AGP Vacuum Suggestion

[AnnaE]

Hi. We are in the market for a new above-ground pool vacuum cleaner. We currently have the bug that is automatic and we also have the manual one that you attach to the hose. Can anyone give me a good recommendation? Hopefully, something not too pricey. Thanks!

[Watermom]

I have a Polaris 65 and I don't think it does that great of a job. It floats on top of the water with a tail that swooshes around the pool floor and the movement aims debris into a filter bag at the end of the tail. It does do a pretty good job of picking up leaves, twigs, and other larger debris, but it does not do a good job of getting dust which is what I need it for 95% of the time. The movement of the tail just stirs the dust up and it then resettles back to the floor. Really the only time I use it is maybe upon opening if I have a lot of leaves or debris from flowering trees in the pool. The rest of the time, I just use the manual vacuum cleaner which does a much better job. Just my $0.02. I'm sure their are other people who love their Polaris 65 for their AG pool, but for me, I'm not impressed.

BTW -- I do add the cotton balls to the filter bag and it does help it catch some, but not enough.

[AnnaE]

Watermom,

Thanks for your two cents. I live in a new subdivision, so we don't have too many mature trees yet to get a lot of leaves. I really wanted a vacuum that is easy to use without hooking up to the pump system and to vacuum up all the dirt on the pool floor. Everytime I move the vacuum, the dirt just kicks up and settles back on the floor of the pool. It's really frustrating. The lady bug takes too long and sometimes it gets caught in the hose.

From the sounds of the Polaris 65, it doesn't sound like something that would work for me. Thanks. I'll keep looking.:)

[newtopools]

I have a robokleen which I love. It doesn't attach to the pump so you don't have to hook up the hoses which is a plus. I just put it in and it does it's thing. It has a long extension which floats on top of the water. I believe it will run for 3 hrs. All the debris goes into a fabric filter which you clean out and reuse. Search around for the best deal because I've seen them run from $249 to $399. Some have complained of having to send it back to the manufacturer but I've not had any problems yet and I got mine last Summer. I make sure that I put it in just like the directions say. It is a bit heavy so you do need to be able to handle its weight. I'd guess its about 10 to 15 lbs. Another must have that I would never go without is a pool skim. it sucks everything on top of the water into a net which you can empty out as often as needed. Here is a link to a web site that sells them. http://www.thepoolskimmer.com/ I would never go without one now that I've had it.

[AnnaE]

Newtopools,

Thanks for the suggestion. I will look into the Robo-Kleen and the PoolSkim. I am also looking at the Pool Rover. Do you have any knowledge of that one? Also, in regards to the Poolskim, I have a pool heater. Will this work with the poolskim? From what I can see of the picture, it looks like it would hook up to the eye of my pool. I have an above-ground pool. However, the eye is where the warm water from the heater comes out of, so would this thing work when I have the heater on?

Thanks.

[newtopools]

I would'nt think that the pool heater would be a problem as far as the pool skim is concerned. It creates a suction of everything floating on top of the pool (grass clippings, bugs or what ever) If you do a search on this site on the pool skim you will find it has alot of good reviews. I have found that a couple times a year(when we've had a rain) I vacume to waist to get that stuff at the bottom that tends to be hard to get out.

[AnnaE]

I didn't think so either, but just wanted to ask just in case. I will most probably order this thing first and see how it goes and then order the vacuum a little bit later. Most of my problem seems to be my girls' hair.

Thanks newtopools.

[kevincad]

I have a Polaris 65 and I don't think it does that great of a job. It floats on top of the water with a tail that swooshes around the pool floor and the movement aims debris into a filter bag at the end of the tail. It does do a pretty good job of picking up leaves, twigs, and other larger debris, but it does not do a good job of getting dust which is what I need it for 95% of the time. The movement of the tail just stirs the dust up and it then resettles back to the floor. Really the only time I use it is maybe upon opening if I have a lot of leaves or debris from flowering trees in the pool. The rest of the time, I just use the manual vacuum cleaner which does a much better job. Just my $0.02. I'm sure their are other people who love their Polaris 65 for their AG pool, but for me, I'm not impressed.

BTW -- I do add the cotton balls to the filter bag and it does help it catch some, but not enough.

I use my Polaris alot when I want to keep the water stirred up for a few days to let the filter take care of the dust.

[tara15]

I have a large tree overhead that drops leaves and mullberries. Do you think the pool skim would work for that? I have to vacuum every single day and I get about 2 basket loads of berries. We also get TONS of bugs and its annoying when trying to swim with the baby.