Replace sand filter and motor with a new quad de filter

[PoolDoc]

Carl, is this what you are talking about?

Water Tech BLD03RC Blue Diamond R/C Robotic Pool Cleaner with Cart

The reviews for the different models seemed positive, but I saw some bad reviews because the vacuum didn't remove fine dust or algae. However, I'm not sure if that vacuum is designed to do so -- I know that many are not.

[mas985]

There a two types of pool owners that dislike cartridges:

1) Ones that don't own one and probably never have.

2) Ones that have/had one but it is/was way too small for the pool so they end up cleaning it multiple times per season.

If sized properly and you only have to clean it once a year, cartridges are relatively maintenance free. Cleaning my cartridge filter takes 45-60 minutes once a year so it really isn't that bad. I would much prefer cleaning a cartridge once a year than rolling out a hose and backwashing several times a year. But neither filter is as bad as a root canal.

But I would add that a cartridge is not appropriate for every situation. I would recommend a cartridge for the following situations:

1) West of Mississippi

2) Pool stays open year around

3) Algae blooms are rare

4) Water restrictions require separation tanks.

And of course the opposite is true for a sand filter. They are much better for cleaning up algae blooms.

[PoolDoc]

I would add a 3rd type:

3. Some who's had to deal with a cartridge filter on a heavily used commercial pool.


I've seen them on multiple commercial pools, but I have NEVER seen one perform well on in that environment. As of last summer (August) Pentair/StaRite CS techs recommend against System3 cartridge filters in commercial pool applications.

I grant that the seem to do well in residential applications in arid regions, but I'm pretty sure that the swimmer 'goo' I've seen clogging them in commercial applications is going to be present in Arizona, too.

[mas985]

I would agree, sand is probably best for commercial pools.

[PoolDoc]

DE is workable too, and delivers outstanding water quality . . . but the typical commercial DE equipment demands more skill than most pool staff can provide.

My very *first* large commercial pool customer had a below water level open *vacuum* DE filter. It was a beast -- when it malfunctioned, it would drain the pool, or at least 150,000 gallons of it!