Pump to pool distance - new pool installation

[fredinstl]

Hello,

Hoping I can get some guidance from the group here regarding our pool installation, we are scheduled for this Tuesday (only 45 days delay.... I posted a while back but was missing some information).

The pool manufacturer is recommending to have the pump and filter installed <20' away from the pool but our preferred location will be ~40' away.

- below ground Kayak pools 16' x 32' x 4' with deep end 5.5', 2 bottom drains, see attached pictures
- sta-rite supermax pump

ITEM #	MODEL	VOLTAGE	FULL LOAD AMPS	HP	SF	SFHP
PHK2RA6F-103L	N1-1-1/2A-HP	115/230	16.0-8.0	1-1/2	1.1	1.65

- hose diameter: 1.5"

Any thoughts ? How can we figure out the pros and cons of an extra 10 feet ?

thanks in advance.
Fred

 

[Yev]

others will weigh in with a better answer, but i woudl go with 40 feet, and make sure that the pipes usedare 2" or larger, not the standard 1.5"

 

[JamesW]

You should not get a single speed pump. Get a variable speed pump. The distance really doesn't matter as long as the pipe is sized correctly.

Go with 2 skimmers if possible.

As long as you keep the water velocity below 6 ft/sec on the suction and below 8 ft/sec on the pressure side of the pump, you should be fine.

• Size.......6 ft/sec......8 ft/sec.
• 1.5"...........38...............51 gpm
• 2"..............63...............84 gpm
• 2.5............90.............119 gpm
• 3.0".........138.............184 gpm

 

[JamesW]

A 1.65 hp pump on that pool is ridiculous. You don't need anywhere near that much power.

It will pull about 1,650 watts, which is about 5 to 10 times as much as a variable speed pump.

I would also suggest a big cartridge filter over a sand or DE filter. About 400 to 500 square feet would be good.

Suction lines should be 2".

Skip the Frog. Frogs belong in swamps, not in pools.

 

[fredinstl]

thanks all for sharing your thoughts.

@JamesW: I don't understand how I can use your table to calculate max distance between pump and pool.

The kayak pools are pre-fab and they don't really let you pick different options. The whole package sits on my driveway now and they will be digging and installing in one day, Tuesday.
I asked if we can switch to 2" lines but I suspect not enough heads-up to change.
The filter is sta-rite PLM100 , see below.
As for the pump, it's confusing, I was told PHK2RA6F-103L (1.5HP) but on the packaging list it says supermax 1HP so it looks I am getting something different.
And we are not doing the frog system, we took the salt option.

Fred

 

[JamesW]

Any decent builder will have plenty of 2" PVC pipe. If you use 2" pvc for the skimmer, the distance of 40 feet should be no problem. I would not put a 1.0 hp or larger pump on a single skimmer.

I would not use a single speed pump. I would go with a variable speed pump or at least a two speed pump.

A 100 square foot cartridge filter is too small, in my opinion. I would go with a much bigger filter. About 300 to 500 square feet would be better.

It really shouldn't be a big deal for the builder to change the pipe, filter and pump.