Filter outlet/return placment advice needed

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CaptinSpaulding

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Jul 26, 2015
30
West Central, FL
I setup an 18' steel frame over the past few days and would like to hear some advice on adding a real pump/filter setup that I already have but am torn on placement.

This pool basically but an 18' 52", more showing this pic for the filter setup because it is the same.
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I have already ditched the skimmer/pump combo it came with, cut the hole bigger and installed a widemouth hayward skimmer. It will be going to my 1.5hp hayward pump, through a hayward c900 filter and finally through the inline 3" tablet feeder before going back to the pool, all with 1.5" pvc.

My question is: Should I add another hole lower than the skimmer as a secondary outlet to the filter? My thinking is that if the water evaps and I do not notice, it will kill my pump (everything is auto so I sometimes do not go out for a week). But putting a secondary outlet midway up the pool wall would guarantee it will always be able to get water (at least I think it would work.

What do you think? Have you had any issues running just a skimmer as the only outlet to filter the water? My last 15' pool did not even have a skimmer and only had 2 holes midway up the wall for both outlet and returns. So I made sure to do a skimmer this time but think it may need more.

Thank you in advance for any input.
 
CaptinSpaulding said:
I have already ditched the skimmer/pump combo it came with, cut the hole bigger and installed a widemouth hayward skimmer. It will be going to my 1.5hp hayward pump, through a hayward c900 filter and finally through the inline 3" tablet feeder before going back to the pool, all with 1.5" pvc.

My question is: Should I add another hole lower than the skimmer as a secondary outlet to the filter? My thinking is that if the water evaps and I do not notice, it will kill my pump (everything is auto so I sometimes do not go out for a week). But putting a secondary outlet midway up the pool wall would guarantee it will always be able to get water (at least I think it would work.

What do you think? Have you had any issues running just a skimmer as the only outlet to filter the water? My last 15' pool did not even have a skimmer and only had 2 holes midway up the wall for both outlet and returns. So I made sure to do a skimmer this time but think it may need more.
Click to expand...

The skimmer only should be sufficient to provide the needed water supply to the pump. This is how the majority of AGP's are setup. As you know, evaporation will cause the water to drop, but this is typically slow enough that you can anticipate /plan for it. The exact level isn't critical. With the Hayward skimmer, you have a couple of inch difference from max to min levels. While putting in a secondary suction isn't really necessary, it could be done for peace of mind. You should put a valve on each suction line so that you can adjust the flow bias. Most from the skimmer, some from secondary port. This setup would be similar to a skimmer/main drain in an in-ground pool.

It may be too late, but putting your skimmer down wind of the prevailing wind direction greatly helps push the debris toward the skimmer without any additional effort on your part. The cutout is fixed, but you could rotate the whole pool to get the skimmer where you want it.

Your pool really deserves more attention and love than once a week peek. If nothing else, you should be checking chlorine and pH every couple of days. If you want to "do more", please consider getting a good test kit (TF-100 or K-2006) and using liquid bleach as your sanitizer. This will have a far greater impact to your pool enjoyment and peace of mind than messing with a second suction port.
 
I like that idea of the auto fill and it looks decent, I may one day. I have 3 kids who use it regularly so the less hanging around that they can mess with the better. With my 16' in my sig, I rarely did anything to it and it was crystal clear until the frame rotted out. It is just a pool, not a living thing. They make the tabs and stuff just for this reason. I vacuum twice a month if it needs it or not and add tabs/chlorine from the pool store at the same time, clean out the filter once a month. Granted I have an 18' now but I doubt the 2' will demand much more time. Don't mess with what works.

But thank you for the input. I went ahead and put an inlet midway up the wall and before the skimmer in plumbing, both with their own ball valves. Just for piece of mind and the fact that it will be able to pull from the lower water too for filtration. My main concern was/is that it will still draw a lot of air into the pump even with the wall inlet, if the skimmer box level drops too low. Was just wondering if anyone has done this before.

I will get pictures of everything once I am finished and update my sig.
 
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