HELP! How to pick the correct pump/filter ??

[darenjones]

with the 1500 gph pump, it didnt seem to circulate the water well. This prompted me to hard plumb the intake and return lines. This helped a little. The 3000 gph (at peak efficiency of course) works well to circulate the water, but like the other filter, the cartridge doesn't fit very well, and looks like it blows by a lot of water. When I vacume, I wash the filter before, and after I am done. I try to do this to prevent blow-by.
I just know you get what you pay for, and know a decent set up would give me better results.
Hopefully someone will give me some guidelines to go by when I start looking for a setup.

[darenjones]

still looking for some advice to this, there are so many filter and pump set ups out there, it is difficult to pick!
I have decided on a sand filter, and figure I will ad DE to it as needed for polishing. but, where to look, what is a decent price, what is getting ripped off, and, what is too good to be true? (i.e., ebay ?)
any advice???

[darenjones]

ANY ONE ? I am looking for advice... am I asking a dumb question ?

[yjjeeper]

Currious if you ever found the answer to your question as I have the same question and am looking for a sand filter system.