Hello again folks! You all helped me turn my girlfriends rentals dark black sludge filled 20k gal inground mess into a crystal clear oasis like pool 2 summers ago. It was quite the process and i documented everything here. Unfortunately it was with pics from Photobucket which is a fiasco in itself.
I’m back! I moved my girlfriend into my house last summer, and this summer she wants a pool! So, happy wife happy life, we are getting a 21’ x 54” Atlantic Chesapeake installed 6-28-18. I have 12 days to install.
Luckily, she’s paying for half of it, as i’m not interested in the pool, so she’s willing to help with costs. Even BETTER, i just helped her sister and brother in law take down their 24’ above ground pool last week, and they gave us everything which came with the pool except the pool itself. It has bad frost heaves along the bottom of the pool, and wasn’t really something i would want to reinstall at my home.
Great news, we were given the Hayward filter and pump combo, a Hayward S180T Filter and Hayward SP1592 PowerFlo Matrix pump System. It’s in great shape. I have done some work to it to get it back to 100%. Since i have 12 days to install, i have begun going through everything to ensure excellent reliability. I have a touch of the OCD and everything has to be just right for me all the time.
I have taken the variflow valve off the filter, cleaned it, lubed all the orings up, and put it all back together. It was sticking everywhere and now it’s back to like butter. I also installed a new pressure guage as the original was broken.
* The first question is about the media i will be using for the sand filter. I want to start fresh, and will be changing the media. Her brother in law stated it would be a great time now to replace it as it is time. Currently my girlfriends brother in law was using Zeosand/Zeolite as a media. I have read the pros and cons of sand vs zeolite vs glass media. I like the idea of zeolite best. So, the S180T filter manual calls for 150lbs of sand media to be used in this filter. Zeosand claims that only HALF of the media is required when using it. Should i just weigh out 75 lbs of zeolite and call it a day, or is there an at least ‘prefered level’ any media should sit at to ensure proper function?
* Second question is regarding the pump. So the filter pump system is about 10-12 years old. As far as i know, the pump is in great shape, and isn’t making any noise or leaking anywhere. I am ordering a new strainer cover kit from amazon for $48, as the lock ring is damaged. One of the three tabs which locks under the pump housing tabs is partially broken, and it’s a point of failure i can’t have. Unfortunately, i can’t just find the lock ring anywhere online, i have to purchase the clear sight cover, lock ring, and o ring together. I already have a spare o ring for the cover, and the sight window is clear and in great shape. I guess im in it for $48 for it all.
Now as we all know, 10-12 years makes for cracks in orings, and bearings sieze up over time. So, my question is, should i buy a rebuild kit for the pump and a bearing set for the motor, or should i just leave well enough alone and not tear into something which doesn’t need tearing into?
That’s all i have for now folks, it’s been great here in the past. I appreciate your comments and suggestions greatly! Thanks!
I’m back! I moved my girlfriend into my house last summer, and this summer she wants a pool! So, happy wife happy life, we are getting a 21’ x 54” Atlantic Chesapeake installed 6-28-18. I have 12 days to install.
Luckily, she’s paying for half of it, as i’m not interested in the pool, so she’s willing to help with costs. Even BETTER, i just helped her sister and brother in law take down their 24’ above ground pool last week, and they gave us everything which came with the pool except the pool itself. It has bad frost heaves along the bottom of the pool, and wasn’t really something i would want to reinstall at my home.
Great news, we were given the Hayward filter and pump combo, a Hayward S180T Filter and Hayward SP1592 PowerFlo Matrix pump System. It’s in great shape. I have done some work to it to get it back to 100%. Since i have 12 days to install, i have begun going through everything to ensure excellent reliability. I have a touch of the OCD and everything has to be just right for me all the time.
I have taken the variflow valve off the filter, cleaned it, lubed all the orings up, and put it all back together. It was sticking everywhere and now it’s back to like butter. I also installed a new pressure guage as the original was broken.
* The first question is about the media i will be using for the sand filter. I want to start fresh, and will be changing the media. Her brother in law stated it would be a great time now to replace it as it is time. Currently my girlfriends brother in law was using Zeosand/Zeolite as a media. I have read the pros and cons of sand vs zeolite vs glass media. I like the idea of zeolite best. So, the S180T filter manual calls for 150lbs of sand media to be used in this filter. Zeosand claims that only HALF of the media is required when using it. Should i just weigh out 75 lbs of zeolite and call it a day, or is there an at least ‘prefered level’ any media should sit at to ensure proper function?
* Second question is regarding the pump. So the filter pump system is about 10-12 years old. As far as i know, the pump is in great shape, and isn’t making any noise or leaking anywhere. I am ordering a new strainer cover kit from amazon for $48, as the lock ring is damaged. One of the three tabs which locks under the pump housing tabs is partially broken, and it’s a point of failure i can’t have. Unfortunately, i can’t just find the lock ring anywhere online, i have to purchase the clear sight cover, lock ring, and o ring together. I already have a spare o ring for the cover, and the sight window is clear and in great shape. I guess im in it for $48 for it all.
Now as we all know, 10-12 years makes for cracks in orings, and bearings sieze up over time. So, my question is, should i buy a rebuild kit for the pump and a bearing set for the motor, or should i just leave well enough alone and not tear into something which doesn’t need tearing into?
That’s all i have for now folks, it’s been great here in the past. I appreciate your comments and suggestions greatly! Thanks!
I'm sorry it's been so long and no one has replied. But it's been four days and I didn't want you to think no one noticed. I suspect you've already packed your filter and maybe done something with the pump, but if not let us know. Feel free to post back and give your thread a quick 
back to the top as well. Thanks for using the forum.