How it looked at me?
First, the operating instructions: The instructions included in my opinion, actually rather poor, it is recommended first to verify the parts list, but such was not in my direction. The pictures are very small and in some cases not saying the lyrics to install can not even call it minimalistic one - actually is referring only to the pictures. Much worse as it gets really. On the homepage of Steinbach but a 24-page is very detailed German manual can be downloaded in PDF, which contains much more information and can actually succeeded as designated. Incomprehensible is why this is not settled.
Basically the installation is however of a single, technically somewhat savvy person, in about 20 minutes bewerkstelligbar, and would even work intuitively without any guidance. I have built the plant alone in my craft-Keller (since there the temperatures were perfect) and they brought only at the end to the site, connected to the swimming pool and filled with sand.
Forewarned by other reviews I have tried to work very carefully when assembling. Thread seal tape and Vaseline are well-stocked DIY basement anyway available. So everything was tight? Unfortunately not, at various points it dripped, such as the hose from the pump to 7-way valve. Below even stepped out of a fine jet of water. So I have one of the rubber sleeves, which are not mentioned in any assembly instructions, used in accordance with the comment to another review at the entrance of the 7-way valve, so it was here absolutely tight. At this point it is recommended by the way, not to use Vaseline, otherwise the hose together with the spout sliding down slowly, which is likely exacerbated by tighter tightening the hose clamp. While it is then very difficult to bring the hose and nozzle to the port but there holds then bombproof.
In other places I had with Teflon tape still rectify something, thus ended up being really anything to get close. But I have spent almost more time than for the actual assembly. Meanwhile, absolutely nothing drips.
For timer has already said that it is practically useless. If the system is working 8 hours a day, so it is possible to adjust the while, however, she runs then 8 hours, then 16 hours rest. 2 times 4 hours or 3 times 3 hours so impossible. An external timer can cost as about 2 to 5 euros, but it did not work with me the SFA in order to operate as desired. Fortunately, there are at Steinbach also provides guidance for bypassing the timer so that the system always runs when it gets power, which is exactly what you really want. This guide is that the two yellow wires to be severed. That I have not done, but I have the timer circuit board together with the yellow cable easily removed, making it easier to its original state restore - but making no sense at all.
The screwing of the Timer housing is actually easy because now no Tri-Wing screws longer be used openly, but simple Phillips screws. Here the manufacturer has rectified for the good of the customer.
At startup, the 25 kg of quartz sand have to be cleaned for the first time, which is accomplished by 3-minute backwash followed by 30-second rinse. Then the finest sandy parts are washed out and it gets nothing in the pool. Contrary to the assumption of a pre-reviewers may (or may not) you fill no more than the specified 25kg sand - the filter tank must not be completely filled with sand filter systems.
For the first time I thought "Oh my God, that's loud." In fact, the volume of the pump is absolutely OK, there are only 2 factors that may increase these unpleasant: air in the system, especially on the suction side has a loud chuckle result. This is remedied in a few seconds. The inlet connection of my pool is quite high and mounted by the weight of the filled tube is this taken into the slope, so that the pool inlet the inflow of water leads to large movements at the water surface, which loud, gurgling noise have resulted. Here I mechanically ensured that the inlet connection easily pointing downwards so that the water now flowing without noise below the water level. Thus, the SFA is in operation now significantly quieter than the absolutely useless original mini-cartridge filter of Bestway and a little louder than the higher quality 3.3m³ / h cartridge filter my previous pools.
With my 4.59 x 1,09m Bestway pool a 2m³ / h cartridge filter is included, which is absolutely insufficient and is suitable for a maximum of a much smaller pool. This ran 24 hours a day due to daily bathing and the high (water) temperatures, although the water already threatened after about a week to tilt (after I with better results previously used for weeks 3.3m³ / h cartridge filter of older pools but then unfortunately broke).
The difference of the toy Kartuschenfilteranalagen to this sand filter is like day to night. A visible flow is generated when pool water inlet and the connection to the skimmer impurities are sucked efficiently. Also the suction of the soil is thus no problem. The bottom of my pool was already bewachssen from the edges inwards with algae, I've fought through a connection pool cleaner to the skimmer and connect the suction first. Here, however, a lot has swirled from the floor trim, so that the water cloudy and green was, although the ground was much cleaner. After that, I immediately made a shock chlorination, what then the next day already resulted in a row to clear water. A second round bottom has eyes the last algae and dirt residues are removed from the ground, and now see the pool and water again as the first time operation - clean and crystal clear. This result would have naturally also achieved with any sand filter with a similar or higher output.
A great advantage of this system is that 32mm and 38mm tubes without any adapters are simply connected, making them ideal for use in Bestway-, Intex and similar quickup pools. By slightly different assembly with the accompanying alternate ports but larger pools (I think with 50mm connections, but I'm not sure) directly connectable.
One reviewer complained that his investment after a short light rainfall already gave up the ghost. I can only guess that water has entered the pump control and has led there to short-circuits on the board. After I developed this board - which I would recommend to anyone - can not happen with me. The plastic housing looks but for me from quite close. A very strong thunderstorms with heavy rain and a further rainfall, the system already but survived. In the near future I will but a small pump housing constructed to protect the pump - I like to go on the safe side.
Another avoidable problem is the wintering of the plant - a simple emptying (water) and then overwinter outdoors in freezing temperatures is the life of the plant is known not conducive. First, the water is not completely emptied, and secondly, the freezing temperatures of the plastic parts and gaskets are not just good. Therefore, I will drag the system in my basement and overwinter at about 16 degrees.
For me, the system currently works perfectly, but I exclude various forums entries that failures of the system occur, unfortunately, more often than desirable. Therefore, I have ordered due to the very good service from Amazon and not the lowest bidder, which is known for very poor service. The extra charge like to take into account, especially as a service case is not altogether unlikely. The Austrian company Steinbach, the general importer of the plant (I think), is also known for good service.
I think the quality of the SFA is not particularly and the dispersion appears to be high. I seem to have with my conditioning lucky, because at least it was all pretty easy to get close, but whether the system will work in the long term is (as always) in the stars. More than 4 stars can not give my opinion, and also that, if you only have happiness with the product supplied. However, I think all the other systems in this price range rather worse, so you have to lie down a lot more (from 350 euros), if you want better quality. For a pool, which cost only a little more than 100 euros, which is for me no relation.
For quickup pools with water quantities of 8m³ up the use of a sand filter system is worth definitely, and I could not find anything under 350 euros, which would definitely be more appropriate. Therefore, I can give a buy recommendation. Too bad I think it's only afterwards that I have not already purchased the SFA with my first quickup Pool 5 years ago, since the problem occurred with the water quality would not even occurred.
If in the coming years, something should change, I will update my review.
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Addendum July 2014: sand filter dragged from the basement, connected and everything is going very well again, only a very fine beam injected now out of the hose between the pump and filter, if the system is in operation. The one could easily get at something with thread sealing tape, but not worth the effort, since the amount of water lost is minimal and by the regular addition of a few liters of water with PH is more than compensated.
Another tip for Skimmer: The suction force of the pump, it can happen that the skimmer is hoisted when the inflatable ring should deflate for any reason. Last year, that was not the case with me, over the winter a few holes have been in the pool-ring but formed, of which I have already 2 found and sealed. In this case, the pump then sucks in air, which is less good. Therefore, I have the skimmer still secured in addition to the little trustworthy attachment to the pool edge with chains to a heavy stone on the ground.
Tips for storage: The sand does not have to be changed every year. The filter plant with Sand's pretty hard, but can be worn easily by two adults more or less. The water can drain, but the sand binds large quantities of water with erklecklichem additional weight, so that a repeated draining is recommended.
