Pump filter system info needed in a time crunch for new pool install for Friday.

[Natnem]

We bought a 15’ pool with 54@ walls from Propools a few weeks ago. I have everything except the pump filter system. I got an email today saying they don’t know what happened to pump system and will refund me to buy locally.
I’m a little overwhelmed with the installer coming. So I originally had the Pentair cristal- flo2 19” sand filter system. So I’m thinking a sand system is the way to go but I am about to go venture out to look at what my local stores have in stock. I’m not knowledgeable about the equipment. One company told me they have a 2hp another company told me they have a 1hp and that a 2hp is too big. Any information to help guide me to getting the best size and information about the real difference in the maintenance between a sand and cartridge system will be greatly appreciated!! I’m not going with a saltwater system if that matters. Thanks ahead for your help! I will be checking back a little later to reply.

 

[kellyfair]

I agree you should be fine with the 1 hp.

I love my sand filter - it‘s low maintenance! Sand doesn’t filter as finely as cartridges do, but it’s not noticeable. And many of us use the paper hairnet method on our skimmer baskets to catch the fine stuff!

 

[Natnem]

I agree you should be fine with the 1 hp.

I love my sand filter - it‘s low maintenance! Sand doesn’t filter as finely as cartridges do, but it’s not noticeable. And many of us use the paper hairnet method on our skimmer baskets to catch the fine stuff!

Thank you! I plan on getting the hairnets. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[Natnem]

So I went out and had a few different options that I feel confused on! I was able to find a few different pump filter systems.

1. Pentair SD40 sand filter 19” 1hp for $550
2. Pentair SD60 sand filter 24” 1.5hp $600
3. Jacuzzi® JSA Sand Filter and Pump Combo for Above Ground Pools dual speed 16” 1hp for $589

4. From Ducky’s a Waterco 2hp sand filter dual speed with waterway pump for $399

5. Waterway 22” 1.5hp sand filter pump system 399.

ANY SUGGESTIONS??

 

[Natnem]

I posted similar thread but to the wrong board.

We bought a 15’ pool with 54” walls from Propools a few weeks ago. I have everything except the pump filter system. I got an email yesterday saying they don’t know what happened to pump system and will refund me to buy locally.
I’m a overwhelmed with the installer coming.
I originally had the Pentair cristal- flo2 19” sand filter system.
I want a sand filter system. I ventured out to look at what my local stores have in stock. I’m not knowledgeable about the equipment to feel comfortable to not ask. I’m told by SPC pool distributors that technically due to needing something now and the industry being shorthand that I can use a 1hp, 1.5hp or 2hp system.

I was able to find a few different options that I feel conflicted about due to not knowing the god vs bad! All I know from reading is Pentair and Hayward are what most people say are industry leaders. I also think the dual speed is a plus from what I’ve read but don’t know for sure..
Below are the options I have come across and your input is greatly appreciated!

1. Pentair SD40 sand filter 19” 1hp for $550

2. Pentair SD60 sand filter 24” 1.5hp $600

3. Jacuzzi® JSA Sand Filter and Pump Combo for Above Ground Pools dual speed 16” 1hp for $589

4. From Ducky’s a Waterco 2hp sand filter dual speed with waterway pump for $399

5. Waterway 22” 1.5hp sand filter pump system $399.
PLEASE HELP ANY SUGGESTIONS??

 

[Pauls234]

A few thoughts, though I have little specific experience with the specific brands and systems you mention.

For the pump, 1 HP is plenty for that size pool. 2HP is overkill and will lead to higher electric bills for not much benefit. Dual speed pumps are also highly recommended as when they are on low they are much more efficient, i.e. their flow rate on low is only a little bit less than on high, but they use significantly less electricity. I actually just replaced my 1HP waterway pump that I had for 6 seasons with a 1.5HP dual speed a few weeks ago.

For filters - generally, the advice on this forum is to get as much filter as you can afford, the larger they are the less often they need to be cleaned. Maybe that is less of a concern with a sand given the lower maintenance. My cartridge filter is great, but what a PITA to break down and clean.

So, given all of that, I think option 3 makes the most sense, though option 4 is tempting for that low price, which is a shockingly low price for a 2 speed pump and filter. If you went with 4, you would want to run the pump on low almost all the time or that savings would get eaten pretty quickly from high electric bills.

How much is your refund amount? If it will cover option 3 I think that is what I would do. That assumes the sand filter is an adequate size for your pool, which I just don't have a reference point for.

 

[kellyfair]

Have you googled reviews for each option? that would be my next step.

 

[Natnem]

A few thoughts, though I have little specific experience with the specific brands and systems you mention.

For the pump, 1 HP is plenty for that size pool. 2HP is overkill and will lead to higher electric bills for not much benefit. Dual speed pumps are also highly recommended as when they are on low they are much more efficient, i.e. their flow rate on low is only a little bit less than on high, but they use significantly less electricity. I actually just replaced my 1HP waterway pump that I had for 6 seasons with a 1.5HP dual speed a few weeks ago.

For filters - generally, the advice on this forum is to get as much filter as you can afford, the larger they are the less often they need to be cleaned. Maybe that is less of a concern with a sand given the lower maintenance. My cartridge filter is great, but what a PITA to break down and clean.

So, given all of that, I think option 3 makes the most sense, though option 4 is tempting for that low price, which is a shockingly low price for a 2 speed pump and filter. If you went with 4, you would want to run the pump on low almost all the time or that savings would get eaten pretty quickly from high electric bills.

How much is your refund amount? If it will cover option 3 I think that is what I would do. That assumes the sand filter is an adequate size for your pool, which I just don't have a reference point for.

Thank you! I have been going back and forth with the same exact 2 options.
Option 3 because I feel like I’ve hear plenty positive reviews for the Jacuzzi brand. The only reason I’m unsure is because of the 16” filter. None of the other pumps that were included with packages or suggested were 16” they were 19” or larger. Being new this is Greek to me. I can only think of how I keep reading and hearing that the larger the filter the less you have to clean them and that is appealing!!
Option 4 my main concern is I can’t find any reviews on the filter. I also didn’t know if mixing the brands made a difference.

 

[kellyfair]

Mine is 19”.

 

[Natnem]

Mine is 19”.

Do you personally feel like that works well? Would you go smaller? I’ve only had small Intex pools with the system that it comes with so I don’t have a clue what size would be too small. In a perfect world I wish I could get 1.5hp because of worrying 2hp is too big and like mentioned in Paul’s post the energy cost would wipe out the benefits of a dual speed.
thank you for your post.

 

[kellyfair]

Personally, I wouldn’t want anything smaller. It’s not a savings if it isn’t adequate.

 

[Natnem]

Thank you I needed to hear that!

 

[stringer77]

1HP 2 speed pump. cartridge or de filter.

 

[ajw22]

What did you end up getting?

 

[Natnem]

Sorry I didn’t see the 2 new post!
I ended up getting a 1.5hp dual speed 19” jacuzzi sand pump filter system. When I went into the store they had a delivery and had one in stock and a 20% off sale that started that day so it was 620.00.
thank you all for the input and helping me think the decision through.

 

[Natnem]

Well the little storm passed a and the pool was installed today. It's been a little crazy this week after figuring everything out my phone broke and I lost my debit card. Which is where I saved all my steps to get the water going. Now I'm looking for the section that tells you how to get the water balancing process going. Im also waiting for my replacement card so I don't have a good test kit. I'm using the strips that with the pool until my card comes. Do I just test and plug the numbers and go from there? I feel like I was supposed to do something else.

 

[splashpad]

Well the little storm passed a and the pool was installed today. It's been a little crazy this week after figuring everything out my phone broke and I lost my debit card. Which is where I saved all my steps to get the water going. Now I'm looking for the section that tells you how to get the water balancing process going. Im also waiting for my replacement card so I don't have a good test kit. I'm using the strips that with the pool until my card comes. Do I just test and plug the numbers and go from there? I feel like I was supposed to do something else.

1. Sorry for all the crazy!! Hip hip hooray for SAND FILTER! It's awesome! We love ours...
2. I would strongly suggest to use Poolmath to:
   1. add CYA/30 (stabilizer)
   2. Start adding FC/5 every day until your test kit comes.
   3. The strips are "guesses" and usually quite far off! Please dispose of those (unless you have little "chemists" that want to help)
3. Depending on which you can get faster
   1. Definitely get a TF-100 or K-2006 on the way.
   2. ... but you can grab an HTH 6-way DROPS test, it uses the Taylor reagents preferred around here, from wither Walmart or Amazon (whomever is in stock) (the sizes provided are small)

 

[Natnem]

Thanks splashpad. I grabbed the last hth kit at Wal-Mart and got home and it wasn't in the bag. I guess my little one and I didn't spin the bags all the way around and left it. Of course they say they didn't have anything left at the register. So I went to Leslie's yesterday
I know that isn't the ideal way but I figured it's better than the strips.
I feel a little unsure about a few things.
I used the pool math app the 1st night and added the recommended 23oz of liquid chlorine.
The results from Leslie's and their solution were
FC .15. 20 oz of liquid chlorine
PH. 7.6
TA 105
CH 105. 9lb of CU products
CYA 51 1.9lb of stabilizer

I know I don't need any CH products especially not $35.00 worth to bring my levels to 200-400ppm. When I saw that I didn't listen to anything else that was said.
I plugged the numbers in the Pool Math app. It said to add
--22oz to raise FC. Done
--32 oz of dry stabilizer to bring it the 45 target (I didn't change from 30 I'm guessing it knows something I don't and adjusted it). Done
-- lower TA to the suggested level of 70 by reducing PH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and aerate.
DIDN'T DO yet..
I was surprised how quickly the stabilizer dissolved. I had an index pool and it took a day it only took 2 hours. I guess that good. Should I be concerned about how quick it disolved? I put it in a thick knee high in the skimmer for 30 or so minutes and the put it in front of the jet to squeeze and it just made a huge white cloud and was just about gone!
I will do the TA adjustment today. I was looking last night and got confused about that being a must. The app says lower which I don't doubt completely but the pool store has the ideal range to be 80-120 and after reading one of the articles on here where it says when to lower I felt unsure. Can I get a little insight about the TA level please? I searched on here last night but didn't find anything that really made me feel like I understood the reason for the different target #.

 

[splashpad]

Thanks splashpad. I grabbed the last hth kit at Wal-Mart and got home and it wasn't in the bag. I guess my little one and I didn't spin the bags all the way around and left it. Of course they say they didn't have anything left at the register. So I went to Leslie's yesterday
I know that isn't the ideal way but I figured it's better than the strips.

Is it on the receipt? It may have been returned to the garden section, but for the $20+ dollars, I would definitely be getting it refunded or replaced (that's just me though)

I feel a little unsure about a few things.
I used the pool math app the 1st night and added the recommended 23oz of liquid chlorine.
The results from Leslie's and their solution were
FC .15. 20 oz of liquid chlorine
PH. 7.6
TA 105
CH 105. 9lb of CU products
CYA 51 1.9lb of stabilizer

Unforunately, the reason we don't trust pool store testing is a myriad of reasons, from the sample tubes having residue from previous test samples all the way to "careless" employee testing.

I know I don't need any CH products especially not $35.00 worth to bring my levels to 200-400ppm. When I saw that I didn't listen to anything else that was said.

Well done!

I plugged the numbers in the Pool Math app. It said to add
--22oz to raise FC. Done
--32 oz of dry stabilizer to bring it the 45 target (I didn't change from 30 I'm guessing it knows something I don't and adjusted it). Done
-- lower TA to the suggested level of 70 by reducing PH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and aerate.

If the CYA was already showing as 51, why did you raise it?

DIDN'T DO yet..
I was surprised how quickly the stabilizer dissolved. I had an index pool and it took a day it only took 2 hours. I guess that good. Should I be concerned about how quick it dissolved? I put it in a thick knee high in the skimmer for 30 or so minutes and the put it in front of the jet to squeeze and it just made a huge white cloud and was just about gone!

That is quality CYA, but I don't believe you needed any....

I will do the TA adjustment today. I was looking last night and got confused about that being a must. The app says lower which I don't doubt completely but the pool store has the ideal range to be 80-120 and after reading one of the articles on here where it says when to lower I felt unsure. Can I get a little insight about the TA level please? I searched on here last night but didn't find anything that really made me feel like I understood the reason for the different target #.

Personally, I would monitor the PH, I wouldn't "actively" go after the TA numbers, unless you are constantly having to lower PH. Do you have muriatic acid?

And I would suggest to not do any more changes, other than adding liquid chlorine to target FC/6 every day until your TF-100 arrives (or you get your HTH kit from the store)

 

[Natnem]

awwheck! I'm sorry my phone broke and I'm using my sons tablet and it was giving me problems when I back spaced and needed to make a correcion.
My CYA level is 5. Not 51.

It's on there but they have no proof that I didn't take it home. The same little lady was still working and she didn't see it but they refused the refund. I wasn't going to get to mad at them because I should have made sure and I knew the girl was trying.

The Leslie's by me doesn't use test tubes. They have sealed individual testers they open in front of you so you know the water isn't being mixed with any other water. I don't know if that is different from anyone else's stores. This doesn't mean I trust the test compared to getting the TF-100.