type of sand

[Watermom]

Anna,
I'm glad you have been happy with your pump/filter set up. A 1-1/2 hp pump is a BIG pump for a 12,500 gallon pool. Overkill really. My pool is about the same size. I initially had a 1hp pump but it was more than I needed. When I changed it a few years ago, Poconos (our resident pump expert) selected a 1/2 hp inground full-rated pump for my pool and it has been fine. Saves me energy costs and is plenty pump for my pool. I also have a 200# sand filter. I have never had to change anything in my filter. The fact that you are having to change your spider gasket every year makes me wonder if the big 1-1/2 hp pump is damaging your filter. I dunno. I'm not the pump expert around here. Just wondering.

Purplegirl -- with a small 5000 gallon pool, you need a small pump. Anna's suggestion about visiting and talking at various pool places is a good idea except that pool stores are notorious for suggesting people buy pumps that are too big for their pools. Just be aware of this. I don't know my pumps but with that small of a pool, I can't imagine needing more than 1/2 hp. Do they make smaller than that? Your pool won't need too big. This is a case of bigger is NOT better.

[AnnaK]

Anna,
I'm glad you have been happy with your pump/filter set up. A 1-1/2 hp pump is a BIG pump for a 12,500 gallon pool. Overkill really. My pool is about the same size. I initially had a 1hp pump but it was more than I needed. When I changed it a few years ago, Poconos (our resident pump expert) selected a 1/2 hp inground full-rated pump for my pool and it has been fine. Saves me energy costs and is plenty pump for my pool. I also have a 200# sand filter. I have never had to change anything in my filter. The fact that you are having to change your spider gasket every year makes me wonder if the big 1-1/2 hp pump is damaging your filter. I dunno. I'm not the pump expert around here. Just wondering.

The pump runs on the LOW setting nearly all the time except when I vacuum or backwash rinse. LOW settings on a 2-speed pump use 1/4 of the power as do single speed pumps. I'm no math wizard and don't know if the relationship is linear but it's possible that this setup uses less energy than a 1-speed 1/2 hp pump does.

Spider gaskets are inexpensive and we don't mind doing the maintenance. We look at it like we do oil changes on the cars: every 2,500 miles, whether they need it or not

[purplegirl]

I think I'm going to buy a new filter and pump and skip the used route. But I don't know if bigger is better when it comes to the filter. I know a few of you say I probably only need a 14" filter, but with my pool problems might bigger be better as long as I still have a 1/2 to 1 hp pump.

There is a 16" for slightly more money, but is it overkill or will it clear my water faster?

I don't want you all to think I am not taking your advice, I am. It's just that I don't have the money to buy something that isn't going to work the way I hope it will. Is it a matter of anything would be better than my little intex cartridge filter?

[Watermom]

It is ok to have a big filter. You just don't want too big of a pump.

[purplegirl]

Thanks watermom. I am looking at a few filters and pumps: hayward, pentair, waterway, fibropool, blue line, etc...

I think hayward is the big name in filters but are the others okay or are they inferior in quality?

[purplegirl]

I found a hayward s180t with a 1hp pump system (i know the pump is on the bigger side) used 1 season on craigslist for $250. I am going to purchase it and cross my fingers that nothing is wrong with it.

Right now I run my 2000gph filter/pump 24/7, if I ran the new filter/pump 24/7 in the beginning to clean out the pool would I burn down the motor? I don't plan to let it run like that for the whole season but for now I want the pool to be filtered as good as possible. I still haven't swam in it yet even through the heat wave we've been having in NY.