Which pump for a dedicated bubbler??

[lvrpl]

We’re working a new build - 26k gallon in-ground gunite pool - and have a single LED bubbler being installed in our sun ledge. I think we’re going to put the bubbler on its own pump so it can be activated at the same time the spillover on the spa is running. We’d have a dedicated skimmer providing water to the pump and bubbler (unfiltered - our pool builder said they do this all the time so hopefully that’s ok), and then the return line out to the bubbler.

What would be a good, suitable pump for this bubbler? We’d like it to have some good volume and pressure so it can shoot up into the air a foot or two for the kids to play in. We have all Pentair equipment, including an IntelliCenter. Thanks for any feedback - I’m having a hard time making sense of the various pumps for something like this (as opposed as a main filter pump - for that, we have an IntelliFlo3 being installed).

 

[ajw22]

What does the bubbler installation manual say about the requirements for filtered water? A bubbler can easily get clogged with debris from unfiltered water and be difficult to clean out.

You should use a VGBA suction port on a pool wall for secondary pumps and not a skimmer.

You want a low head water features pump like…

WaterFall Specialty Pumps

The Pentair Waterfall Specialty Pool Water Features Pump has a closed impeller, low-head pump ideal for water features such as fountains, waterfalls and other special pool features.

www.pentair.com

 

[pjt]

I think we’re going to put the bubbler on its own pump so it can be activated at the same time the spillover on the spa is running.

The IntelliFlo3 is more than capable of both simultaneously. I would save some money and increase the simplicity of your system by running the bubbler from the main pump.

 

[lvrpl]

What does the bubbler installation manual say about the requirements for filtered water? A bubbler can easily get clogged with debris from unfiltered water and be difficult to clean out.

You should use a VGBA suction port on a pool wall for secondary pumps and not a skimmer.

You want a low head water features pump like…

WaterFall Specialty Pumps

The Pentair Waterfall Specialty Pool Water Features Pump has a closed impeller, low-head pump ideal for water features such as fountains, waterfalls and other special pool features.

www.pentair.com

I went through the manual (it’s a Pentair Colorvision Bubbler) and didn’t see anything either way about the plumbing or water supply…but, of course, what you say makes sense that a skimmer would be more likely to clog it.

I’m a little frustrated with my pool builder on this one - I honestly knew no difference and they said this how they do separate water feature plumbing circuits (with a dedicated, unfiltered skimmer). Gunite went in about a week ago, so I suppose it’s too late to conver to a suction port as you suggest. Not sure why they’d do it this way - seems both more a little more expensive to do another skimmer (though probably by only a few hundred dollars) and more likely to clog the feature.

Thanks for the advice on the pump.