Second pump

[mike232fd]

We've come to the conclusion that my current filter setup simply does not flow enough water for the 18,000 gallon pool, plus spa, plus tanning ledge. I have a 2 HP pump and Hayward says adding .5 HP really won't help much. The plan is to use the return from the drain at the bottom of the pool, directly to a new pump, with no filter, and into the tanning ledge that has two spillovers. the pump will be approx. 30 feet away from the drain and the tanning ledge. The question is, what size pump?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mike,

A 2 HP single speed pump should be plenty for your pool... Tell us what problems you are having...

I suspect that you have a pretty common misconception that filters are needed to keep algae from forming.. They are not.. Chemicals keep your pool water clear and filters are just there to capture all the junk that falls into the pool.. No doubt that filters will also capture dead algae, but they can never capture more algae than your pool can make.

So tell us more about the equipment you have and why you want to add a new pump. If nothing else, it might help us decide what kind of pump you need..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mike232fd]

It seems that there just isn't enough volume of water flowing. I cannot have a decent water flow from the spillover spa and tanning ledge at the same time. Or perhaps I could, but then I have no water going to the proper filter returns in the pool. The builders response was that you simply cannot use them all at once, but I don't like that answer, if I don't get out to switch the water for a day or two then i have stale water in the tanning ledge, If I go away for a weekend or a week imagine what it will look like? Someone from Hayward recommended I drain the tanning ledge when I go away, that just seems crazy.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mike,

Well, the pool builder is right from the current plumbing stand point.. Sorry, I misunderstood your problem...

So if you use the main drain as water supply for a second pump, then you will have the ability to run more water features at the same time... Is this some thing that you plan to replumb yourself, or is your pool builder going to do it? Seems like it should work.. But I don't believe that you can plumb the two pumps together, you will have to have one pump for the pool and the other pump for the water features...

Let's see what James has to say about it... Calling @JamesW

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[zea3]

Do you control flow to these features with valves? If so have you though about adding automation and programming it so flow rotates between the spillover and tanning ledgeduring pump run time? It may be easier than re-plumbing to add an extra pump.

 

[mike232fd]

Jim - the idea was to go from the drain through the pump and to the tanning ledge. No filter but added circulation.

Zea- it is controlled with manual valves, I can’t see how automation can handle that easily.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Mike,

Seems to me that your idea would work fine... My gut says that a single speed 1 HP pump would be plenty, but I have no way to back that up.. Another option would be to buy a VS pump so that you could control the amount of flow.??? Let's see if James, or one of our other members, wants to chime in..

Thanks,

Jim R.