New inground pool 24'x50'

[Southpool]

I've finally ordered my inground liner pool kit. I have a 24'x50' pool being delivered in less than a month. It's 9' deep with 6' tanning ledge.

For plumbing it has:
-3 skimmers, 2 main drains, and 4 returns
-slide
-6 deck jets
- hayward c5030 filter
- no heater
I'm looking at the

Pentair IntelliFlo3 VSF 3.0HP with Touchscreen and Relay Board- 011078​

I am planning to run all skimmers and returns on their own valve controlled seperate plumbing lines. My question is:

The pump is set up for 2.5" plumbing on the suction and discharge. Should I run all the skimmers, main drains, and returns on 2.5" plumbing? I have some long runs to the skimmers and returns so didn't know about pipe size.

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

The pump is set up for 2.5" plumbing on the suction and discharge. Should I run all the skimmers, main drains, and returns on 2.5" plumbing? I have some long runs to the skimmers and returns so didn't know about pipe size.

2" PVC should work and 2.5" would be better if the cost difference does not bother you.

Pipe runs under 100' are not very long.

Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pipe Size and Flow Rates​

You want to keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump.

Pipe Size	6 ft/sec	8 ft/sec
1.5"	38 GPM	51 GPM
2"	63 GPM	84 GPM
2.5	90 GPM	119 GPM
3.0"	138 GPM	184 GPM
4.0"	235 GPM	312 GPM

Here is the head loss in feet for 100 feet of PVC pipe at different flow rates for 2” and 2.5” pipe.[8]

GPM	2”	2.5”
30	1.6 ft	0.7 ft
40	2.8 ft	1.2 ft
50	4.2 ft	1.8 ft
60	6.0 ft	2.5 ft
70	7.9 ft	3.3 ft
80	10.2 ft	4.3 ft
90	12.6 ft	5.3 ft.

As you can see, the head loss difference at 30 gpm is only about 0.9 feet, which is not very significant.

Even at 60 gpm, the head loss difference is only 3.5 feet per 100 feet of pipe.

As long as you follow the 6 feet per second rule for suction and 8 feet per second for returns, the advantage of upsizing the pipe is negligible for pipe runs less than 100 feet in length.

For pipe runs that are over 100 feet, you would want to calculate the head loss and size the pipe accordingly.

If you want to be conservative, you can use the 6 feet per second rule for the return side as well.

PVC Pipes - Friction Loss and Flow Velocities Schedule 40

Head-Loss Specs for Pentair Multiport Valves

 

[Southpool]

Is there a big advantage to using long sweep 90’s instead of regular 90’s or 2 45’s to make a longer 90? Price difference is significant.

 

[ajw22]

Is there a big advantage to using long sweep 90’s instead of regular 90’s or 2 45’s to make a longer 90? Price difference is significant.

Nope.

 

[Southpool]

finally got my kit in. I’ll post a few progress pictures.

 

[Southpool]

lots of dirt

 

[Southpool]

Here’s one week of progress. Poured the collar today.

 

[Southpool]

I am going to hire out the concrete on the flat areas, tanning ledge, stairs, shallow end and hopper. It’ll be 2 weeks before they are available, so that gives me time to do the plumbing and lights.

I’m gonna have to use 2” pvc. I called all the plumbing supplies places around and no one carries 2.5”. They said they have 2” and 3”, but no 2.5”

2” ok?

 

[ajw22]

I don't see anything of yours that requires 2.5" pipe.

 

[Southpool]

I’m going with all 2” plumbing except for the deck jets. I have a Hayward cl200 in-line chlorinator. It goes down to 1.5” plumbing. should I return it and get the cl220 offline chlorinator so I don’t have a pinch point going down to 1.5” and back to 2” on the other side?