SafetyBob
05-07-2012, 09:13 PM
Hi all, new forum member. First, what a great forum!! I lurked for a few days before deciding to join and yes, I will become a paid member in a few more days. This is a forum very much worth supporting.
I am wondering some options and opinions from you guys who have been through this. Let me start the story from the beginning. Three years ago, we had the 5 foot hard plastic pool from WalMart for the then 2 year old grand daughter that lives with us....that's another story we can get into later...I put a small intex filter/pump on it and used a undercounter point of use heater with a pond pump to circulate heated water so she wouldn't get cold. Next year, all hardware the same, 8 foot x 18 inch easy set and this year......I finally got much more serious about the pool.
Currently have 10 foot metal frame x 30 inch intex pool using the 2500 pump/filter combo and the intex salt generator which was actually put on last years pool for over half the season. I almost went to the 12 foot pool with the 15 a consideration. I will never go bigger than the 15 foot pool. This year I also wired/plumbed for SwimMax 11KW electric heater which does a superior job heating the small pool as you would expect.
I am not having any real issues with the pool other than occasional cloudiness and I am continuing trying to get chemicals to proper levels. I have been using test strips and yes, I just ordered the recommended Taylor testing kit using the Amazon link. The pool has full sun until around 2pm and I have a 12 foot debris cover modified to keep the pool covered all the time it is not in use. I use basically a filter a week. Not a great expense, but am wondering opinions if I should just keep what I have or go with a D.E. system. I see that Hayward makes a system for above ground with a 1hp motor and D.E. filter for around 600 dollars from InTheSwim.com. From all the lurking I am seriously concerned with the possibility of to much suction and all the dangers from that big of a system. I gave myself a good scare with the Intex system when I stuck my hand infront of the intake of my little system the other day to check "suction". I can see everyone's concern here about oversized systems. I am concerned.
On a side note, I am sure my heater is sucking my wallet dry and the Intex 2500 series filter/pump uses less juice than most of the "real" pumps, even on low, so other than adapting a power inverter which would be used from single phase to three phase motor control (to control speed) and adapting a three phase motor to a typical pool pump housing, I think I may have answered my own question as to "upgrading" my pump.
Wondering some of your guys thoughts on the subject. Especially since I will NEVER go bigger than 15 feet round, I should probably keep with the cheap Intex stuff and just plan to replace as necessary components as the break/wear out. I should note that for now I have the pump running 24/7........is that stupid?
Thanks for your input,
Bob E.
I am wondering some options and opinions from you guys who have been through this. Let me start the story from the beginning. Three years ago, we had the 5 foot hard plastic pool from WalMart for the then 2 year old grand daughter that lives with us....that's another story we can get into later...I put a small intex filter/pump on it and used a undercounter point of use heater with a pond pump to circulate heated water so she wouldn't get cold. Next year, all hardware the same, 8 foot x 18 inch easy set and this year......I finally got much more serious about the pool.
Currently have 10 foot metal frame x 30 inch intex pool using the 2500 pump/filter combo and the intex salt generator which was actually put on last years pool for over half the season. I almost went to the 12 foot pool with the 15 a consideration. I will never go bigger than the 15 foot pool. This year I also wired/plumbed for SwimMax 11KW electric heater which does a superior job heating the small pool as you would expect.
I am not having any real issues with the pool other than occasional cloudiness and I am continuing trying to get chemicals to proper levels. I have been using test strips and yes, I just ordered the recommended Taylor testing kit using the Amazon link. The pool has full sun until around 2pm and I have a 12 foot debris cover modified to keep the pool covered all the time it is not in use. I use basically a filter a week. Not a great expense, but am wondering opinions if I should just keep what I have or go with a D.E. system. I see that Hayward makes a system for above ground with a 1hp motor and D.E. filter for around 600 dollars from InTheSwim.com. From all the lurking I am seriously concerned with the possibility of to much suction and all the dangers from that big of a system. I gave myself a good scare with the Intex system when I stuck my hand infront of the intake of my little system the other day to check "suction". I can see everyone's concern here about oversized systems. I am concerned.
On a side note, I am sure my heater is sucking my wallet dry and the Intex 2500 series filter/pump uses less juice than most of the "real" pumps, even on low, so other than adapting a power inverter which would be used from single phase to three phase motor control (to control speed) and adapting a three phase motor to a typical pool pump housing, I think I may have answered my own question as to "upgrading" my pump.
Wondering some of your guys thoughts on the subject. Especially since I will NEVER go bigger than 15 feet round, I should probably keep with the cheap Intex stuff and just plan to replace as necessary components as the break/wear out. I should note that for now I have the pump running 24/7........is that stupid?
Thanks for your input,
Bob E.