Just began Building new pool, pipe sizing and equipment

[Intex1857]

We are digging today, and I still not sure what water depth we should have for the Baja shelf?
This will probably be used mostly by kids or toddlers, probably not with loungers?. Who knows?

whatdepth will be more use/le/better? He has dug for 6” but would 9” be better? There will be two bubblers and an umbrella hole

 

[ajw22]

If you are getting Aqualink automation then get the Jandy Aquapure SWG integrated in the Aqualink box.

You seem to be the DIY type, I hope you are informed about Jandys attitude about not supporting DIY or selling most equipment only through their dealers and not on the Internet.

 

[Intex1857]

Is there anywhere on this site that has an ideal, recommended pool/spa plumbing schematic that will give me a good idea of how to plumb this new build ( ie: someone told me to plum heater will a bypass mode Jandy, while others Sid no)

here is my equipment:

pentair intelliflo3. Pool
pentair Whisperflo 1.5 hp spa
pentair Whisperflo 1.5 hp bubblers (2)
pentair or Jandy 420 or 560 sq ft cartridge filter
jandy JXI 400NK with or Without Versa Plumb
intellichlor ic40 or Jandy trueClear SWG
5- Jandy watercolor Nichless lights
MP Autofill or ??? Whichever is better
Jandy Aqualink RSPS8 or?
2- jandy Trufit. bubblers
2- Jandy check valves
5- Jandy 3-way valves

thank you!

 

[mknauss]

Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

There are a number of articles about pool plumbing. Use the link above to access them.

 

[bradgray]

+1 on the Pentair automation over Jandy. And IMHO frankly Pentair over anything Jandy.

Once you install those smaller LEDs you're essentially beholden to that manufacturer for the rest of your pool's life.

I'd sell your lights (again) and get a regular (or two) niches for Amerlite/Intellibrite lights. These have a wide range of options down the line for repair/replacement and are easy to work with, and the niches can also accommodate 120v or 12v lights.

As far as the Mastertemp heaters, you could install an MK rat-proofing kit from the get-to and likely prevent them from getting started. They've worked very well in our area.

I believe as others have said, as a hands-on pool owner, you're likely to have a better experience working on Pentair equipment over Jandy.

I'm not brand loyal, but we do a lot of warranty for Pentair and a lot of repairs on Hayward and Jandy outside of warranty and we prefer Pentair's engineering.

 

[ajw22]

Construction Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

How to select pool equipment - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

PVC Repair - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Intex1857]

Thank you AJW22 for the links. I have read almost all of them but it doesn’t address the question of where I can see a good layout for the equipment I have. My last 2 pools were plumbed by the pool company and afterwards evert pool an I had criticized it as being plumbed wrong. I would like to avoid that this time

what I am looking for is something like

but I would not know right or wrong if I saw it

 

[Intex1857]

Looking for a knowledgeable store where I can buy equipment
I have come to the conclusion that most all pool shops near me are staffed most of the time by salesperson or cashiers, I seem to know more than the people I have been talking to there,I even went to call tech support at both pentair and Jandy todY AND the support techs had to answer my questions after reading their manuals. This is the state of our industries today, out sourcing to companies that have to clue of the business they re servicing. The Jandy tech did not even know they had several lines of sand filters, she had to go and ask her supervisor. And now you wonder why there re so many people on this forum, evidently they know more than them

 

[mknauss]

Polytec pools in Las Vegas.

 

[Intex1857]

Is this a good diagram to follow? This came from a post by MAS

 

[mknauss]

If your pool design matches that, yes.

 

[Intex1857]

I have so Fr decided on the following equipment:

pentair intelliflo3. Pool
pentair Whisperflo 1.5 hp spa
pentair Whisperflo 1.5 hp bubblers (2)
pJandy CV580 sq ft cartridge filter
jandy JXI 400NK with or Without Versa Plumb
Jandy AquaPure SWG
8- Jandy watercolor Nichless lights 12w and 24w (Pool:4; Spa:1 ; Baja shelf:1 ; Bubblers:2)
MP Autofill or ??? Whichever is better. pentair??
Jandy Aqualink RSPS8 or?
2- jandy Trufit. bubblers
2- Jandy check valves

i was told by Jandy that the RS will control the Pentair Intelliflo3 ; but Pentair Sid that the Intellicenter will not control the Jandy lites, other than on/off, nd I already have 8 pod the lights

so I m tilting towards JANDY

ANY COMMENTS

Also, is there a big difference in the light output of the 12w vs the 24watt nichless Jandy lites? I have. 38 ft long pool with 4 lites planned along the long side

 

[mknauss]

We have had members abandon Jandy automation to switch to Pentair Intellicenter. I have not seen anyone abandon Pentair automation to switch to Jandy.

 

[Intex1857]

I’ve always had reg marble dust plaster in my pools but did not like the toughness and stains it got as it aged ( kids throwing used sparklers in pool)

My son just resurfaced his pool with regular pebble tech and for me it was too uncomfortable felt like going to a rocky beach instead of sand beach

I am not a fan of darker pools, like the light sky color of white marble dust plaster

Is it better to go with something like pebble sheen or other white surfacing over plain plaster?

Thank you

 

[Intex1857]

I think I may switch my decision to go with an intelligent Ed automation instead of the jandy aqua link RS. I only need to make sure it can control the Jandy nichless watercolor hydrocool, ie changing colors??

I called Pentair and they said they don’t know. I called jandy and they said they don’t know

I would think someone here may have that setup? I know you can’t mix and match but if all lights are Jandy (9) of them

 

[mknauss]

Sell the Jandy lights and install the old school light niches. The nicheless LED lights fail prematurely and are costly to replace.

 

[Intex1857]

I like the look of a pool with pure white plaster, but know that they easily stain. What is the advantage of a lighter color pebble tec as opposed to plaster, the cost will be the same for me whichever way

i do not like a rough or bumpy surface but am confused as to the feel of the different finishes pebbletec now has Sheen, brilliance, breeze or fina? Anyone that has used these less bumpy finishes please let me know

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Exposed aggregate finishes are a stronger material with typically a longer warranty. They also hide minor imperfections in the finish a lot better than standard plaster.
With standard plaster, draw backs are staining and chemical reactions.
Pebble Fina is one of the smoothest exposed aggregate finishes that are not power sanded.
I describe to customers the feel of standard plaster like paper and a Fina finish like an orange peel.

 

[kimkats]

The staining can be more a problem if you have metals in your water or if you don't keep the water balanced.

 

[Newdude]

staffed most of the time by salesperson or cashiers, I seem to know more than the people I have been talking to there

Just before I filled my new pool, I ran down to the PB's shop with a list of what I'd need. The head counter guy, the general manager and the GC were all there and told me we couldn't know what I'd need until the machine tested it.

I told them we had the same tap water and the two of them that had been doing it for decades should know how it tests. They of course did not. So I enlightened them with how it would test and that I needed X amounts of Y and A amounts of B for 34k gallons of tap water. *blank stares* 🤦‍♂️

They could only read the printout and knew zero besides following what it said.