type of sand

Anna,
I'm glad you have been happy with your pump/filter set up. A 1-1/2 hp pump is a BIG pump for a 12,500 gallon pool. Overkill really. My pool is about the same size. I initially had a 1hp pump but it was more than I needed. When I changed it a few years ago, Poconos (our resident pump expert) selected a 1/2 hp inground full-rated pump for my pool and it has been fine. Saves me energy costs and is plenty pump for my pool. I also have a 200# sand filter. I have never had to change anything in my filter. The fact that you are having to change your spider gasket every year makes me wonder if the big 1-1/2 hp pump is damaging your filter. I dunno. I'm not the pump expert around here. Just wondering.

Purplegirl -- with a small 5000 gallon pool, you need a small pump. Anna's suggestion about visiting and talking at various pool places is a good idea except that pool stores are notorious for suggesting people buy pumps that are too big for their pools. Just be aware of this. I don't know my pumps but with that small of a pool, I can't imagine needing more than 1/2 hp. Do they make smaller than that? Your pool won't need too big. This is a case of bigger is NOT better.

The reason I haven't gone to the pool stores by me (there are only 2) is because everyone that works there is totally incompetent, there are no mom and pop pool shops near me so I have to rely on the franchises. If I went in there and said I need something that will be strong enough to clear my green water. They would try selling me an algecide.

Also, I couldn't go in there and ask questions on a hypothetical because they all know I have a pool already. Also I am most likely going to buy a used filter and pump because new they are very expensive and my current pool, filter and pump only cost me a total of $500. So basically I am left with what I can find in my budget and hope that it helps my current situation.

PG:

The most important thing is to make sure the filter is big enough for the pump.

I cannot imagine you needing anything bigger than 1/2 hp--even a 1/2 hp up-rated (for AG pools) should be EASILY adequate, and a 1/3 hp just as good.

You can call the pool pump companies and ask for their advice on their products. For example, Hayward makes an above-ground 1/2 hp and an above-ground 2 speed 1 hp.

They also make a small sand filter and pump combo (the S144) that sells for about $375. That might be ideal.

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Originally Posted by Watermom

Anna,
I'm glad you have been happy with your pump/filter set up. A 1-1/2 hp pump is a BIG pump for a 12,500 gallon pool. Overkill really. My pool is about the same size. I initially had a 1hp pump but it was more than I needed. When I changed it a few years ago, Poconos (our resident pump expert) selected a 1/2 hp inground full-rated pump for my pool and it has been fine. Saves me energy costs and is plenty pump for my pool. I also have a 200# sand filter. I have never had to change anything in my filter. The fact that you are having to change your spider gasket every year makes me wonder if the big 1-1/2 hp pump is damaging your filter. I dunno. I'm not the pump expert around here. Just wondering.

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The pump runs on the LOW setting nearly all the time except when I vacuum or backwash rinse. LOW settings on a 2-speed pump use 1/4 of the power as do single speed pumps. I'm no math wizard and don't know if the relationship is linear but it's possible that this setup uses less energy than a 1-speed 1/2 hp pump does.

Spider gaskets are inexpensive and we don't mind doing the maintenance. We look at it like we do oil changes on the cars: every 2,500 miles, whether they need it or not :)

I think I'm going to buy a new filter and pump and skip the used route. But I don't know if bigger is better when it comes to the filter. I know a few of you say I probably only need a 14" filter, but with my pool problems might bigger be better as long as I still have a 1/2 to 1 hp pump.

There is a 16" for slightly more money, but is it overkill or will it clear my water faster?

I don't want you all to think I am not taking your advice, I am. It's just that I don't have the money to buy something that isn't going to work the way I hope it will. Is it a matter of anything would be better than my little intex cartridge filter?

It is ok to have a big filter. You just don't want too big of a pump.

Thanks watermom. I am looking at a few filters and pumps: hayward, pentair, waterway, fibropool, blue line, etc...

I think hayward is the big name in filters but are the others okay or are they inferior in quality?

I found a hayward s180t with a 1hp pump system (i know the pump is on the bigger side) used 1 season on craigslist for $250. I am going to purchase it and cross my fingers that nothing is wrong with it.

Right now I run my 2000gph filter/pump 24/7, if I ran the new filter/pump 24/7 in the beginning to clean out the pool would I burn down the motor? I don't plan to let it run like that for the whole season but for now I want the pool to be filtered as good as possible. I still haven't swam in it yet even through the heat wave we've been having in NY.