How was this done?

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The pic of the end wall with 2 ports: These are 2 that I added. I use the original pump/filter that came with the pool to run the solar panels through these ports. I just have the pump on a block heater timer. Cuts in at 8am-ish and out at 7pm-ish. Nice and simple and no controllers to mess with!

On the side wall, you can see the original 2 ports that came with the pool. Both of these have been upgraded to a standard 1.5" hayward return. You can also see the skimmer that was added. The one closest to the skimmer is plumbed as a suction port. I leave the valve cracked open a bit because people splashing, or wind, etc can make the skimmer gulp air. Having the valve on this sidewall suction open halfway or so allows another path for water. Seems to work doing that! Also on this sidewall, you can see the RH return. I am also looking at adding a 2nd return. Either further down that side, or on the other end.

Andrew
 

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Many thanks Andrew_D, CowboyCasey, Dirk and all the others that contributed on th his thread. This community really works.
Today, I will be out shopping for my hard piping part of the project which I will be starting tomorrow, at least to relocate the pump and SWG. Wish me luck.
 
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Well, 2 weeks later and think i got most of it done, all working and no leaks. Took longer than i thought, but well worth it. Got skimmer installed (higher than most i saw here), fountain, and pump and swg in pump room.
Thoughts, comments and feedback would be welcomed.
Now to go build a deck😉.
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Andrew_D said:
The pic of the end wall with 2 ports: These are 2 that I added. I use the original pump/filter that came with the pool to run the solar panels through these ports. I just have the pump on a block heater timer. Cuts in at 8am-ish and out at 7pm-ish. Nice and simple and no controllers to mess with!

On the side wall, you can see the original 2 ports that came with the pool. Both of these have been upgraded to a standard 1.5" hayward return. You can also see the skimmer that was added. The one closest to the skimmer is plumbed as a suction port. I leave the valve cracked open a bit because people splashing, or wind, etc can make the skimmer gulp air. Having the valve on this sidewall suction open halfway or so allows another path for water. Seems to work doing that! Also on this sidewall, you can see the RH return. I am also looking at adding a 2nd return. Either further down that side, or on the other end.

Andrew
Click to expand...

OK - love your snowy pics. I think you just answered my question on whether I can just leave my 16' round Intex up year-round in Minnesota rather than taking it down :)
 
I'm so sorry to rain on this parade... because you did a very neat job. All those elbow and tee fittings appear to be DWV fittings (drain, waste and vent), which are not pressure rated and shouldn't be used in pool plumbing. They're for no-pressure, gravity-feed applications, like sink drains. That's the official line. Will it ever matter? Or come apart?

The glaring differences between a DWV fitting and a schedule 40 pressure fitting are:
- The amount of glue surface, and
- The way the tee's ports connect (one is straight in, the other sweeps in)

I understand the idea of replacing all those fittings would be unthinkable, but I'd be remiss if I didn't point it out, as you want your system to be safe. So you've got some thinking to do on that...
 
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Just looked at the Vid. Schoolboy error on my part, didnt know the difference. My neighbour runs a hardware store and sent me all the pipework and fittings - i just assumed it was all ok. Just counted, i have some 50 tees, elbows and 45s in my setup😥😪.
Will need to keep an eye and change out when they give up. Shame. And was so proud of my work, but learnt something new today🙄.
 
Any comments on the setup of the skimmer? Notice how high it is on the pool side, about 1.5 inches higher tham most i see here,
but allows the skimming, and kept the core strength of the pool.
 
The skimmer is a little higher but it should be just fine, the water level will be about an inch higher in your setup that's all :)
 
Lesmon said:
Just looked at the Vid. Schoolboy error on my part, didnt know the difference. My neighbour runs a hardware store and sent me all the pipework and fittings - i just assumed it was all ok.
Just counted, i have some 50 tees, elbows and 45s in my setup😥😪.
Click to expand...
Ugh, that sucks. It's understandable that you didn't know about this. It's actually seen a lot here, it's a common mistake. But a hardware store owner should have known the difference. Perhaps he can offer replacements for his error, or at least a substantial discount on the next set.
Lesmon said:
Will need to keep an eye and change out when they give up. Shame.
Click to expand...
The only problem with that is what can happen depending on how it fails. It's just as likely to be catastrophic as it is to be a small leak. If one of the joints on the ground gives way, for example, you'll come home to a half-empty pool and a flooded yard and possibly a burned out pump (the pool could drain to the lowest fitting). Or course, if it all runs into your hardware-store-ownin' neighbor's yard, that would be just! (Sorry, too soon to joke...)

Those joints might hold forever, or one of them might give out today. It's a tough call...
Lesmon said:
And was so proud of my work,
Click to expand...
Well you should be. You did a great job on the layout and the fitting. All nice and neat and straight. Better than most plumbers would do it.
 
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Lesmon said:
Any comments on the setup of the skimmer?
Click to expand...
The skimmer determines where your water level needs to be. Typically the water level should be halfway up the skimmer's opening. If that's where you filled it to, and the water level is OK for the pool, then your skimmer location is A-OK. I noticed the skimmer frame overlaps what looks to be ridges on the wall. As long as that sealed up nice and water tight, you're good-to-go.
 
If interested in this sort of thing, used PVC composite boards, and the wood is Brazilian Teak (cimaru), very hard.
I have since moved the ladder to the deck, but haven't taken an updated photo.
 
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