Rover Plus versus Phantom

[jazzkj]

I'm stuck in a corner here. My wife won't let me spend the cash to get a Dolphin in the pool, so I'm trying to offer a compromise and get a Rover Plus for our inground/vinyl. I'm a bit concerned that I'm going to get it and hate it (since it only cleans the bottom and misses corners).

Should I try to get her to let me spring for a Phantom?

Should I not bother with the Rover Plus at all and get an even cheaper pressure-side cleaner?

I live in Maine, and my pool is a collection point for every bug, leaf, pine needle, and grain of sand in a ten mile radius. I really need an automatic cleaner. Please help.

[Pool_Mike]

I'm stuck in a corner here. My wife won't let me spend the cash to get a Dolphin in the pool, so I'm trying to offer a compromise and get a Rover Plus for our inground/vinyl. I'm a bit concerned that I'm going to get it and hate it (since it only cleans the bottom and misses corners).

Should I try to get her to let me spring for a Phantom?

Should I not bother with the Rover Plus at all and get an even cheaper pressure-side cleaner?

I live in Maine, and my pool is a collection point for every bug, leaf, pine needle, and grain of sand in a ten mile radius. I really need an automatic cleaner. Please help.

Hi, PRP owner here :D

As for the corners, just use the pole and brush as the PRP is in action. That way that micro-fiber bag gets that dirt that was in the corner while the machine is in action.

Honestly the great thing about the PRP is that there are NO MOVING PARTS. So wear and tear will not be a issue. Cool huh?

Easy to put up and I really, really like that machine. Does a great job. It actually will go up the steed incline of your pool also. I seen it even sometimes climb up the wall (no lie). Best $500.00 I ever spent.

Once the pool is clean, its clean. Let the PRP do it's wonders and you enjoy swimming.

[ivyleager]

We have a sweet gum tree issue, and tend to get those little buggers in the pool occasionally. I NEVER attempt to vacuum them manually, always use skimmer pole and net to scoop them out from the bottom first. Also have the kids trained to dive down and get them, and to never step on them for fear of damagine the liner. Do you have any experience with the PRP ability to suck these little buggers up and not get clogged/damaged?

Thanks!

CaryB

[Pool_Mike]

We have a sweet gum tree issue, and tend to get those little buggers in the pool occasionally. I NEVER attempt to vacuum them manually, always use skimmer pole and net to scoop them out from the bottom first. Also have the kids trained to dive down and get them, and to never step on them for fear of damagine the liner. Do you have any experience with the PRP ability to suck these little buggers up and not get clogged/damaged?

Thanks!

CaryB

Hi Cary, We have an oak tree, but its no where near the pool. How'ever, we do get those acorns and the PRP sucks those up into the bag. PRP has 2 type of bags. One for leafs, trash, bulky crap in the pool that will store more junk in it, then you got the Mico-filter bag, which is a fine bag that keeps the fine dirt that is in the pool. Both bags will pick up the same ca-ca in the pool ;) . PRP will not get clogged. Everythings sucks into the bag diretly from the suction vents to the bag. That technology is great.

Oh the bags are reuseable. Just dump dirt, clean bag w/ hose and woo-lah its clean.

Just a side note, if you want a cleaner to climb the walls, check out the AquaJet. It cost little bit more, but does go streight up the wall. As for me, I will use my pole and brush about once a week for the walls. I never see dirt on them. As long as you keep the PRP running daily, you will not get dirt in corners or walls. As I say, it does a wonderful job.

[Pool_Mike]

and to never step on them for fear of damagine the liner.

It won't damage the liner. The only rolling/moving part are the 4-rubber wheels. The PRP does not skim or skirt across the liner. I feel very safe with it not ripping my liner.

*check out the video on the PRP and see it in action*

Video: http://www.automatic-pool-cleaners.com/Images/common/Media/Aquabot_Pool_Rover_Plus_In_Ground_Pool_Cleaner_Dem onstration.wmv

[tphaggerty]

I have a PRP as well, starting 2nd season (in a month or so - yeah solar). Sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't. It does a really good job at picking up stuff, even tons and tons of leaves. It doesn't do straight walls (though it will climb the side inclines in a vinyl IG like mine). When I bought mine last year, I didn't see the Aquajet, otherwise I might have gone for that.

The only time I don't like it is when I am brushing the walls and floor once a week or so. Even with good numbers, the liner can get slightly slick. Of course, being a gadget freak, the Wall Whale helps with that! Also, the cord can get really tangled, especially if you run it twice in a row (even if you reverse the wheels so it turns in opposite directions) - the cord untangler either doesn't work for me or I'm too dense to use it correctly.

Finally, (and this is really piling on), the PRP and PoolBuster make a great combo!! I use the PB most of the time and throw the PRP in once or twice a week. (Actually, my wife does the PB, she likes doing that, but she won't touch the PRP).

[SLS]

This will be the third season that I've had my PRP. It was the best 500.00 I've spent. I just drop it in once a week or after a t'storm and in 1 hr it has my 20 x 40 pool clean. It doesn't do my 90 degree corners very well but I just go around and brush the stuff out towards the center. I can also use the net pole to get it lined up with the wall and it will go straight down the walls.
I haven't brushed my walls or manual vaccuumed in two years. I know that is taking a chance but no problems so far!!! The cord tangling is a pain sometimes but still much much better that doing it manually. I hope this one will last long enough for them to make a rechargeable one that doen't have a cord. Good luck on your decision.

[leejp]

I have the same leaf, pine needle and bug problem...

I had the Aquabot and I DOWNGRADED to the pool rover plus. The Aquabot got stuck on my main drain, stairs, ladder, return fittings... It was far from drop it in and forget it. After 2 months of headaches, I sold the unit... for some pools, they're great but not for mine. I'm sure it'd have eventually torn the liner on the stairs where it used to get stuck.

The Pool Rover Plus is a much simpler design (no fancy electronics that outsmart itself) and basically gets the pool every bit as clean as the Aquabot except thae waterline, stairs and corners which is no big deal. It also got my pool clean in 2~3 hours vs 8 (for the aquabot).

Different folks have varying degrees of success with different types of cleaners. Almost everyone who has a Pool Rover Plus seems to like their cleaner (I remember one person last year reported poor coverage with it). It's a shame you can't test drive a cleaner... once a pool cleaner is put in your pool, you can't return it. For me the Pool Rover Plus works great.

That said... I jst purchased a much bigger DE filter for my pool and went from 54GPM designed flow rate to 96 GPM. I also upgraded the pump from a 3/4HP to a 1HP. So I purchased a thepoolcleaner pressure side cleaner which doesn't require a booster pump.

Why? Here's downside to the pool rover plus (and the rest of the robotics)...

While I really like the Pool Rover Plus, dragging it out of the garage and putting it in the pool, dragging it back out and storing it is somewhat of a pain. My wife who is very petite is not strong enough to lift it out of the pool once it's finished its cleaning cycle.

Since thepoolcleaner is designed to "live" in the pool 24x7, it's cleaning whenever the pump is on. The pool will be clean pretty much all the time and ready to go.

If thepoolcleaner and the bigger DE filter combination is enough to keep the water polished, I'll sell my Pool Rover Plus. If not... I'll just pull it out once in a while for deep cleanings only.