Am I choosing a good combination? pump & filter size

[mas985]

So labelling a pump as "above-ground" or "in-ground" is really nonsense.

Sorry but I have to disagree with this. There are some fundamental differences between a AG pump and an IG pump. Most AG pumps are NOT self priming so would not work on an IG pool at all. Also, the rating of AG pumps tends to be much higher than the equivalent IG pump. For example, a 2 HP Optiflo (AG) has about the same flow rate as a 1/2 HP Northstar (IG) so you need to be really careful about using an IG pump on a AG pool because it could very easily exceed the maximum flow rate of the filter.

[CarlD]

Sorry but I have to disagree with this. There are some fundamental differences between a AG pump and an IG pump. Most AG pumps are NOT self priming so would not work on an IG pool at all. Also, the rating of AG pumps tends to be much higher than the equivalent IG pump. For example, a 2 HP Optiflo (AG) has about the same flow rate as a 1/2 HP Northstar (IG) so you need to be really careful about using an IG pump on a AG pool because it could very easily exceed the maximum flow rate of the filter.

mas985 is perfectly correct. However, I use the Hayward Superpump 1hp 2spd with a Hayward 200# top-mount sand filter and have for a dozen years with no problem. I could use it with a bigger filter and if I ever have to replace the filter I will. However, with my pump you cannot safely use a smaller filter. In-ground pumps are usually "full-rated" and AG pumps are usually "up-rated", meaning loosely they are assigned more HP than they have. More simply, a 1hp up-rated will not flow nearly as much water as a 1 hp full-rated.

Sunny, I'm going to say it again: Please check your information before you post it.

[leena]

ok, so you are saying the pump & filter I have picked out IS OKAY together or NOT OKAY together for my pool? 1hp, 2speed above ground pump and the 300lb in ground filter........both Hayward

There is only $10 difference in the 250lb or 300lb filter but I don't understand about the sizing so am just going by what everyone says about the bigger sand filters being better

[CarlD]

ok, so you are saying the pump & filter I have picked out IS OKAY together or NOT OKAY together for my pool? 1hp, 2speed above ground pump and the 300lb in ground filter........both Hayward

There is only $10 difference in the 250lb or 300lb filter but I don't understand about the sizing so am just going by what everyone says about the bigger sand filters being better

It is perfectly reasonable to contact Hayward and ask if the pump, filter and your pool are compatible, but given the description of your pool, a round AG pool, I personally don't foresee any problem. But the final decision, as always, is yours.

[leena]

Thanks, I just ordered them. Went back & read my old posts & was surprised that I have battled the same problems with the too big pump/small filter for 3 yrs! And I found this EXACT PUMP recommended for my pool back in the beginning, so that helps my feelings that its the right one for me!
I did however learn a whole lot about balancing water during this time. I have seen water go from unbelievably filthy dark green to clear in a week or less many times & I was basically keeping the pool useable with SKIMMER SOCKS for the last 2 yrs!. It really is all about the water balance. Now when I hear people say they drained their pool & refilled cause it was "to far gone", Im thinking that that surely they didn't have to do that. And really the bleach, baking soda & borax has been so easy to use that I don't even look at pool chemicals anymore. Ive never had to have any other chemical other than those 3 to get the water clean. The only "pool store chemical" that I still use is the "sink" stuff that I would use atleast once a yr to settle the little particles that never got filtered out because of my poor filtering system. Then I would vaccum to waste with the bucket method. So Im so excited to finally be getting this smaller pump that has LOW SPEED too! Surely, surely this is gonna make taking care of my pool so much easier.........

Oh & I do use chlorine tabs some for ease. Since I have that leak & have to add water ea week, I quit worrying about my CYA levels getting too high..........

[CarlD]

Please understand that "BBB" is a mindset not a dogma. It was suggest that "ABC" for Acid(muriatic), Borax, and Chlorine would be better, but...everything is "ABC" and "BBB" is catchier!
When my CYA is low and my pH is high, I use Tri-Chlor tabs without a second thought. Because the regular testing tells me when to stop.

I actually almost never use Baking Soda because I ONLY use it when my T/A is low and my pH isn't stable. If T/A is as low as 50 or 60, but my pH is stable, I just don't worry about it. Now that only hold for a vinyl pool. For a hard-side pool, T/A and Calcium levels are more important to protect the mortar, grout, plaster, etc.

I use either Borax or Muriatic Acid a little more often and generally rely on liquid chlorine. I use LC because, where I get it, it's cheaper than bleach. 5 Gal of 12.5% LC at $19 is equivalent to less than $2/gallon of bleach. Otherwise, I'd use bleach.

[leena]

I too rarely use baking soda, even though I bought a big bag when I first got interested in the bbb method. It just doesnt seem to be frequently needed. And when I say "bleach" I assumed that meant liquid chlorine as well because I do use liquid chlorine sometimes if I can get it for a comparable price to the laundry bleach. I thought they were basically the same thing, just stronger more concentrated.

I already said I use the tabs for ease when Im not worried about my cya, so maybe Im not a true BBB. In my mind they are all Chlorines and thats what Im thinking of when Im needing to control my water. So maybe I should say that I use the Chlorine/baking soda/borax method since I use various forms of chlorine, lol!

I just feel that the BBB method made it possible for pool owners to better understand what they were doing, versus the endless expensive nightmare of buying pool chemicals that said "for cloudy water, for green water, for high this, for low that". I was amazed to discover that filtering and chlorine seem to be the 2 main things for beautiful water which suddenly seemed to make it simple! I didnt need a zillion bottle of this & that, which was such a relief. Im excited to finally have a good pump & filter system & hopefully its going to be even easier!

One of my friends is a die hard pool chemical person and she stated that after doing it for 25 yrs she knew exactly what she needed and it cost her roughly $500 in chemicals per summer to maintain her pool. (& her pool is smaller than mine)
I of course am an idiot using BBB but I dont spend near that in chlorine,borax
& baking soda