Came here looking for some suggestions but most stuff was a bit outdated. Therefore, it's time to contribute.
Context
I recently purchased an
Intex Prism 12' x 30" pool and wanted to adapt the pool to leverage 1 1/2" PVC. Said PVC would ultimately connect to an Intex SWG and an
Intex Pool Skimmer. Here are the parts I used to make this happen.
First up, I had to cut the liner and replace the 1 1/4" water return inlets of the pool with
Hayward 1-1/2 inch inlet return fittings. These enable the connection to 1 1/2" PVC.
In the event that my pool is in use while the filter is running, I bought these
Hayward Inlet Fittings (Model SP1026) to protect small appendages from getting sucked into the "Murder Hole" accidentally.
Next, I bought
GAME 4560 40mm to 1 1/2" Conversion Kit fittings to connect the PVC pipe to the
larger Intex hoses that come with most of their SWGs.
In order to retain the functionality of the Intex skimmer mentioned above, I purchased this
Hayward 1 1/2" Elbow hose adapter (Model SPX1105Z4). This adapter replaces the blue screw on fitting that is included with the skimmer and fits the skimmer hose perfectly. If you look closely, you should be able to discern the fitting through the water.
I found these Swimline Pool Return Plugs worked great to keep the water in the pool during the construction (and repeated test fitting) of my PVC piping.
Bonus suggestion
One issue that seems to affect many Intex Skimmers is a lack of suction, particularly for those who have two return inlets. While plugging one of the two return inlets seems like the obvious solution, doing so actually introduces air into the water line which is a disaster waiting to happen. While the Intex Skimmer comes with a special plug to address this issue, this plug is meant to work with the 1 1/4" hoses that come with the pool.
To solve for this issue on upgraded inlets, I found the
Hayward MIP Inlet with 3/8" opening (Model SP1419B) works beautifully. The fitting allows just enough water to flow through its return inlet without negatively impacting the suction available to the Intex Skimmer on the second return inlet.
Hopefully someone else finds this information helpful. Happy swimming!