They sit a couple of feet below the skimmer and take over when the water drops below the skimmer.
 
Agree with above. You can do dual wall drains that's how I do it now no more main drains. Dropping the water for winter is best with a submersible pump. Using pool pump you need to plumb in a discharge line ending somewhere.
 
Thanks for reaching out rob.
Mass you make a good point about the returns next to the stairs. My friend has a pool with white stairs and there’s always debris on his stairs. Avoiding the main drains is a good idea. Jim, if i replace the 2 drains with 2 suctions on the side walls do I have to install the safety cover over the suction?
 
Yes you need VGB compliant covers. I put them on shortest wall on deepest side down by where light usually goes one on each side spaced 3ft min. They come in colors so you can blend them away to liner color. Main drains always leak down the road and they are a pain to install. A robot cleans much better and one less hole in the liner
 
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jimmythegreek said:
Yes you need VGB compliant covers. I put them on shortest wall on deepest side down by where light usually goes one on each side spaced 3ft min. They come in colors so you can blend them away to liner color. Main drains always leak down the road and they are a pain to install. A robot cleans much better and one less hole in the liner
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I was debating on not installing the drains. But now I now for sure. I’ll go with the suction in the wall and some returns by the steps.

Thanks guys
 
One of my pools is 28000 with steps the full width of the shallow. There are 4 returns in this pool which two of them are opposite each other wall side midway between step 1 & 2, to the right and left as you enter the pool. The steps never have any debris on them because it lands on the pool floor and the robot scoops it up.
 
wireform said:
One of my pools is 28000 with steps the full width of the shallow. There are 4 returns in this pool which two of them are opposite each other wall side midway between step 1 & 2, to the right and left as you enter the pool. The steps never have any debris on them because it lands on the pool floor and the robot scoops it up.
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Good idea on you return placement. I’m also going to place a return on the steps. Thanks.
 

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mas985 said:
One skimmer will usually suffice as long as the wind blows in one direction most of the time. If you get wind in multiple directions then you might want to think about two skimmers.

As for return lines, I have about the same size pool and 4 is more than enough. However, you might want to place 1 or 2 near the stairs to help keep them clear.

As for main drains, I would avoid them if possible. You can use skimmer equalization lines instead to accomplish the same thing. They sit a couple of feet below the skimmer and take over when the water drops below the skimmer.
Click to expand...
Mas. If I use a skimmer equalizer lines. Would have to plumb 2 drains into the wallop be VGB compliant?
Thanks
Joe
 
The skimmer and the equalizer are treated as a pair of ports much line a pair of MDs. As long as the distance requirement is met and you use a VGB cover, they are compliant.
 
Ok. So the two would have to a minimum 3’ away from each other and a VGB cover on the wall drain and it will be to code?
 
Should be to code but I would check with your local building department to make sure as some localities can have extra restrictions.
 
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jimmythegreek said:
They usually dont allow them here in NJ on new builds. If you want a seperate lower suction port a set of wall drains work well. I'll snap a pic of my personal pool setup 2moro so u can see how we do them
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Ok. Jimmy, that would be great. Thanks
 
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