another cartridge filter question

[mas985]

People with Intex pools are usually happy with the 2500 GPH pump/filter over the smaller pumps which just don't have the power for proper circulation and cleaning.

But for a 6000 gallon pool, you would want a minimum of 45 sq-ft but ideally a 90 sq-ft filter would minimize cleaning to once per season. So the 2500 GPH combo might be insufficient for this size pool. However, there are plenty of combo units made by Hayward and Pentair which would work well. For example, the PNCC0100OE1160 might be a good choice. If you want a two speed pump, I would go with the PNCC0150OF2160 which has a larger filter to match the larger pump.

You can check out all the Pentair combo units here:

http://www.pentairpool.com/pool-pro/...-system-26.htm

[singingpond]

People with Intex pools are usually happy with the 2500 GPH pump/filter over the smaller pumps which just don't have the power for proper circulation and cleaning.

But for a 6000 gallon pool, you would want a minimum of 45 sq-ft but ideally a 90 sq-ft filter would minimize cleaning to once per season. So the 2500 GPH combo might be insufficient for this size pool. However, there are plenty of combo units made by Hayward and Pentair which would work well. For example, the PNCC0100OE1160 might be a good choice. If you want a two speed pump, I would go with the PNCC0150OF2160 which has a larger filter to match the larger pump.

You can check out all the Pentair combo units here:

http://www.pentairpool.com/pool-pro/...-system-26.htm

Thank you for the comments, and for the link!

What you say tends to confirm that the stock filters that come with the Intex-type pool packages, especially the filters for the larger volume pools, are woefully undersized. I don't really mind cleaning the filter a few times during the summer, but that still seems to put us in the realm of ~50 sq ft filter area (the stock filter is 5 sq ft, so that's apparently too small by an order of magnitude -- no wonder the darn things don't work well).

The Pentair units certainly look nice. However, having spent only $199 on the pool package (Sam's end-of-summer price for the 18' x 48" Summer Escapes pool), we're not immediately likely to spend $500+ on a better pump/filter combo. I had been thinking of getting just a new (larger) filter and putting it in downstream of the existing pump -- that could be done for <$200. Is there a major flaw with that approach?

In terms of complete packages, what about something like this:
http://www.poolbargains.com/above-gr...w-element.html

Is this likely to be a total piece of junk at the price?