Looking for Heater advice

Hi all, I am a new pool owner. Only had our pool up for 1 week.
I live in Michigan and am looking at getting a heater system for my pool.
The pools is above ground 18 round. I have found that a solar cover is quite difficult to take on and off so much so that I am considering not even mounting the reel for it. I am wondering how the solar heaters work and am also considering a gas unit but not sure what size or make. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Jim

I love our solar heating panels ( so far, had 'em a week now ) but we wouldn't be doing very well without the solar cover. The solar cover resists heat loss from conduction and radiation but more importantly it resists heat loss due to evaporation which can be very high on a cool, dry, breezy night ( you do have those in Michigan ? ). I would hope that your reel would make it eaiser to handle the cover but if not, there are other ways. I belive Watermom has posted how she cut her round cover into quarters and rolls each one onto a PVC pipe to lift out.

Here is the info BigDave referred to in this thread: Watermom's Solar Cover Solution for her24' AG Pool