Pentair all the way. The Hayward only has a 4 position multiport valve vs the Pentair 6 position. The Hayward grid assembly is a PITA to hose down the inside portion of it's spiral grid assembly when compared to the cartridge style grids on the Pentair. The cartridges never have to be taken apart either.

Scott

Correction: 1.5" Hayward S244T (not RD600T)

Thank you poolguynj. So if I go with the Pentair, I should definitely go with the multiport valve? Should I stay away from the slide valve?

Also, should I get the 100sf or the 80sf size. From the spec sheet, it appears there is little difference in flow rate, I just want to make sure I can adequately backwash this filter with my 1.5HP pump.

If you go with thew Pentair product steer clear of the Quad systems. Purchase a FNS or FNS Plus 60 sq/ft DE filter with your choice of a slide valve or a multiport valve.
I prefer a 6 position multi port over the slide because you can vacuum to waste or lower a pools water level without losing your DE powder currently in the filter.
If you vacuum with a slide valve all the debris goes straight into the filter dirtying it up more or all the DE powder leaves the filter if you vacuum with the slide valve in the opposite position.
If you go with a slide valve read the diagram closely, I've seen hundreds that were plumbed upside down because they were looking at the sand schematic and not the other side of the paper where it shows the DE schematic. This will terribly cloud out your pool with DE powder your pool when you replumb it correctly.

Don't feel the slightest bit uneasy about trusting your pool builder. I compete against almost 30 builders in my area, on one hand I can count the number of them I'd trust.
I'd have any of these 5 men build a pool at my home right here and now. The other 25 I'd feel hard pressed just trusting in them to perform a DE filter grid breakdown and clean.
The industry is rampant with those who tell you they know everything there is to know about swimming pools, those who know will usually remain as the silent ones. I've been doing this for 30 years and still, although I know a whole lot, don't know everything.
See ya,
Kelly

OK Husky. So just curious, what is wrong with the QUAD system per se? Why do you recommmend against it?

So given the choice of the Pentair QUAD, FNS or Hayward Pro Grid, which would YOU put in YOUR pool?

Thanks again

I live in Scottsdale, I hope that is not too close to Phoenix for my opinon to count:)

I have 2 Quad filters on my 65K gallon pool for going on 4 years. They do a great job, and have high flow for my infloor. I have never had to change a grid, and am quite happy with there general performance.
As far as size, bigger means less maintenance on your end.
There is a pretty big price jump from the 60 to the 80 but not much from the 80 to 100.
I personally have no experiance with the Hayward products, I have always used Pentair.

Hey PB,

Read your other post regarding this filter and thats what convinced me to look into the Quad. So do you recommend the slide valve over the multiport in terms of performance and flow? I keep my pool open year round so I never vacuum direct to waste.....

Yeah rarely needed here for the most part, and most of the service guys I have talked to prefer the slide valve.

We generally plumb with slide valve, but no valve is required with this filter, unless you want to be able to backwash.
Be carefull with the Quad as it does not plumb like a DE it plumbs like a sand. The directions are a little vague, and it is an expensive mistake.

???So given the choice of the Pentair QUAD, FNS or Hayward Pro Grid, which would YOU put in YOUR pool???

I'd take the FNS 60, I guess I'm just not a member of the Quad Club. I actually just looked at the Hayward website Pro Grid series, I actually liked what I read about the 72.
I wasn't aware of a 72 size model from Hayward.
My most favorite system forever was always a Nautilus 72 with a Challenger pump. If you want an awesome filter search for NSP72. I don't even know if Pentair still makes them. This was great Pac Fab product.

See ya,
Kelly

NSP 72, yes they still make it I bought one about a month ago but very pricey and it is still stainless. Great filter but in most cases is overkill. Except for your pool Kelly where you probably need 3 right? I personally like the idea of they quad DE but I am a creature of habit. I want to see how it stands up for about ten years before I put me approval on it and maybe it is just me but anything Hayward I won't even read specs on, most of the time it's all hype and to good to be true marketing.

JMO,

David

quote" Money is no object here "quote

When I just reread the original post I saw this sentence that must have escaped me yesterday evening.

If money is not an object purchase the NSP 72.

David, I really didn't say I liked the Hayward products, but I do like what I read about the 72 sq/ft Pro Grid
Honestly, if I were offered a choice between an 80 Quad and the 72 Pro Grid, I'd take the Pro Grid.
I just called my wholesaler and the price difference was less than 30 bucks between the 72 Pro Grid and the Quad 80, they told me that the NSP 72 is no longer being Mfg'd.

And yes your correct, I could have placed 3 stainless 72's on my pool but I couldn't come up with the additional money at the time I was building my pool. I used 3 FNS 60's, I don't know if they even make this fiberglass tank filter any more either. I think they're all thermoplastic nowadays.

Mark, rest assured I'm not trashing the Quad filter, I'm just not on that bandwagon. If you really want the best filter search for a new Nautilus NSP 72. It is the best of the best and is probably still available from stock at an Internet wholesaler somewhere. I haven't seen the innards to a Hayward 72 but I'll bet it's standard Unicell grids, these are an industry standard regardless of the Filter's Mfg. These will be the same as the NSP 72 except a thermoplastic instead of stainless steel tank.

See ya,
Kelly

We used the stainless 72's for 10 years and switched to the Hayward 72's in 2003 or whenever they first came out. We have always used full rated 2hp pumps with them and never had a problem with either manufacturer. The stainless tanks sweat a lot more but I have yet to see any signs of corrosion.

We have never used the quad filters. Its hard for me to believe all those pleats get backwashed very well.

A sincere thank you for the feedback everybody. And just_a_pb, I'm sure you are great. I was just venting a little steam from my last pb from the valley. I hate to generalize, but its a whole lot easier. :)

Different opinions from everybody, but just a couple of questions regarding the QUAD. Aside from the incorrect plumbing issue, what don't people like about the filter? You're not trashing it. Its weird. My "new pool" guy says stay away from it, and so did a couple of other posts on other forums, but noone could give me a specific answer. Did a couple of Pentair Filters blow up a few years back and kill some people and create this negativity about this company? Their pumps and customer service reps are tip-top from what I have seen /dealt with.....

Husky (Kelly)

Briefly what makes the Nautilus the best of the best if it essentially has the same inards as the Hayward? Granted , I did say money no object, but if its identical to the Hayward Pro Grid DE I see little reason to pay the extra $200-$300 for a stainless steel tank. Once again your feedback is greatly appreciated.

The stainless tank is exactly what makes it the best.
I put more faith in that tank for a long life expectancy than any fiberglass or thermoplastic tank.
The filtration effectiveness and flow will be the exact same on both units. That's why I said I liked what I read about the Hayward 72 over the Quad.
I had a Quad comp'd to me about 4 years ago, we placed it at a salesgirls home pool. It didn't backwash as effectively as a unit with DE grids. They gave us a retro diverter assembly manifold for the unit to help in this aspect of operation. Although better I still wasn't overly impressed with the unit. My salesgirl loves it because it beat her 10+ yr old filter hands down. Trust me on this, I wont make a product switch unless I'm firmly convinced it's better, not just more expensive. And coming back to me with this retrofit diverter assembly for brand new product that's not only noticably more expensive but has lesser performance effectiveness in the backwash cycle sunk it's battleship.
I just couldn't join the Quad's fan club based on my real world interaction with the unit.
Note, my salesgirl, one of my longest employees loves hers.
that's why I couldn't speak negatively about the product, I just couldn't speak positively about it either.
Maybe Reno's correct, it's probably just real hard to give any cartridge filter an effective backwashing without a filter breakdown. I have a VERY large pool (120k gal) and only break my 60's down at the beginning of swim season (the weekend before spring break) then I backwash for the following year. I have no need for a unit that refuses to backwash as well as a product which costs the same or less.
As soon as one of my tanks gives up it's ghost I'll surely regret not stepping up to the plate and getting what I really wanted but cheaped out on due to cost over-runs on my pool construction project.

See ya,
Kelly

The Hayward only has a 4 position multiport. Pentair uses a 6 position. As a service guy, the 6 position offers a Waste setting and a closed setting. While a Waste function can be plumbed before the filter with a 3-Way valve like a cartridge filter, having it and the Closed position on the MPV is convenient and useful.

Internally, the Quad has a lower head loss than either the FNS+ or Hayward Pro-Grid. There is also a Quad 100 which offers a lot of cleaning surface.

The entire Quad series offers 3 ways to be plumbed:

Least efficient but most convenient is with a MPV.

Next is the slide valve that allows for a backwash but no rinse. Sorry, this doesn't cut it for me.

Most efficient is plumbing it directly. In order to dump the old DE, you have to open the tank and hose down the cartridges. This can get messy. Normally, with the 80 and 100 on the average pool, it's a once or twice a year event assuming the pool is kept well and not ignored.

The FNS+ and Pro-Grid filter grids should be disassembled for soaking and proper hose downs annually. The Quads grids are cartridge shaped. While they get the annual hosing and soak, they don't get taken apart. No screws to get lost, no manifolds to break when trying to keep the grids aligned. Its a much simpler system.

All three work well. The Quad is the easiest to maintain though, from my perspective as a serviceman.

Scott

"the Hayward only has a 4 position multiport"

We use Hayward 6 position multiports all the time.

Maybe you break down and soak DE grids on an annual basis but we only do it when the pressure rises too quickly after backwashing.We usually leave the grids assembled in the tank when cleaning. I know the manual reccommends an annual cleaning but if the grids havn't become contaminated and are operating as desired there is no reason to clean them. I have seem more damage done in one cleaning than years of operation.

If you properly size the pump and let it be off for a couple hours a day, you may not have to open the tank for many years.

renoxpt,

I just looked it up and saw they have an available 6 way. Except for the fact that it's a Hayward, that makes it close to the FNS+. I should have looked closer.

I still prefer the Quads. Significantly less risk of damage when giving it a thorough cleaning/soak. If the pool is not used a lot, I agree the soak can wait.

Most of the pools in my neck tend to get used due to our shorter swim seasons. Plenty of lotion, tanning and skin oils and other gook require a good soaking on an annual basis if they have DE filters.

Scott

Thank you everyone for your comments / feedback. If any of you need any advice on heavy concrete construction, I am your humble servant. :)