DIY Pool Filter Project

[Mynock]

My pool filter shit the bed a few days ago, and due to global supply issues (CoVid), I wouldn't have been able to get a new one shipped to me for a month or maybe more. Had to get inventive.

/queues up theme music from MacGyver
1. Drill inlet holes in bottom of bucket. Add 5lb weight and overstuff with Polyester Fill

53406903-10C9-4426-9B61-40633FF23CFE.jpeg

2. Drill slightly undersized holes in bucket lid so that aquarium pumps fit tightly. Snap on lid.

69B193BF-03AC-4613-9B69-BD8AAF7DCCB2.jpeg

3. Sink the entire thing in your pool, and viola, 900gph of filtration. No leaky hoses, no tightening loose clamps, just plug it in and let it run. 2/3 the cost of a 'real' filter and 3x the circulation of the original pump. Also no expensive paper filter cartridges, Poly fill costs $2 a bag!

F15C3BF9-2968-46B2-969B-650E35B79406.jpeg

[Duncan Edwards]

That's beautiful. I tinkered with all kinds of thoughts of homemade filters like that while plotting and planning for advanced stuff at Camp MPV. I feel somewhat validated. Thank you.

[Mynock]

It really does work! I forgot to mention the filter had been down for several days before I came up with this. Pool had been used in the meantime by two people trying to stay cool during a heat wave, so it had got kind of funky and cloudy. 2 hours after I plugged this in water was crystal clear again.

[Fred588]

I have something similar, albeit for a much smaller pool. The "pool" here is a home made hot tub that holds about 2.5 cubic yards of water. Its outdoors, however, so bugs and leaves fall in constantly. I obtained a sort of canister filter intended to make cleaner water from a sink tap. Water from the hot tub is pulled through an eight-foot hose to the filter by a circulating pump. The filter is inside the tub but the pump is outside to avoid electrical issues. The output from the pump then goes through a 20 gallon water heater and from there back to the tub. The system is open so the heater cannot be used for anything else. I have a plastic trash bag over the heater and a dishpan over the pump for protection from the rain. It seems to work very well.

[Mynock]

^^Sounds like the same concept I was running with at first, but then I suddenly realized all the major components of mine were ok with being submerged, which drstically simplifed the design. Probably could make it even better by going with one big 1000gph pump instead of 3 smaller ones but that would up the cost considerably. Those little aquarium powerheads anre cheap and durable, had them run for years in my fish tanks with little/no maintenance.

[Mynock]

Thought I'd do a one year update on this since it turned out so awesome.

I ran this thing virtually nonstop for the entire season last year and barely had to touch it. The original poly fill lasted all summer, never had to clean, change it out, no clogs, no reduced flow. That alone is pool owners dream.

An added benefit I didn't even think a out last year was the maintenance cost. The old filter used a pleated paper cartridge that had to be changed once a week at a cost of about $5. I actually saved enough money last season not buying filters to pay for a new pool this year.

9A3AE020-5D06-41C1-8D82-5B605DDDDBA0.jpeg

65B2C01C-D024-4979-9C30-B025C46CB431.jpeg

E3D45C65-4353-4420-90AE-BA892480D5DE.jpeg

CAB7659E-0316-476B-A41A-65D43C50638C.jpeg

[Duncan Edwards]

Okay, now you got me real curious about two things -

What kind of pumps and how much?

What did the fill look like when you removed it?

[Fred588]

This is my second try at a reply to this thread. I have no idea where the first one went.

It is good to see solutions like this. It seems we live in a world where the solution to everything is to head to Home Depot, Walmart, etc. and just buy what they have. I've met too many people who seem to need a special machine to tie their shoes. And I have actually had several people, trying to find my Studio, get hopelessly lost because they relied on their vehicle GPS (which failed) and they could not read a map.

[Duncan Edwards]

It is good to see solutions like this. It seems we live in a world where the solution to everything is to head to Home Depot, Walmart, etc. and just buy what they have. I've met too many people who seem to need a special machine to tie their shoes. And I have actually had several people, trying to find my Studio, get hopelessly lost because they relied on their vehicle GPS (which failed) and they could not read a map.

I see you have met my daughter.

CarlSaganScience and Technology.jpg

[Fred588]

It is good to see solutions like this. It seems we live in a world where the solution to everything is to head to Home Depot, Walmart, etc. and just buy what they have. I've met too many people who seem to need a special machine to tie their shoes. And I have actually had several people, trying to find my Studio, get hopelessly lost because they relied on their vehicle GPS (which failed) and they could not read a map.

I see you have met my daughter.

No, I have not. But I have tried to work with a large number of college students. Some of them were good at partying but little else. Some of them were very good in many ways. A I am afraid there were a few who not only would not rad, they COULD NOT read.

CarlSaganScience and Technology.jpg