Above ground VS - extremely limited options. Doheny or Black&Decker?

[Richie-Czech]

Hi all,
I have started to get the pool going due to increasing temps in SW OH and wanting to avoid mosquito problems.
It's a cartridge Voyager SwimPro with 175sq ft and a 1.5hp single speed Hayward/AO Smith pump. 115V available only.

Pump still runs, but it's a single speed. Wiring looks sketchy at this point and frame very rusted. Not really comfortable doing another season with it.
It's unfortunately a thru bolt 48. I would like to get a VS pump for the efficiency and noise aspects.

For above ground with thru bolt, virtually no replacement motors exist (the pump wet end is in great shape).
I think I'm stuck going with whole new pump. For above ground, the 2 seemingly (under $900) options are the Black&Decker and Doheny's.

B&D:

BLACK+DECKER Above Ground Variable Speed Pool Pump - 1 HP (Qualifies for Energy Star Utility Rebates)

Energy Star Certified and with an included 3-year warranty, the BLACK+DECKER 1 HP variable-speed above ground pool pump outperforms all other pumps on the market—and pays itself off with up to 80% of energy costs saved in all phases of operation. At last, this industry-revolutionizing technology...

poolpartstogo.com

Doheny's

Harris 72535 ProForce VS Variable Speed Above Ground Pool Pump - Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast

Are you looking for Harris 72535 ProForce VS Variable Speed Above Ground Pool Pump? The Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast has it in stock now. Click to see our low price.

www.doheny.com

Which would you recommend?
Which sand filter size should I get (given that I want to ditch the cartridge due to PITA in cleaning)?

Thanks!

 

[1poolman1]

Hi all,
I have started to get the pool going due to increasing temps in SW OH and wanting to avoid mosquito problems.
It's a cartridge Voyager SwimPro with 175sq ft and a 1.5hp single speed Hayward/AO Smith pump. 115V available only.

Pump still runs, but it's a single speed. Wiring looks sketchy at this point and frame very rusted. Not really comfortable doing another season with it.
It's unfortunately a thru bolt 48. I would like to get a VS pump for the efficiency and noise aspects.

For above ground with thru bolt, virtually no replacement motors exist (the pump wet end is in great shape).
I think I'm stuck going with whole new pump. For above ground, the 2 seemingly (under $900) options are the Black&Decker and Doheny's.

B&D:

BLACK+DECKER Above Ground Variable Speed Pool Pump - 1 HP (Qualifies for Energy Star Utility Rebates)

Energy Star Certified and with an included 3-year warranty, the BLACK+DECKER 1 HP variable-speed above ground pool pump outperforms all other pumps on the market—and pays itself off with up to 80% of energy costs saved in all phases of operation. At last, this industry-revolutionizing technology...

poolpartstogo.com

Doheny's

Harris 72535 ProForce VS Variable Speed Above Ground Pool Pump - Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast

Are you looking for Harris 72535 ProForce VS Variable Speed Above Ground Pool Pump? The Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast has it in stock now. Click to see our low price.

www.doheny.com

Which would you recommend?
Which sand filter size should I get (given that I want to ditch the cartridge due to PITA in cleaning)?

Thanks!

Do you have 120V or 240V available? If only 120V, your options are limited.
The Doheny pump is an above-ground designed pump, the B&D an in-ground, very different pumps.
The Doheny pump will work on 120V, the B&D (Calimar, Circupool, Blue Torrent, all the same) only 240V. There are VSPs that will work on either, but the cost is higher.
Discount Salt Pools has an interesting one from Speck, a very large European pump manufacturer. The motor that is on it was one that used to be available here separately, but was a terrible motor. Speck was using them then as well (about 10 years ago) and had to replace so many they bought the motor manufacturer and now make them to their very-high standard. It will work on both voltages.

Speck A91-II Above Ground Variable Speed Pump - 1.1THP - 1.5

www.discountsaltpool.com

If you are going to get a sand filter, get one of at least 24" (3 sq. ft.). Remember that with a sand filter, you will need a larger pump to backwash properly if you get a larger filter. You can use what you want, but plain pool sand is probably your best option, I've not seen a large difference in a residential pool that was worth the cost, and I make more profit selling a more expensive product. On a commercial pool they do make a difference because of the high use and the abuse a commercial pool receives. On very large, think Olympic size, installations with sand filters it is sand that is used, and very effectively.

 

[Newdude]

Which sand filter size should I get (given that I want to ditch the cartridge due to PITA in cleaning)?

You have a large pool with a small filter. Thats your problem, not that it's a cartridge. It's kinda not fair that you'll get a larger sand filter without giving the cartridge filter the same courtesy. Lol.

I could probably go 2 years without cleaning my large carts.

If you have 230V for the pump, the Calimar is what I'd buy if my Pentair pump died tomorrow.

 

[Richie-Czech]

Do you have 120V or 240V available? If only 120V, your options are limited.
The Doheny pump is an above-ground designed pump, the B&D an in-ground, very different pumps.
The Doheny pump will work on 120V, the B&D (Calimar, Circupool, Blue Torrent, all the same) only 240V. There are VSPs that will work on either, but the cost is higher.
Discount Salt Pools has an interesting one from Speck, a very large European pump manufacturer. The motor that is on it was one that used to be available here separately, but was a terrible motor. Speck was using them then as well (about 10 years ago) and had to replace so many they bought the motor manufacturer and now make them to their very-high standard. It will work on both voltages.

Speck A91-II Above Ground Variable Speed Pump - 1.1THP - 1.5

www.discountsaltpool.com

If you are going to get a sand filter, get one of at least 24" (3 sq. ft.). Remember that with a sand filter, you will need a larger pump to backwash properly if you get a larger filter. You can use what you want, but plain pool sand is probably your best option, I've not seen a large difference in a residential pool that was worth the cost, and I make more profit selling a more expensive product. On a commercial pool they do make a difference because of the high use and the abuse a commercial pool receives. On very large, think Olympic size, installations with sand filters it is sand that is used, and very effectively.

I'm confused, the B&D in my link states it's for above ground and 110V, maybe the link isn't showing properly? I specifically looked at only above-ground pools and those 2 are virtually the only 2 VS I found (and now the one you showed).
The B&D is part # BDXBTAGVAR.

Do you think the Doheny pump is too cheap to be any good?

The Speck pump for $854 is at the upper end of what I wanted to spend, but with VS should be no-brainer, but if you recommend it, I am willing to give it a try.
Do you think for 22k gal pool the pump would be okay? I should have very little head, like 4ft at most plus a filter.
My current pump is 1.5hp, but I've seen so many charts and comparison that I'm more confused than ever. Paralysis by analysis.

I would like to avoid having to constantly fiddle with the cartridge(s), sounds like for 22k gal pool I'd need the multiple-cartrdige system.
My main goal is ease of maintenance and less water loss. We are on a well so frequently refilling would suck.
Is this 24" enough (Doheny's Sand Filter Tank with Valve, 24 in) or do I need to look at 31"? Seems to be nothing in-between for sand.

You have a large pool with a small filter. Thats your problem, not that it's a cartridge. It's kinda not fair that you'll get a larger sand filter without giving the cartridge filter the same courtesy. Lol.

I could probably go 2 years without cleaning my large carts.

If you have 230V for the pump, the Calimar is what I'd buy if my Pentair pump died tomorrow.

As I mentioned above, I only have 120V available and adding a wire for 240V is not likely what I want to do.

I'm limping along a system previous owners had. I'm sure it wasn't properly sized, doesn't surprise me. How many sq ft would a 22k gal pool need?
I am liking the idea of using multi-port valve over the need to open up filter housing and rinse. The fiberglass housings suck, but again, yes, mine's very old.
Mine is 175sq ft and biggest above-ground cartridge filter I can find is 200sq ft, so I'm kind of stuck going to sand, no? Unless the cartridge filters listed for in-ground would work for above too?

 

[Newdude]

in my link states it's for above ground and 110V,

I missed the 110v part. Apologies.

Inground pumps need to be self priming but won't hurt/matter for you if you find a good one.

'Inground filters' are no different besides typically being bigger. (And many are also better quality, albeit at a cost).

 

[Richie-Czech]

I missed the 110v part. Apologies.

Inground pumps need to be self priming but won't hurt/matter for you if you find a good one.

'Inground filters' are no different besides typically being bigger. (And many are also better quality, albeit at a cost).

Just to follow this up, I ended up going with a Waterway PD-140. I'm hard-wiring and hard-plumbing it with 2" in at the moment, so should work out nicely.

Now I just need to settle my problem with sand. Upon TFP recommendations I bought Mystic White II, .49/20.
It seems that the laterals in the Dohney's sand filter are a tad too large and some will def get through, unless this is normal?
From my understanding normal operation pushes water through top of the sand and through the sand bed into the laterals, so they would def get in there no?

 

[Richie-Czech]

I have purchased a 24" Doheny's sand filter (Harris H1573060 Vortex Sand Filter Tank, 24 in - Doheny Pool Supplies Fast), it is getting hard plumbed with 2" PVC (sch 40) and getting an IG pump Waterway PD140 (despite pool being AG) and upon TFP's recommendation I ordered Mystic White II, .49/20 sand.
The filter site recommends this sand (AquaQuartz Silica Sand for Sale - Doheny's Pool Supplies Fast), but I since TFP recommends virtually only Mystic White, that's what I went with. The manual for the filter itself does not specify any media. Both the filter website and MW call for #20 sand.

While wanting to fill the media yesterday, I have noticed that the sand seems to be too fine for the laterals?
From my understanding normal operation of sand filters is the water pushes from top through the sand bed into the laterals, so a normal operation would push the sand particles further in I feel?
In one of the pictures you can kind of see grains of sand embedded pretty deep in and they likely would get pushed in even more if the system was under pressure.

The other particle size of Mystic White seems to be tough to find. Should I return the MW and get HTH or the Aqua Quarts instead? Luckily I haven't put any sand in the actual tank and only opened one bag of sand so far.