New Pool Construction by Owner - Equipment help!

[Watermom]

A bigger filter is always better.

[BigDave]

A bigger filter is always better.

+1!

[mas985]

Another cleaner you might consider is ThePoolCleaner. Now owned by Hayward. It doesn't require a booster so it is more energy efficient. Based upon reviews, it cleans just as well if not better than the Polaris. I have the suction side version and it has been a great performer.

www.thepoolcleaner.com

Also, the MaxFlo XL is another good Hayward pump and the 1 HP uses about 20% less energy than the 1 HP SuperPump.

[PoolDoc]

@ Mark: I'm not seeing the good reviews here, on the pressure side models. Did you see them elsewhere?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KSMVL6W/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004KSRJZC/

@ Lsanc: I couldn't find 2 speed models of the MaxFlo on Amazon, though I did see them on other sites. I'm pretty sure that Mark is not claiming that a single speed MaxFlo would out-perform a 2 speed SuperPump.

Amazon does ship a fairly inexpensive VS Maxflo. It would be a good option, if you coupled it with the Intermatic PS3000 Pool Surge Protector.

[mas985]

There are not many reviews on Amazon and typically only those that dislike something will post a review so I wouldn't go by that. Also, only one of the reviews (a good one) was verified. Plus if you look at the SuperPump reviews, both are bad and we know that to be a good pump.

The reviews I am talking about are directly from owners on TFP. It is a very popular cleaner and I don't think there has ever been a negative review. The designer of the cleaner originally came from Hayward, created his own company and then Hayward bought it.

Here are just a few reviews:

https://www.google.com/search?sitese...i:1&gws_rd=ssl


Some on this forum too although most are from me:

https://www.google.com/search?sitese...i:1&gws_rd=ssl


The MaxFlo I was talking about is the SP2307X102 which is a two speed.

[Watermom]

I also have a suction-side model of The Pool Cleaner and am quite happy with it.

[PoolDoc]

Ok.

@Lsanc: I'm going to hijack the thread here, a bit, but I think it's relevant to you as well, so I hope you won't mind. If you do, email me, and I'll spin this off in to a separate thread.

@everybody else:

I've never loved suction side cleaners for 3 main reasons:

1. They usually hijack a skimmer, and at least in the East, that's a problem. Skimmers remove stuff that's still floating -- which is the BEST time to get it out of the pool. Cleaners remove stuff from the bottom, after the skimmer missed it. Using a suction side cleaner, at least in the Chattanooga area, tends to mean that all the thunderstorm debris that would otherwise go to the skimmer, instead ends up on the pool bottom.

2. They don't sweep the pool. I've never seen mustard algae in a pool that was (a) chlorinated at all and (b) had a working Polaris 180 / 280. The sweep tail disturbs biofilm development on the entire pool bottom and on much of the sides. Not all pools have problems with mustard algae, but when it does occur it's a true PITA. We don't know yet why some pools are prone to it and others are not, and we don't have a really good way to deal with it. In my mind, eliminating mustard algae from the menu of pool problems is a VERY good thing.

3. They don't circulate the water. Pressure cleaners represent a 2nd or 3rd pool return. When coupled with an inline feeder, an SWCG or skimmer tabs, using a cleaner means that EVERY part of the pool gets hit with chlorinated water at least one a day. Most pools have circulation issues and dead spots. When helping someone like Lsanc, I can't prevent those unless (a) I design the pool, (b) am onsite during plumbing & construction to enforce the design, and (c) service the pool periodically to make sure the eyeballs or other return devices haven't bee messed with to screw up circulation and create a dead spot. This isn't a big problem on round AG pools, but can be a huge problem on free-form concrete pools ESPECIALLY if they also have a textured finish (plaster!) with some rough spots (typical!).

I hate the infloor cleaning systems because (a) they tend to break irreparably after a few years and (b) they are HUGE energy hogs. But they offer one major advantage: infloor returns. Properly designed infloor returns can allow a pool to go from cloudy to clean in 1/2 the time otherwise, because of improved mixing characteristics and because they sweep the pool bottom with chlorinated water. Using a pressure side cleaner offers 1/2 of the benefits of infloor returns AND sweeps the pool.


Consequently, I've always viewed suction side cleaners as a 'better than nothing" option, for someone who's pool was already built.

Comments?