Hello from Charleston, SC

[Dr_Data]

Hello!

We just purchased a house with a 32,000 gallon in-ground plaster pool and am new to pools. Had a pool company come out for pre-purchase inspections. Pool's in good shape, but equipment is old. I am sure after reading a bit on TFP their recommendations are less than optimal (recommend replacing sand with glass for $1,080, a "variable speed pump" for $1,800, and a Clear Comfort AOP for $3,995).

Current setup:
Hayward Super Pump 2.0 hp, single speed
Hayward Pro S310s sand filter
Chlorine floaters -- Previous owner left 200+ pounds of chlorine tabs for me...

Proposed setup:
Pentair Intelliflow VS pump 011028
Pentair cartridge filters 160301 (420 square-feet)
CircuPool RJ60 Plus SWCG (Better purchase while its on sale at DiscountSaltPool.com!)

A few questions:

• Any feedback on this proposed setup?
• Are there best practices for installation (pipe distances and such; equipment layout)?
  • The current pad is only 36" x 33"
• What is a good chemical testing setup? The recommendations I saw are many years old--have they changed?

Thanks in advance!
Daniel

 

[cowboycasey]

Daniel, welcome to TFP

Those are great pics for equipment..

The 011028 or the 011056 will work, the 056 can also do GPM if you want..
I love the clean and clear plus, I have the 320..
I have the SJ but the RJ plus is a monster.. they always have a sale, sometimes it is 1 dollar other times it is 10 dollars more...

The TF100 is a great test kit, the one I bought 8 years ago and refill every spring, it just works.. check out my sig below for tests...

2 inch for suction side and 1.5 inch for returns and everything on your pad 2 inch if you can...

You can use the tabs in the spring when you have to raise the CYA and when it gets to 80 CYA pull them and turn on the SWG.. They will last forever in a dry place..

 

[HermanTX]

In addition to that stated by @cowboycasey you may want to layout your plumbing. It is recommended to have 8-10inches of straight pipe before your pump and another 12-18 inches before your SWCG - you can verify all of this if you can download the manuals now and get the proper info. However, with a small pad you may have some challenges but a good plumber can optimize the best he can if you advise him of your desires.
Also, use unions on the inlet and outlet of your pump and SWCG as this will come in handy in the future for repairs or maintenance.
You may want to post some pictures of your current set up so we can see the inlet and the return pipes. But yours seems to be fairly simple as you do not have any water features or a heater, etc.

 

[Dr_Data]

Thank you both, @cowboycasey & @HermanTX, for the responses! Attached is a picture of the current setup (pad is 36"x32"). Thank you @HermanTX for the suggestion to download the manuals. I will do that and study them prior to their arrival, so I can have an installation plan upon their arrival. The suggestions of 8-10" before pump and 12-18" before SWCG are exactly what I was looking for. I appreciate that.

 

[HermanTX]

Since you have the space - you may want to consider clearing some grass and laying some pavers down to extend your pad. Or you can purchase a pad (they use them for AC units). The reason is that your VS Pump will be bigger and you will have to use the same inlet as shown but your filter will be bigger and not sure you can fit both the pump and the filter on that same pad. You need to take some measurements.
Also, I see you have 3 suction lines. Can you inform us what those are as you do not indicate you have a spa. So it could be 2 skimmers and a main drain.
For output, you have 1 return line and I assume the other line is a drain/backwash line for your current sand filter. You will not need that line for your cartridge filter. In fact you will not need that mulltiport valve unless you wish to keep it to have a drain line.
Let us know if the assumptions are correct or what is your full set up with suction and return lines.
One last point - you will need power for your SWCG which should have connections in your timer box.

 

[Dr_Data]

Since you have the space - you may want to consider clearing some grass and laying some pavers down to extend your pad. Or you can purchase a pad (they use them for AC units). The reason is that your VS Pump will be bigger and you will have to use the same inlet as shown but your filter will be bigger and not sure you can fit both the pump and the filter on that same pad. You need to take some measurements.
Also, I see you have 3 suction lines. Can you inform us what those are as you do not indicate you have a spa. So it could be 2 skimmers and a main drain.
For output, you have 1 return line and I assume the other line is a drain/backwash line for your current sand filter. You will not need that line for your cartridge filter. In fact you will not need that mulltiport valve unless you wish to keep it to have a drain line.
Let us know if the assumptions are correct or what is your full set up with suction and return lines.
One last point - you will need power for your SWCG which should have connections in your timer box.

That's a great idea to extend the pad. Also want to enclose the area a bit afterwards to help protect the equipment from the sun.

Suction: Yes, the suction lines are 2 skimmers and a main drain.
Return: You are correct, one line is a drain line that runs out into the grass about 6'