Swimming pools blog

I just bought a new sand filter and thought I could install it myself
(didn’t seem terribly hard). But now that I’m reading the manual,
I’m realizing my pool is kind of hodge-podge from the previous owner
so I want to make sure it’s right this time. Add to this
complication that the online store mailed me a side mount filter and
not a top mount as ordered. But I don’t want to be without a filter
for another week, so I want to make this work.
I currently have PVC going into my pump with a threaded coupling
(forgive me, I don’t know proper PVC vocab, but it basically allows
me to unscrew the pipe without cutting it). The PVC goes out of the
pump into another threaded coupling and then to my old single
cartridge filter. It comes out of the filter into a jandy valve (??
a manual shut off valve) and then to an in-line chlorinator and out
to the pool.
I’ve recently learned about check valves and it seems it might be

handy to have one before the chlorinator to prevent corrosion to the
pump? I’ve seen a couple drawings that even have them before the
pump, should I have one too?
Do I still need a shut off valve somewhere at the end? I assume to
keep the water from running out when I clean the pump basket?
I’ve also recently seen these nice flexible hoses that go between the
pump and filter instead of the PVC. It that okay to use? Can I use
them in other places too? I HATE PVC!
Anything else in my set up do you think I should change?
And lastly, where would I find (cheap) sand? Pool store? Home
Depot? Sand wholesaler?
Thank you much!
Julie