New Pool Construction - Couple of Questions

[blackout]

I am building my first pool in Upstate NY and have spent a ton of time scouring this site as it relates to maintenance - thanks to all!

I have a couple of questions about odds and ends as it relates to the final specs. Here's the current order:

• 16 x 34 16,400 gallons
• Full width concrete under vinyl steps
• 3' cantilever concrete deck
• Composite walls and bracing
• 2 main drains, 5 returns, 1 skimmer
• Pentair IntelliCenter i5P
• Pentair IntelliFlo VSP
• Pentair Sand Dollar SD80
• Pentair IntelliChlor IC40
• Pentair IntelliBrite LED (1)
• Wiring/plumbing accommodation for future heat pump (budgets!)
• I also plan on adding a Blue-White flow meter myself so I can play around with the VSP once everything is running to dial into what's optimal for our set up
• I'll also be using a solar blanket

Here are my questions:

1. Am I going to kick myself for having only one light?
2. Pool builder says at my pool size and plumbing setup that I only need 1 skimmer. Any reason to add a second skimmer?

They'll definitely sell me more stuff if I want it (!) so I figure if it would make a big difference they'd tell me (especially on the skimmer). But with the light guess it's just more want over need.

I appreciate any input!

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Just my humble opinion...

1 light should be sufficient for your size pool - for illumination. If you’re going to think of your pool as nighttime decor, you might want a 2nd light.

2 skimmers are twice as good as 1 skimmer. IMHO, your pool is big enough for 2.

BTW, where are you? Albany is not Upstate; Ticonderoga is. Depending on how far north you are, you might want to invest in a heater rather than a heat pump.

 

[Chickinvic]

We have a 20 x 40' pool and only one light. Honestly, it does a beautiful job of lighting the pool. It is on the deep end. It is one you can change the colour to your favourite (or have it change colours in a sequence). We only have one skimmer and have no issues with that. In upstate NY you would likely want a gas heater. We are in Ottawa (so similar weather), and our heater keeps the pool swim able from May well into October (we generally close it more due to constant leaves falling in by then as opposed to the heater it being warm enough). Some in Ottawa keep their pools open until November! Need a strong heater for that though (and deep pockets I would think).

I would get a heater no matter what if it were me. I'd find a way. You will be so much happier and get a lot more use from your pool (especially in the climate you live in). Just my 2 cents.

 

[Jimrahbe]

BO,

You do not need two skimmers, but unless it is a budget buster, I would install two of them..

You also do not need a flow meter for anything.. If you want one to play with, fine, but for all practical purposes it will just be a waste of your money..

I like that you are getting 5 returns, that will help make operating with one skimmer better..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Oly]

One pool light is sufficient for us on a 17 x 37 rectangle. More skimmers more maintenance more plumbing. Make sure your skimmer is down wind of the prevailing wind direction. With so many returns once adjusted properly your skimming should be ideal.

 

[blackout]

Oh, heater is definitely going in at some point! Maybe this year but next year at the latest. We kinda hit that budget limit, but we’ll see as they get digging what else we can squeeze in. Want to prioritize the “now or never” stuff now.

I invested in PV solar panels and am producing a bunch of excess electric which I had always planned on using for a heat pump. Whether that was a good idea when I installed them who knows but I like the idea of using electric from the sky over gas, even if that means a shorter season.

I forgot to ask one more question last night: with a SWG and thinking about ease of use, backwashing, chemistry maintenance, etc., I’m also rethinking having a sand filter and going with an oversized cartridge filter. Happy to hear any thoughts on that idea as well, as well as any other thoughts on lights and skimmers. Thank you all!

 

[Jimrahbe]

BO,

I have a large cartridge filter and could go an entire year between cleanings if I wanted.. As is, I clean it once before the swimming season starts and then again after the season is over.. Keep in mind we do not close our pools where I live.

In your case, I would clean it when closing, and then it should be good to go the next year. Cartridge filters have the advantage of not having a multiport to restrict the flow and for just another thing to go bad.. they also have the disadvantage of not having a multiport as you cannot pump to waster and you cannot bypass the filter if needed.

I have a SWCG and run my VSP at about 1200 RPM most of the time.. At that speed, my filter pressure is about 1 lb. and the cost to run 24/7 is less than $20 bucks a month.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Jbrillo]

My pool is similar is size to yours. I really like having two lights(one at each end). There are no dark spots at night. It’s comforting for me to be able to see everything in the pool at night. We actually use ours a lot at night so I love having extra lighting. IMHO, it’s better to have too much lighting than not enough.

Also, I have two skimmers. They were included in my build so I never questioned if I even needed two. It takes just a few seconds to empty each one but I have no trees or plants in my backyard.

 

[Chickinvic]

Almost all our swimming is done at night and our one light is good for the whole pool.

 

[blackout]

I have a SWCG and run my VSP at about 1200 RPM most of the time.. At that speed, my filter pressure is about 1 lb. and the cost to run 24/7 is less than $20 bucks a month.

This is basically what I’m looking to do - run my pump at low speed 24/7 and crank it up only when need be (like when the heater is on, etc.) My fear, maybe unfounded, is that a sand filter won’t let me go to that low of a speed. Filters don’t seem have a minimum flow listed and it’s commonly said that slow is better for all filters (so maybe there is no minimum) but I also keep bumping into online “cartridge is better for SWG and low flow” with no explanation.

I reached out to the pool builder and he was pretty adamant that their customers have much preferred their sand filters with glass media and had so many complaints about the cartridge filters that they really stopped selling them (and they sell a lot of pools). Maybe it’s their clientele, but as a DIY guy around the house and car, it feels very appealing to me to wash the filter 1 maybe 2 times a year as opposed to weekly backwashing.

Tl;dr: can I run my sand filter at low speeds to take the most advantage of my VSP?

As an aside, it’s funny and a learning experience that so much of this seems to be personal preference, what with 1 vs. 2 lights, filter types, etc. Which is especially hard when I have no experience at all to go off of!

Thanks again for all of your input!

 

[Jimrahbe]

BO,

I doubt it would be a major problem either way... Any filter will work, 1 or 2 skimmers will work, 1 or 2 lights will still work.. It really is a matter of personal preference.

TFP always recommends sand, in sand filters, so that tells you a little about what your pool builder knows..

Any filter will work with very low flow..

Thanks,

Jim R.