new home owner -- new pool owner -- clear as MUD

[PoolDoc]

combo of guess strips(just to see if we are getting any FC readings)

That's the best use of 'guess strips' -- to get a very rough idea of what's in the pool!

[PoolDoc]

Your pool photos:

Pump, filter & heater layout








Filter label




Pump Labels

Pump


Pump motor



Jandy PlusHP specs

Flow


Specs

[PoolDoc]

It's interesting that the installer was a relatively neat plumber, but had no idea what was and was not appropriate equipment.

You have a tiny AG pool filter, with an exceedingly shallow sand bed coupled with an 80 GPM pool pump. There are so many things wrong with this installation, it's hard to know where to begin!

Here's a list to start with:

#1 - Replace the Hayward CL200 with a Rainbow 320 OR with floaters.
#2 - Discard the filter and replace with a Pentair TR24 and rework the Jandy with a smaller seal / impeller / diffuser.
OR
#2 - Discard the filter and replace with a Pentair TR30.

[ I was being stupid: I meant the 24" Pentair TR60 or the 30" TR100, not the fictitious TR24 or TR30. -ben ]

#3 - Header the 1.5" return and supply piping with 2" pipe, and connect all pump pad components with 2"
#4 - Discard the useless Nature2 unit.
#5 - Check the heater to make sure it's rated for 60 - 80 GPM, and if not, set up an appropriate bypass.
#6 - It looks like there's another gizmo between the Nature2 unit and the heater. This should be ID'd and possibly removed.


Also, because the flow restriction from the gizmos and the Hayward unit do NOT affect backwash flow, there's an excellent chance the over-sized pump has blown most of the sand out of the filter.

[Andyman33]

Ugggg...not excited to drop 600-700 bucks for a new filter but I may have to...do you think if there is still sand in it that it may work until next season? Pretty easy to make the switch out otherwise? Probably could change the chlorinator without issues here soon and the piping to 2 inch asap also...the filter is just a big expense that im not sure I can afford at this point though...
Thank u so much for all your help again

[Andyman33]

please help ASAP!! I can't seem to get to the inside of my filter to even see if there is sand...I have the inlet and outlet pipes disconnected as well as the backwash pipe disconnected. I cannot for the life of me get off the top of the filter --- do I just keep twisting? It wont' even budge ---- I have opened the air and water tubes -- even took off the screws that hold the switcher on -- please help me!!

[Andyman33]

still unable to get this done...anyone with some help?

[aylad]

Let me get Ben's or Al's attention back to this thread--they're much better with equipment than I, but don't want you to think we're ignoring you...

Janet