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Hi all. Looking forward to getting some help on making my final choices here.

My owner built pool and spa need equipment and I'm hung on some decisions. The biggest being whether to go dual setup or stay single.

My pool was started by a builder who didn't involve me much with the decision process, so I've taken him off the front lines of this job. We plumbed and shot the shell last fall and my task was to order equipment by mid April. During the winter I noticed some things I would have done differently with the plumbing, but at this point it is what it is.

In my pool I have two skimmers and a set of floor drains out and 3 wall returns coming back. My spa only has floor drains and 7 jets returning. Plumbing is 2". Pool is about 38,000 gallons, spa is 1,300. Spa has a spillover above normal waterline but no equalizer. I plan on DE filtering because it's what I had before and I was very happy with it. Site is in PA.

While many new installs I've seen lately have a pump for filtration and a second for therapy jets, I don't have this luxury due to the way the spa was plumbed. Here are my questions:

Am I better served by a multi-speed pump to run both through the same filtration (low for filtering, high for spa with valve actuated switchover), or have a separate pump and filter for pool and spa?

If I do separate the systems, do I use DE for both? Do I need to upgrade my Aqualink to a two system unit?

Thanks for your help!

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Hi all. Looking forward to getting some help on making my final choices here.

My owner built pool and spa need equipment and I'm hung on some decisions. The biggest being whether to go dual setup or stay single.

My pool was started by a builder who didn't involve me much with the decision process, so I've taken him off the front lines of this job. We plumbed and shot the shell last fall and my task was to order equipment by mid April. During the winter I noticed some things I would have done differently with the plumbing, but at this point it is what it is.

In my pool I have two skimmers and a set of floor drains out and 3 wall returns coming back. My spa only has floor drains and 7 jets returning. Plumbing is 2". Pool is about 38,000 gallons, spa is 1,300. Spa has a spillover above normal waterline but no equalizer. I plan on DE filtering because it's what I had before and I was very happy with it. Site is in PA.

While many new installs I've seen lately have a pump for filtration and a second for therapy jets, I don't have this luxury due to the way the spa was plumbed. Here are my questions:

Am I better served by a multi-speed pump to run both through the same filtration (low for filtering, high for spa with valve actuated switchover), or have a separate pump and filter for pool and spa?

If I do separate the systems, do I use DE for both? Do I need to upgrade my Aqualink to a two system unit?

Thanks for your help!

I agree one system will work just fine. With a 2 hp pump.

If you want a secondary pump for therapy you can tap into the suction and return lines for the second pump and use check valve to prevent back feeding the filter.

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I would go with a variable speed which in the long run should save you more than enough money in energy costs to pay for the pump. You'll want the high flow rates for the jets but you also want to have low energy use for general circulation.

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Thanks for the feedback...

My thought is to go with an Intelliflow 4x160 and a standard pool/spa switchover. The pump will be 2.5x the cost of the Jandy Stealth I was considereing, but cheaper than the hybrid system I was considering and much cheaper in teh long run.

Will the Intelliflow perform well at top range for the spa? I've heard this can be an issue...and will it be controllable with an Aqualink system?

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Actually...my latest research has me looking at a 2hp 2 speed Jandy due to electronic repair issues on the Intelliflows...

So far the Intelliflo has shown pretty good reliability so I'm not sure why you think there are repair issues.

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Actually...my latest research has me looking at a 2hp 2 speed Jandy due to electronic repair issues on the Intelliflows...

So far the Intelliflo has shown pretty good reliability so I'm not sure why you think there are repair issues.

I've read that Intelliflows cannot be repaired at the control board level and require and entirely new unit if teh electronics fail. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Reliability has been good, yes.

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Actually...my latest research has me looking at a 2hp 2 speed Jandy due to electronic repair issues on the Intelliflows...

So far the Intelliflo has shown pretty good reliability so I'm not sure why you think there are repair issues.

I've read that Intelliflows cannot be repaired at the control board level and require and entirely new unit if teh electronics fail. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Reliability has been good, yes.

You are correct, However, I have not, I have not heard, nor has Pentair had any (that were not abused anyway).

I would like to hear of one tho... Anyone??

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Be sure if you are getting the PDA to get the new version that doesn't have the bad lag in response to commands that the old one had. Just looked at an old bulletin from Jandy. Its not a new unit as much as a new revision. Make sure your unit is rev. 3.0 .

More news to confuse your choice.

Pentair announced on the 9th that there is a Apple app that lets you control your intellitouch from your i phone. You have to buy the ScreenLogic for interface (very pricey) But nonetheless kinda cool if your into that sort of thing.

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OK...so latest incarnation of equpment is as follows:

  • Jandy 2hp e-Pump
  • Jandy DEV filter, 60 sq ft
  • Jandy 400,000 btu LXi heater
  • Jandy RS8 PDA + subpanel
  • Jandy WaterColors pool and spa light
  • Polaris 1.5 hp blower
  • Aquabot T2Turbo

Any gotchas?

Make sure the blower is quiet when it runs, some sound like a vac cleaner. Polaris QT is the one you want very quiet.

The Aquabots are nice but if anything goes wrong you might have to send it in for service. The Hayward Tiger Shark is a similar cleaner that any hayward dealer can help with.

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