Remove redundancy?

[GlendalePool]

Just moved to our new house in AZ and we are new to pools, but learning. In the attached picture, the water goes first through a leaf canister (black lid) and then travels to the single speed pool pump (tan lid).

I want install a variable speed pump and the recommended install describes a 10" horizontal run for the 2 inch pipe before it gets to the pump.

I want to know if I can get rid of the black lid leaf canister and just plumb straight into the new pump. I don't have enough room to add a horizontal pipe to the current setup. The leaf canister seems redundant and unnecessary to me.

Thanks!

 

[sktn77a]

In principle, yes. The basket in your pump serves the same purpose. Having said that many, many people take no notice of the pump manufacturer's general recommendation to have 5x the pipe diameter leading to the pump inlet.

 

[proavia]

Do you have an in floor cleaning system? If so, I would definitely leave the leaf canister installed. Heck, even without the in floor, I'd leave it. As Keith stated, many people don't adhere to the 5x pipe diameter manufacturers recommendation.

Is there enough room to rotate the pump 90° clockwise - so it would be in the lower right of your pic? Then re-plumb to pump to filter connection. You can put the pump a a couple of pavers to support it. This may also allow easier access to the pump lid and controls. Maybe post a wider pic of your equipment and others may have additional ideas.

 

[GlendalePool]

Thanks for the responses. We have pop ups, floor drain and skimmer. But I'm using a robot vacuum for the floors. Good point on rotating the pump, I'll look at the space after work.