New Pool Owner

[CMaxim]

Hello everybody! I am a newer pool owner, I hope to learn more about pool maintenance from you all!

We bought a Pro Series 20' x 48" pool this year!

Thanks in advance everybody!

[Watermom]

Hi and welcome to the Pool Forum!

Is your pool up and running yet? What kind of test kit do you have and how are you maintaining the pool thus far?

[CMaxim]

Yes the pool is setup, this is the first year for our Pro Series pool, we have a very simple test kit it just checks the PH level and Bromine (I think that's how it is spelled!)

I love the pool but we have decided to convert the subpar pump with a sand filter. Our water is very cloudy and the paper filters just isn't doing a proper job.

So I figured I would come here and try to get as much information as I can before doing anything to my pool.

Here's our pool
http://m.sears.com/proseries-trade-20ft-x-48in-frame-pool/p-05217040000P

Here's the pump that's on order
http://affordablepoolparts.com/2014/05/03/intex-krystal-clear-2150-gph-34-hp-swimming-pool-14-sand-filter-pump-28647eg/

[Watermom]

I think that filter is probably too small. Let me ask Ben to have a look. He's better at pump/filter match ups than I am.

[CMaxim]

Thanks Watermom! I really hope that pump is ok, it's the best one we could afford at the moment and it's being shipped to us already :-(

[CMaxim]

Does anybody have suggestions and links to any adapters I may need?

I currently have 1 1/4" hoses and the new pump will have 1 1/2" hoses.

[PoolDoc]

I just edited this post by eblade, and stickied it. I think you'll find it helpful:
www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php/24529

BUT . . . I strongly recommend that you go ahead NOW and order Unicel cartridges, and learn to manager your pool as is. The sand filter is not a fix-all. If you haven't looked though the Simple Recipe page, I'd recommend doing so: http://pool9.net/ssr/. You may want to get the Unicel, drain, and restart using the SSR.

You may also want to consider ADDING the Intex filter, rather than replacing the Pro Series one. Either way, I think you'll see that the conversion is a bit more involved than you imagined. Draining and refilling, following the SSR would allow you to enjoy your pool this year, as you work toward replacing or adding to your existing filtration.

[BigDave]

Does anybody have suggestions and links to any adapters I may need?

I currently have 1 1/4" hoses and the new pump will have 1 1/2" hoses.

Check the box when it comes in, it may come with adapters, I can't really tell from the website.

[CMaxim]

Thanks for the replies guys!

This is actually my 3rd summer owing a pool

The past 2 summers we had a 18' intex pool with one of those blow up rings at the top.
We have always had problems keeping the water clear.

So this year we decided to buy the proseries pool just because it had a skimmer and is much better built.

I do have some experience with the chemical part of it all, I have always been able to keep the water fairly balanced thats why we ordered the sand filter, I'm tired of the paper filters getting clogged and having to spray them out all the time and always replacing them.

I will look in the sand filter box when I get home from work today it will be delivered sometime today.

Is it necessary to use plunger valves at the intake and outtake points?
I'm keeping the skimmer that came with the pool, my plan is to remove the paper filter and attach the pump on the bottom or the side of the skimmer.

I'll let you know what parts are included upon inspection of the package!

Thanks so very much for your help guys'

Corey

[CMaxim]

Nope it did not come with any adapters at all,
Not even the strainer where the water flows out!

I thought it would atleast come with the 1 1/2" connectors.

[BigDave]

Thanks for the follow up. Sounds like you have some "innovation" ahead of you.

[Pappy]

That is exactly the system that we have, and it is a vast improvement over the cartridge filters. The pump is too big for the filter though and I wound up making and installing a restricter plate between the strainer basket and pump inlet to keep stuff from blowing through the sand. Read the "Eblade thread" PoolDoc referenced earlier (I'm not completely clear on how the conversion from Summer Escapes skimmer to Intex hoses worked out). Plunger valves are not absolutely necessary but are helpful. Intex is the cheapest place I found for the "optional parts" not included in the box. Plunger valves were around $8.00 + shipping direct from Intex.

http://www.intexcorp.com/index.php/replacement-parts/above-ground-pools/agp-accessories/sand-filter-pumps.html

I will also say that the "sand filter DE enhancement" is beneficial for this system. I was able to find 10lbs HTH DE in stock at a local WalMart. Last time I looked, the wallyworld website had the wrong picture up, but a correct description (I'd not order from them based on this, but if it shows "IN STOCK", you can verify it's the right stuff visually). I add 1/8th cup doses til the pressure stays up about 1 psi from clean.
http://pool9.net/de-test/

Good luck!

Pappy

[PoolDoc]

Get the Unicel cartridges ASAP.

Please, take pictures of what adapters you find. This is a somewhat murky area without standard solutions, so whatever info you can add to the 'pool' will help.

[CMaxim]

Sorry I haven't posted in the past few days!
I have been very busy at work :-(

Good news is I figured out how to easily convert my pool.
This was purchased from my local pool store
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/cmax420/13814870-8C8A-4387-AC5F-AD4EBE13AF41.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cmax420/media/13814870-8C8A-4387-AC5F-AD4EBE13AF41.jpg.html)
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/cmax420/9971F458-6C92-4A9A-ADEA-A04D2BB830C9.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cmax420/media/9971F458-6C92-4A9A-ADEA-A04D2BB830C9.jpg.html)

I also purchased a 1 1/2 pool return fitting and screwed the part above to that. (I did have to carefully cut the opening a bit bigger so I could fit it thru the hole)

On the skimmer I cut the hose that came with our new pump and just used a hose clap to hold it in place!
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/cmax420/ECD3C452-E6CE-4461-A9E5-5205C830AFAD.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cmax420/media/ECD3C452-E6CE-4461-A9E5-5205C830AFAD.jpg.html)

No leaks!

I hope this helps!

[Watermom]

Thanks for sharing!

[CMaxim]

It's no problem, I hope it helps others, all the Intex "optional" parts were not necessary!

[CMaxim]

I am seeing progress!
http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/cmax420/17795C16-7F46-404D-A80B-03631B45DA14.jpg (http://s83.photobucket.com/user/cmax420/media/17795C16-7F46-404D-A80B-03631B45DA14.jpg.html)

It's starting to clear up after 2 days of running the new sand filter!

[Watermom]

Excellent! Chlorine can kill stuff but it is up to good filtration to clear a pool.

[CMaxim]

Day 3 - The water is even better today, I can easily see my feet in the pool! I love this new pump!

[PoolDoc]

Can you post current pictures of your pool, and of the filter and connections?

[CMaxim]

I would be happy to, I'm at work now I will get some new ones up when I get home!

[CMaxim]

Can you post current pictures of your pool, and of the filter and connections?

Would it be ok to start another thread in regards to the connections and current pictures?

[Watermom]

Go ahead and do it here so all your info about your pool is together.