You need pool sand. Other types of sand are not going to filter properly and might really cloud the pool if they are not de-dusted. Play sand and building sand are not filter sand. Sand is cheap and lasts so don't try and save a few pennies here.
what type of sand does a sand filter use? can i use anything? or does it have to be special pool sand?
You need pool sand. Other types of sand are not going to filter properly and might really cloud the pool if they are not de-dusted. Play sand and building sand are not filter sand. Sand is cheap and lasts so don't try and save a few pennies here.
Retired pool store and commercial pool maintenance guy.
Thanks waterbear. My neighbor, who got rid of his pool last year, gave us his sand filter and pump. I've been reading on here that you can have a pump that has too much horsepower. I don't know the size of the filter (holds 6 bags of sand) or pump. I want to know if it is possible to have too large a filter for a pool (my pool is 5000 gallons) and what would happen if the pump I have is too large for my pool? Can it hurt? These were free and I would hate to not be able to use them, especially considering my pool is green and will be for the foreseeable future.
too big a pump can cause problems for a filter but if they are matched it should not be that much of a problem. 300 lbs of sand does not sound like a hugh filer so you should be ok. You might also need some pea gravel to cover the laterals.
post the make/model number of the pump and of the filter (they are not the same) If this is a skidpack (both on one one base) then there would be a make/model for that also possibly.
Retired pool store and commercial pool maintenance guy.
We emptied the old sand out of the filter and there was no pea gravel at the bottom, it's possible the old owners neglected to put it in there. Should we put pea gravel down there, would it help?
unfortunetly all discrimenating labels have long worn off both pump and filter. There is a plate attached to the pump with a number. I am having a problem downloading a picture. The numbers on the pump read COL1081PSC motor RU, I'm sorry I can't give you more info.
all the number you gave means is the motor meets UL 1081 for pool motors and that it is most likely a Marathon PSC series motor, which can be anything from 1/2 HP to 5 HP! Is there no name or numbers visible anywhere on the pump or filter? Even a partial one could help.
Is this a 'skid pack' from an above ground pool or a separate filter and pump? How big a pool was it on?
Not all manufacturers recommend pea gravel on the bottom of the filter but i feel it's a good idea to cover the laterals with pea gravel (and many other people in the biz feel the same).
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ghlight=gravel
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showpos...55&postcount=5
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showpos...26&postcount=8
Last edited by waterbear; 07-05-2010 at 02:06 PM.
Retired pool store and commercial pool maintenance guy.
well after three trips to the dreaded pool store, we completely gave up on this filter and pump. after we replaced one part another broke, literally, this happened three times. (that's what you get for a free filter ) I'm returning all of the parts we bought and looking into a new or like new filter/pump. I just hope this ultimetly helps. the water company told me my main water line is a galvenized pipe and that it would probably cost about a grand to replace. i am at my witts end. but i am determined and stubborn so we'll say where this all goes. thanks waterbear!
Make sure that your pump and filter size that you buy is a good match size-wise.
I don't know anything about buying filters. I have sand so I know I want a sand filter. I am probably going to get a 1 horsepower pump, but the rest I'm not sure about. How important is the "gpm" as well as the size of the filter, the amount of sand it can hold. There are a couple on craigslist I'm thinking about. One is a hayward S166T. It only holds 100lbs of sand and is 35 gpm. The other filter I haven't gotten specs on yet. Please help I'm clueless. and I desperatly want to clear my green pool!
I didn't know anything about pumps and filters either when we first planned our pool project. I went to four different pool stores and asked questions. I learned about types of filters: sand, DE, cartridge and how each is cleaned. I learned about pump sizes, 1-speed or 2-speed, HP, GPM, head, turnover . . .
My approach was to request information about a filtration system for a 12,500 gallon AGP. I said I didn't have the pool yet, was just beginning my education, and was starting out with the peripherals, the equipment, could they please help me select something appropriate. Everyone was very helpful and informative. I was, after all, a prospective customer.
This did take a little time and I realize you're under some constraints since your present system isn't working right, but if you can spend three evenings after work at three different pool stores asking questions and looking at systems you'll come away knowing a whole lot.
I selected a 1 1/2 HP 2-speed pump and a 19" sand filter. This has worked out extremely well. The pump runs on low speed for 7 hours during the night when the rates are lower by 45%. The sand in it is now in its 5th season. We replace the spider gasket each year and that's all the maintenance, other than the occasional backwash/rinse, it has ever needed.
IMO, this kind of research needs to be done hands-on in addition to reading about it on Websites and boards.
Oval 12.5K gal AGP; Hayward 19" sand filter; Pentair Dyn 1 HP 2sp pump on timer
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