What size sand filter and pump?

[b2001]

Thanks for the response, Carl. I haven't called any manufacturers yet. In the short term, I'm going with the pump I have now. I incorrectly listed its size above - the motor is 1 1/2 hp.

I was real interested in the two speed pumps, but at least Hayward's are all 230 volt - I've got 115 volt.

[The Raddish]

I am by no means an expert, but personally, I am going to be using the pump and filter recommended on this page of www.poolsolutions.com. Specifically, this paragraph:

A combination that will work fairly well for almost ALL above ground pools -- regardless of pool size -- is a 1/2 HP Hayward "Super" pump (mfg. model #SP2600X5), a 22" Hayward "PRO" sand filter (mfg. model #SP220T), a Hayward 1.5" "Vari-Flo" multiport valve (mfg. model #SP071113), and a cord set (#SPX1550WA [25 ft long] or #SPX1250 [6 ft long]). 1999 list price on this combo is $764.00. Any pool dealer in the US or Canada can sell this combination to you. You'll also need hoses, connectors and . . . 250 pounds of filter sand. Make absolutely certain that the sand comes in bags that are factory labeled as filter sand, and make sure that the pump and filter have exactly the model numbers shown above. This combination can be used either as original equipment, or to replace what you've got now.

I've already purchased the filter, but I will be using my 1hp AG pump for a little while longer. I think it is on it's last leg anyway, so I'll likely replace it with Ben's recommended pump later this summer. I got the pump here for $247 shipped, which is easily more than $100 less than anywhere locally. It shipped out of Florida and arrived at my door two days later in pristine condition.

[b2001]

Thanks for the link. I trying to convert from baquacil to chlorine and from a cartridge filter to a sand filter, so I've been doing a lot of reading lately. Sonehow missed the above referenced article.

At least my electrical is worked out. Good luck on your electrical although sounds like you got it under control.

[Aranon]

B2001
Why are you switching from a cartridge to a sand system. I can't decide which one to get. I was wondering why the switch. I have heard that cartridge filters do not do well with baquacil sytems and are really designed for chlorine systems.

I was just wondering why the change. I would hate to buy a Cartridge system and then be unhappy with it and want to change later.

Aranon

[b2001]

I'm under several oak trees. Rains really mess up my pool - I get a lot of organic crap from the trees into my pool. So I can go from a pristine pool to a cloudy murky pool in a matter of a few hours after a rain, even with maintaining my chemicals and proactive shocking.

I'm very proactive with cleaning out my cartridges - when the pressure starts rising, I remove the filter, seperate it from the cartridge, and thoroughly wash it down inside and out with a pressure nozzle on my hose. As time goes by, pressure will rise more quickly, and I'll have to wash it more often. As this happens, it takes longer and longer to recover from a rain. I've noticed that if I leave a fllter out to dry for several days, it improves in performance some - so I always have at least two filters on hand.

I started using a skimmer basket sock last summer - it catches a lot of crap that thereby does not make it to the filter. However, it must also be continuously cleaned up or it will clog. A lot of times, it has a complete layer of "orange-brown" sludge - baquacil "goo".

With maintaining my chemicals, vacuming, scrubbing the sides of my pool weekly, and maintaining the cartridge filters as mentioned above, I can get my pool most of the way to "pristine".

However, I can't get it completely there. It could be that bacquacil and cartridges don't do well together - it does appear that baquacil precipitates out and the cartridges filter this finer "goo" out, while the sand might let it pass. Also, my trees and storms might come into play. After spending $300 to $350 a year on cartridge filters (2 to 3), I'm wanting to make a change to see how that goes.

As I said in another thread, I believe that I'm going to buy a sand filter and hook it up in parallel to my cartridge and run the sand most of the time and the cartridge for final poslishing - I'll end up only buying one cartridge filter a year and in a couple of years will have paid for the sand filter.

You might not have the above issues if you're going to use chlorine and you're not under a bunch of trees. I hope this helps some ...

[CarlD]

If you have to buy a cartridge filter every year one of 3 things is wrong:
1) Your cart is too small for your pump.
2) You are maintaining your cart incorrectly, or
3) Your situation is not good for carts, they are being destroyed despite correct sizing and maintenance and you should switch to sand or DE.

As much as I would dread having a cart, I am aware that the cartridges are not intended to be replaced every year and should not have to be.

[b2001]

1. As I said before - 18 x 36, 14,000 gallon ag pool withPurex Triton Maxim pump, AO Smith BN35 motor (1-1/2 hp), it is marked "HP 2.0 SPL", and a Pentex 150 sq ft cartridge filter. How is this combo?

2. I'm not sure what I would be doing to maintain the cartridge incorrectly. I thoroughly wash it down many times during the course of a summer as the pressure rises. I usually have two on hand that I will swap out every week or two.

3. That could be the case, although the cartridges are not actually "destroyed". I've got three sitting around from last year. They just become ineffective and I can't get my water clear after a rain. The pressure will rise, I'll remove the cartridge and clean it, and when I reinstall it and start the system, the pressure shoots back up high.

I really feel like last year was the first time that I got a good handle on chemicals, scrubbing, and scrubbing and getting the pool clean. It was still not 100%, but close. However, it would take longer and longer to recover from each successive storm to the point where these cartridges were just not working right, and pool quality kept going down.

I'm definitely switching from baquacil - I'm reading everything on this site that I can ...

I'm open to any suggestions. Thanks for your responses, Carl ...