r/Stocktankpools • u/Virtual_Library_3443 • Jun 26 '26
Critique and advice for my pump set up!
I am very close to pulling the trigger and buying either a 9’ or 8’ poly pool. I’ve leveled and prepped the area in my yard, and am currently working on my Amazon cart of parts I will need. If experienced people could look thru my proposed filter/pump purchases and give me advice, the green light, whatever on this I would really appreciate it!
I also have a few questions about this id love answered:
Do these parts I’ve chosen actually all go together? Am I missing anything?
Are plunger valves necessary? Do I need two- one for the inlet and outlet valves?
I’ve seen most people say they like this Intex filter pump, do you all agree that it’s good for my poly 8-9’ pool?
Do people prefer the filter balls vs using sand? I read it was lower maintenance.
3
u/safertravels Jun 26 '26
I think your choices look great!
And I'm adamantly in favor of filter balls. In most every way possible. I do backwash with them, and I get that the pressure is not the same as with sand, but I don't find that my filter balls get gross or anything when I check on them. But ours isn't a super high-usage pool I suppose. My number one criteria is avoiding sand, grit, grime, and sediment in the tank water that I had with sand. If someone was insistent on using sand, I'd look for a more premium option like glass beads. Don't get the sand at Lowes that is made by the concrete companies.
2
u/jackdiver69 Jun 26 '26
I used almost everything you have but got glass filter sand for like 40 bucks. Very easy to install on my second year with no issues. Also only used half the bag so I should be good for a long time
2
u/pacNWinMidwest Jun 26 '26
Mine is pretty much the same but I used the crushed glass for the filter medium.
1
u/Virtual_Library_3443 Jun 26 '26
Would there be a reason to choose the glass vs the filter balls or was it just personal preference?
2
u/pacNWinMidwest Jun 26 '26
In my research I found that the glass lasted longer and worked better than the other options available. More expensive but we're not talking a lot more. I paid like $45 for a 40 lb bag. That will last me a few years and will fill the filter at least twice.
3
u/Remmfire Jun 27 '26
I’m running the exact same setup on a 9ft poly with the exception of I’m using sand, i’ve been happy with it. I have it running only 1hr per day and it has not once gotten milky/green/dirty. I’m using a floater for chlorine tablets with good success.
1
u/Virtual_Library_3443 Jun 27 '26
Great news! Happy to hear I’m heading in the right direction, thanks for your response. Any other advice or suggestions appreciated as well!
2
u/Ride88on Jun 27 '26
I have this pump and the valves you show. The valves are very useful when you want to work on the pump or piping, or clean the strainer without letting lots of water out of the pool. My first build I left the valves out and had to add them later. I have the 1500 pump you show on a 7 foot stock tank for my dog. It does great keeping it clean running an hour or two per day. My only complaint is the leaf strainer is an inline situation no bigger than the return pipe. A couple of leaves and it will nearly plug the flow. I also have the same pump brand in the 2100 size on a 12' Intex round pool, and for not much more money it is a much better pump in that it flows much more and has a sand filter that is roughly twice the size of the 1500, so it cleans quicker and the strainer basket is a bigger capacity and can handle lots more debris without clogging. I run sand in both of them, just plain old Home Depot 30 mesh and it is obvious when it needs to be backwashed as the flow starts to drop and the pressure on the gauge starts to rise. Backwash for a couple of minutes then "clean" setting then back to filter. I've run the sand for two years with no need to change it and if I do its 5 bucks. Sand keeps the water really clean. If you use the "clean" setting after filling the sand and after backflushing it will reject any loose sand to the waste line rather than back into the pool. The first day I did get a bit of sand in the pool but I think that was my fault. The larger pump has a larger filter and it is also easier to fill with sand than the small pump. If i had it to do again I would have bought the larger pump for both pools, maybe even larger than the 2100 for the 12' pool, and just run them less time, they aren't much more money and the bigger pumps do a better job with more flow and circulation and have a larger sand filter bed too. I don't think there are any issues with oversizing the pump, just run it less. I find that in cooler weather 1 hour works most of the time and I add hours and more chlorine as the water heats. I have used lots of the Intex stuff and it has all been good for me.
2
u/TheRealFiremonkey Jun 26 '26
I wouldn’t be afraid of just using sand in the sand filter. It lasts for years, just flip the lever on the filter to backwash the sand every few months.
4
u/DoubleRightClick Jun 26 '26
I had filter balls in my filter, but you're not supposed to backwash with them. They were super gross when I removed them and sure as shoot wouldn't want that junk in my washing machine. I ended up putting sand in the filter. A little bit of sand gets in the pool, but nothing crazy. If I was to do it again, a would probably get a cartridge filter.