What filter would you pair with the CircuPool XL SWG system?

Stephs2125

Silver Supporter
Apr 18, 2017
83
SE Michigan
Pool Size
32000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Hello, I plan to convert to SWG next season and I will be replacing all of my equipment at that time as well (pump, filter, and heater). I really want the XL kit that discount salt pool sells (CircuPool® Ultimate Combo (Large) with SmartFlo 3.0 THP) but the larger filters Triple 400 and Triple 500 are out of stock and have been all summer with no estimate as to when they will be back in stock. I don't want to go with the CJ2750 because although the kit comes with the pre-filter, I don't want to rely on the pre-filter to make up for an undersized filter. So it looks like I will purchase the components individually and buy a separate filter.
So what filter would you recommend? I do prefer a cartridge - it's just my personal preference. And while I'm asking - what heater would you pair with this as well?

Thanks!
 
Normally I'd say I prefer Pentair for most of the things you mention. But the truth is all of the major brands and even some of the second tier are made about the same for heaters and the simple filters. With the supply chain situation we're in I'd go with the largest cartridge filter you can get. Some of the filter choice is based on what you like, I have friends that rave about sand and DE but I've just always had good luck with cartridges and they're very easy to maintain. Properly maintained they last for years. You may even need to run two in parallel depending on availability. So are you replacing the existing heater or putting the new one in parallel?

I hope this helps.

Chris
 
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I really want the XL kit that discount salt pool sells (CircuPool® Ultimate Combo (Large) with SmartFlo 3.0 THP
The Circupool pump appears to be a version of the same pump sold under different brands with varied pricing. Take a look at the CaliMar CMARVSP 3.0 from a reputable seller at about half the price. Compare manuals and you'll see specs and images are the same. Circupool offers a 3-year warranty on the pump body and 1-year on the motor. CaliMar is 1-year only. @cowboycasey recently purchased the CaliMar, but I don't think he's installed it yet.
 
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Normally I'd say I prefer Pentair for most of the things you mention. But the truth is all of the major brands and even some of the second tier are made about the same for heaters and the simple filters. With the supply chain situation we're in I'd go with the largest cartridge filter you can get. Some of the filter choice is based on what you like, I have friends that rave about sand and DE but I've just always had good luck with cartridges and they're very easy to maintain. Properly maintained they last for years. You may even need to run two in parallel depending on availability. So are you replacing the existing heater or putting the new one in parallel?

I hope this helps.

Chris
I'm replacing everything, including the heater - the only thing I'm adding new is the SWG. I like the CircuPool due to its Chlorine output - it's the highest there is (currently that I've found) and for my pool size, I need the largest one or I'd be looking at possibly using two SWG (or so I understand from what I've read and sizing the SWG for the pool). I've had both sand and cartridge filters in the past with other pools and I just like the cartridge system better. It works for me so I plan to stay with it.

Kindly,
Steph
 
S,

Filters are one of those items where the brand name is not all that important..

I would buy the biggest cartridge filter you can find.. I personally like my Pentair Clean and Clear Plus (CCP-520).. But, they really are all about the same.

Thanks,

Jim R.
Great, that is what I was hoping to hear! Thanks :)
 
The Circupool pump appears to be a version of the same pump sold under different brands with varied pricing. Take a look at the CaliMar CMARVSP 3.0 from a reputable seller at about half the price. Compare manuals and you'll see specs and images are the same. Circupool offers a 3-year warranty on the pump body and 1-year on the motor. CaliMar is 1-year only. @cowboycasey recently purchased the CaliMar, but I don't think he's installed it yet.
I'll check it out, thanks!
 
It is in the garage waiting for the new pool solar deck to go in :)

It is a substantial pump, even if it lasted only 5 years that is great considering pumps way more expensive are sometimes only lasting 5 years...
Thanks! Would you say connecting all of these "unmatched" brands has been pretty straightforward and they play nicely together? I'll be approaching this "mostly" on my own so that is why I was leaning towards keeping everything within one brand in the hopes that meant they would all connect and play nicely together. If I piecemeal the kit together with a Pentair Filter, CircuPool SWG, CaliMar Pump, and who knows what heater, lol - would it (presumably) be OK?

Kindly,
Steph
 
As long as you don’t want to control them through automation, they can all ‘speak’ different languages. Think of your TV / blue ray player. Any combo will work together but if you want to control them both from the original remote, the brand needs to be the same. If you don’t mind 2 remotes, or going over to press buttons, then you can have whatever brands you like.

In this case, the afformentioned remote control (pool automation) does not come in the box with the TV and costs $1000s to install on your own so a lot of folks go press buttons manually. 🤣

The Pentair IC60 would work fine for your pool. I’m at the same lattidute as you and it excelled at my 35k pool. We don’t have the UV demand like they do in the desert / TX / FL.
 
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VS pumps have automation in them as much as they control themselves... A Circupool SWG turns on and off at the % set if you run 24/7, if not a normal on off switch is easy... A filter has no care in the world and that is why I went with the best Pentair filter...

I do have automation that turned on my pump when it was a 2 speed and it turns on my filters, it works with almost any system out there..

Intermatic Multiwave system and it works great and is upgradeable or you can start out with the complete system.. I have the PE653 now and I am adding the p5043 module that controls valves when I build my new pool.. Mine has been running 8 years with no issues..


This is the whole system as one :)

 
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Would you say connecting all of these "unmatched" brands has been pretty straightforward and they play nicely together?
Yes, connecting different brands is pretty easy. I had Jandy pump converted to VS with a 3rd party VS motor, Circupool swg, Pentair automation, a roof mounted solar heat plus Jandy gas heater with no problem at all. If you go with automation there can be some advantages to use the same pump brand as automation but even then it's not the only way to go. There are lots of choices and they all work.

Chris
 
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