I am just starting the process of building a pool in Dallas. Most of the pool builders I've talked to here are sold on big pumps and small pipes -- which seems to be the opposite of what is recommended here. The pool design is for a 33'x17.5' 3'-5'-4' configuration with a 7' diameter spa, which I think works out to about 13k gallons. 2 skimmers and 5 returns, 6 jets in the spa. Am I in trouble with the skimmers being plumbed separately back to the pad but with 1.5" pipe? I'm not sure about the return plumbing. The spa is all 2". Currently spec'd is a 2.5 HP Jandy pump and a 1 HP pump for the water features (3 12" scuppers). They feel the 2.5 HP is necessary to run the 6 spa jets.

So does the separately plumbed skimmers make up for the 1.5" pipe or does everyone do that? It's just weird when the several PBs I talked to locally all seem to do things pretty much the same and it is different than is discussed here.

The PB is in the process of switching from Jandy to Pentair, so I might be able to switch to Pentair equipment with the Intelliflo 4x160 (for an upcharge of course). I'm kind of neutral on the Jandy vs. Pentair thing -- I think they both make good equipment. If I got the 4x160 I can expect some energy savings and their cartridge-y DE filter looks interesting (you can backwash or pull out the 4 cartridges and wash them off), but Jandy's PDA looks nicer.

I'm even more concerned with the plumbing and the Intelliflo 4x160 (that can pump 160 GPM and seems to like big pipes), especially since I would be one of my PB's first installations of it. Maybe they plan on automatically using bigger pipes when they go with it -- my salesguy wasn't sure. Hopefully we start the dig next week.

Sorry for the length of this. As I'm a newbie I've been reading all the great information here for awhile. I appreciate any advice you have to offer.
Jason