Good pump and cartridge filter for above ground pool

[lightmaster]

I've got a Coleman 18'x48" AG pool with an estimated 6700 gallons in it. Currently using the cheap filter pump combo that came with it and I'm trying to find a good pump and sand cartridge filter (combo or separate, either is fine) to replace it. I plan to replace the soft hoses that came with it with PVC pipes and will mount the pump and filter 30ft away from pool on the concrete base the well is mounted on. Also adding a Hayward skimmer to the pool and gonna make a DIY fountain with PVC pipe that extends out of the returns pipe.
Side question, are the more expensive Jandy Valves worth it, or will normal PVC valves be fine?

 

[zea3]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

The Jandy valves will probably last longer, but I've had plain pvc ball valves for 10 years and they are just fine.

 

[PAGirl]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

Here's what I bought. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GSPHS7E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

It has worked great on my 26' Intex. I'm still adjusting my runtime, so far down to 6 hours per day. (Slowly lowering the time to see the least I need to run to stay clear) for some reason the larger pump/filter is actually cheaper than the smaller ones.

 

[Zrock]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

I have the same pump/filter combo.. run it 2 hrs a day and it's crystal clear

 

[lightmaster]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

Here's what I bought. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GSPHS7E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

It has worked great on my 26' Intex. I'm still adjusting my runtime, so far down to 6 hours per day. (Slowly lowering the time to see the least I need to run to stay clear) for some reason the larger pump/filter is actually cheaper than the smaller ones.

I've heard Intex has proprietary fittings, which would make it a pain in the *** to fit to a PVC pipe. I know Coleman does too, which is why I'm PVC ping it and upgrading the pump/filter at the same time, so I can get one that just uses normal PVC fittings.

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The Jandy valves will probably last longer, but I've had plain pvc ball valves for 10 years and they are just fine.

Same valves for 10 years? Probably just go with the plain PVC valves then. Thanks

 

[lightmaster]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

Actually, after reading Pool School, looks like cartridge filters filter out more and smaller stuff, so perhaps a decent cartridge filter and a good pump would be better?

 

[jeffchap]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

I would never go back to cartridges after having a sand filter. Too much hassle.

 

[zea3]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

Actually, after reading Pool School, looks like cartridge filters filter out more and smaller stuff, so perhaps a decent cartridge filter and a good pump would be better?

It all depends on what you are willing to do. Nobody knows you better than you! Cartridge and DE filters do filter finer debris than a sand filter, however they must be opened up periodically to clean. Cartridges have to be removed and hosed off, which can be messy and time consuming. Some DE filters can be backwashed, but they still need to be opened and completely cleaned out once a year.

Odds are you won't notice the filtration difference between a sand and a cartridge filter during the daytime. At night if you have a pool light you will see more of the fine debris suspended in the water. You can also add a little DE powder to a sand filter to get a little finer filtration to "polish" the water.

 

[lightmaster]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

Backwashing runs water backwards through your filter, right? I'm guessing that backwashed water is drained out of the pool. Does it remove enough water that you have to add more back into the pool?

My well water has a high level of iron, enough that I'm trying to remove it from the pool to remove the greenish brown tint. Need to avoid filling back up as much as possible.

 

[PAGirl]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

The only time I've had to add water back so far, in 4 years, after back washing was during a SLAM. Otherwise, I only backwash every couple of weeks, a,d I usually choose to do it right after it rains, when the pool is a little extra full. I use a cover, so I don't lose much to evaporation.

 

[lightmaster]

Re: Good pump and sand filter for above ground pool

The only time I've had to add water back so far, in 4 years, after back washing was during a SLAM. Otherwise, I only backwash every couple of weeks, a,d I usually choose to do it right after it rains, when the pool is a little extra full. I use a cover, so I don't lose much to evaporation.

Kids swim in the pool every day, so only time it will be covered is when I close it for winter. Haven't had it long to know how much I lose to evaporation, but summer in Georgia this year has been fairly hot.

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I've decided to look for a large cartridge filter and a pump to go with it (or combo of both), although I'm not sure how big of a filter to get. All my reading about it has lead me to believe I need a 1 HP, but the filter size seems more confusing and not sure how big of one I'd need to filter a 18'x48" pool. I have read to get one as big as I can afford, so minimize the number of times a year to have to clean the filter.