Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump for Above Ground Pools, 12-inch, 110-120V with GFCI

I am writing a review to advise others on how I installed my Krystal Clear sand filter as I was extremely confused while purchasing these items. 3 years ago I purchased a Summer Escapes 16ft Pro Series above ground steel frame pool. We never set it up until about a week ago. The filter that came with it was absolute garbage. It was a SFS1700 (or 1500C) series filter (with 1.25in hose connector) but had the wrong internal parts installed where the rod was not long enough to hold the impeller in place. It also had an additional impeller that was not suppose to be there. After 12 hours of grinding and pumping little water the filter broke. As I read it was a bad filter anyway I did not bother attempting to order replacement parts for it and that filter replacement was the same cost as the sand filter so I took the leap after reading all of the great reviews for the sand filter here. (A side note, the local pool store had a 50lbs bag of pool sand for $9.99 so I was able to get the sand in time for quick install).What was needed to install this filter part wise was extremely confusing especially since I had the SFS skimmer style filter basket. Therefore, along with this filter I ordered the GAME 4552 Skim Filter Pump Adapter (For Intex & Bestway Pools) from Amazon. The GAME 4552 fit perfectly with the hose for this filter and installed quickly and easily in my skimmer basket. (It fits 1.25in and 1.5in filter hoses and fits snugly even without a hose clamp). Next I had to get the output from the sand filter back into the pool. I figured this would take a complicated trip to the hardware store. Luckily, and to my surprise, the pump actually came with two hose conversion adapters. These are the threaded adapters you see with the filter as frequently bought together. When I read the reviews for the conversion adapters I saw that they did not generally work with the Summer Escape Pro series so I didn't buy them. Well, let me tell you how glad I was they came with the filter. I attached the conversion adapter to the threaded piping coming off the filter and then I attached the other end to the original 2ft pvc tubing that came with the pool and connected the water return/output to the original filter. I attached it snugly with he hose clamp that came with the pool and original filter and the install was complete within minutes. No needing to order extra parts, no trips to the hardware store. This install was as simple as can be and my pool now has a much better working sand filter.I would never replace or repair the original pump when this option is available PRIME at such a reasonable and comparable price. So far after a few days the filter works great. It moves a lot of water. The original pool vacuum included in the pool set still works as before. I left the original skimmer and filter in the filter basket and just essentially have a double filter at this point. I may remove the filter media. I don't know if having it in there does any harm or good so I just left it to start with. It is nice to have the extra skimmer in especially when using the vacuum.My only complaint with this filter is that to set the auto timer you have to turn it on at the time you want it to run. You can only actually set the amount of time you want it to run for. So if you want the filter to run from 4AM until 8AM you actually have to turn on the timer switch at 4AM. This would not be a huge deal if you had to do it only 1 time but the timer switch is the same as the main power switch so if you turn the filter on at any other time you have to reset the timer switch again at for me 4AM. This is also true if there is a power outage which generally resets the breaker on the filter plug. The reasons I am running my filter from 4AM until 8AM is that it is still somewhat noise so best to run while neighbors and I are sleeping and not generally outside. I don't want to run it during the day because you should not be swimming with the pump running it says. Finally, I would just run it from around midnight until 4AM but if for some reason the breaker on the plug resets and the pump is not running you would never know if you are sleeping. At least by having it run until 8AM I can check in the morning to make sure that the pump is indeed running and if it is not catch it much more quickly then if it is only running while I sleep.Overall this is a great pump but as I said I would like to see a timer dial as opposed to the current setup where I have to set an alarm to turn on the timer at 4AM every time it is reset. It is a little noisy but nothing that irritating. Just may not want it running to close to your patio or house if you are trying to sit outside and relax. it is no where near as bad noise wise as the pump that came with the pool. I would highly recommend it.This is my first pool and I am not that handy or patient with this kind of stuff. If I can make this work simply anyone can. I already see a difference in my water after only 1 day.Attached are photos of this pump installed (sorry the cover blocks some of the connectors) and the original pump that came with the pool for reference.

Product ReviewedSince Amazon aggregates reviews for similar products together, I want to be clear: this review is for the Intex Krystal Clear Sand Filter Pump (for above ground pools), with a 3,000 GPH (11.3 m3/hr) pump flow rate.ImpressionsI could not be more pleased with this filter pump! Not only does it work very well to filter swimming pool water, it is powerful enough to do so quickly. I recommend this product for anyone who needs to keep their above ground swimming pool clean, with a minimum amount of hassle. Without a doubt, this filter pump is several order of magnitudes better than the cartridge filter which came with the pool. Intex should just stop selling those cartridge filter pumps and include sand filter pumps with their large swimming pools. As others have written, I should have switched years ago…The filter pump looks to be well made. All materials feel durable and heavy duty. The six-way valve operates without issue and I feel it will last the life of the filter pump. The included pressure gauge is easy to read, with green, yellow and red zones clearly marked. The fit and finish of all parts look to be above average and I encountered no concerns or issues assembling the filter pump.The built-in strainer basket is perfect for holding the Bioguard Silk Smart Tabs (two at a time) I use to chemically treat the water. Since I live in southern Arizona, and do not have large trees near the pool, I do not have to worry about large leaves falling into the water and being sucked into the filter pump. However, the strainer should easily hold and prevent any leaves (or other such debris) from entering the actual pump and filter.The included hoses are flexible yet durable enough to look like they will last for years. As the saying goes, only time will tell.Packaging and UnpackingIn addition to the regular printed packaging, which one would expect, there was another layer of packaging (on the outside of the printed packaging) which was specifically designed for shipping and looked to have been installed by the Intex factory. On top of that, the Amazon distribution center placed another layer of their ‘normal’ packaging. All-in-all, given the weight and size of the filter pump, and the fact that it arrived undamaged, all this packaging seemed appropriate.Unpacking was easy and all that was needed was a box cutter. Slicing through the packing tape was easy, as was removing the layers of packaging. I removed one layer of packaging at a time and encountered no issues.Assembly and InstallationOnce all pieces were removed, assembly was just as easy. The instructions were clear and, taking my time, I assembled the filter pump within 30 minutes. Now that I have done it once, I suspect I could assemble another one in 10 minutes or so.For installation, I used three pieces of 4”x 4” pressure-treated lumber, cut into 24” lengths, placed them on the ground and then placed two 24” x 24” concrete pavers (one next to the other) on top of them to form a rectangular base on which I installed the assembled filter pump. Once the pump was in place, I made sure the inlet and outlet hoses (from/to the pool) would reach the filter pump and then filled the filter pump with sand. (Filling was easy with the included sand shield.) The included setup and installation instructions were clear, easy to understand and follow.Note: The instructions clearly warn against installing the filter pump inside of a shed or otherwise restrict airflow around the pump. However, I am inclined to eventually install at least a sunshade on top of the filter pump, while leaving the sides open. This will not only prevent the pump from the harmful effects of the sun, but should also go some way towards reflecting the sound of the running pump away from the pool and the house.UsageNote: I have an above ground swimming pool (an Intex Ultra Frame 22' by 52") and use a solar cover, when the pool is not in use.The filter pump makes a moderate amount of noise when in operation. It is by no means distracting, but there is no doubt when it is running. I have setup the pump on the opposite side of the pool from the house and can just barely hear it when it runs.After just under two months of usage, the pump has stabilized at an operating pressure of approximately 8 pounds per square inch (PSI). When I initially setup the pump, with the pool water still green with algae from wintertime storage, the filter pump ran at about 10 to 12 PSI and I made a point to backflush it about twice a week for the first month. I did this in order to remove as much algae from the system as possible, since I didn’t want it settling in the filter medium (otherwise known as ‘sand’). Now that the algae is long gone, I will wait until the pressure reads 14-16 PSI before back flushing it.As for water pressure and flow, I am truly impressed. There is enough of both to ensure more than adequate water recirculation for my pool and for the operation of the Intex Auto Pool Cleaner.The owner’s manual recommends the filter pump be run for four hours per day, based upon the size of my swimming pool. I have been running the filter pump for six hours a day, from about 0600 to 1200 hours, in order to get the pool established for the season and to get the bottom of the pool as clean as possible. Now that the pool water has been clean for a month, and all the debris from the winter, and the previous season’s usage has been cleared, I am going to run it for four hours per day and see what happens.Back flushing the filter pump is simple. Since I have gravel immediately near the filter pump, I do not have a back flushing hose connected to the filter pump. However, if I had grass, I would connect a hose in order to reduce the possibility of the grass being damaged by the force of the water exiting the filter pump. Even though the owner’s manual states it will take about two minutes to thoroughly back flush the filter pump, I have never run it more than one minute before the water runs clear.ConclusionI do not have any regrets purchasing this filter pump. Well, I do have one regret: I should have purchased and installed it years ago! If you are still deciding whether or not this filter pump is better than a cartridge pump, or if it is worth the extra cost, I can assure you the answer to both questions is a resounding ‘Yes!’ You will not be disappointed.