Robotic versus other Pool Cleaners

I've been a pool owner for about 2 years, so I'm kinda new to the "sport". However, I have been a chemical engineer with numerous related "unit operations" experiences from managing a polyethylene plant that operate at 20,000 psi to designing a wastewater treatment system that use crushed limestone and horse troughs to effectively neutralize an effluent stream. I think I have some practical and technical experience that relates to pool ownership.

So two weeks ago I bought a robotic pool cleaner, the AquaVac Tiger shark QC. The reasoning for my selection was: Internet searches, including poolforum.com, seemed to indicate the two preferred pool cleaning systems were either a pressure-side system such as the Polaris OR a robotic system. I didn't already have the booster pump or wiring that a pressure-side cleaner requires. I could have easily installed the pressure-side system myself but the cost for the robotic and pressure side systems would have been about the same and the robotic system would not put trash into the pool filter that would have required backwashing to remove. (I had been using a suction-side unit, a 10-year-old Kreepy Krauler that I inherited from my original pool user. When the suction plate and regulator for the Kreepy died and would have required $150 to replace compared to a new Kreepy for $250 (that my wife though was inadequate but I pretended was OK) a change was eminent.

Of the robotics, I chose the AquaVac Tiger shark QC because it used filter elements rather than filter bags. Internet searches indicate that cleaning the filter bags is a real drag and the filter elements are supposed to be an improvement. The QC also has a 60-minute cleaning cycle. Normally my pool stays very clean with little cleaning, so I hoped that the 60-minute cycle with the QC would be enough. I also believe that if the unit only has to operate for 60 minutes rather than 5 hours, the machine will experience less wear-and-tear and should need less maintenance.

So how has my decision to buy the AquaVac Tiger shark QC worked out? I have operated the unit twice. Some debris was left in the bottom of the pool after both cleanings. The pool cleaner, as least so far, has not offered to bring me adult beverages. The jury is still out. However, I did not make the decision without much thought. We will just have to see.

Please try not to double post and especially try not to start two threads with the same post. :( I have deleted the other one of them. If you have done so inadvertently:eek: , either PM one of us (PoolDoc, Poconos, Watermom, Aylad or me) or add another post to the thread asking us to remove it. ;)

On to the robotics: I have the Dolphin Dynamic--I got it because the warranty at the time was the longest (3 years). At first the bags were a super-pain and messy, but now they are really easy since I figured out the following routine. I take a five-gallon bucket of pool water, dip the bag in, turn it inside out and squish it a few times until the water is opaque. Then I dump the water (NOT back into the pool..) and repeat. Most of the dirt is now gone, and then I toss it in the washing machine, or let it dry until another bag is dirty, then wash two. Don't put them in the dryer. Simple! The Dolphin rarely leaves any debris, other than at spring opening when I have to run it 4 times to get the pool clean, so I am VERY happy with it. It doesn't have that one hour cycle, which is nice, but I'll run it overnight or in the morning when everyone is going off for the day.

Your Tiger Shark doesn't bring you beer and rum&coke? I'd have it checked if I were you---All the others do that as a matter of course! ;)

I recently purchased the Dolphin Dynamic and very much appreciate the cleaning tip in the prior post. This robot cleans pretty good. The only thing that bothers me is that it tends to "blow" the leaves out of its path before running over the area. My pool water is currently about 65 degrees. Will this work better in warmer water? Are there any adjustments, e.g., increase in suction power, etc.

CarlD

How long have you had your Dolphin? I am leaning towards that one. They are so expensive though I am hoping it will last me at least 5 years.
Also, is there a difference in the diagnostic vs the dynamic other than the remote and caddy? About how much does it weigh?


LD

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Originally Posted by luvapool

CarlD

How long have you had your Dolphin? I am leaning towards that one. They are so expensive though I am hoping it will last me at least 5 years.
Also, is there a difference in the diagnostic vs the dynamic other than the remote and caddy? About how much does it weigh?


LD

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Whew! Lotta questions. My Dolphin is now 2 years old. No problems. I believe the Dynamic has, in addition to the caddy and the remote, better software. The caddy is an over-priced POJ where the wheels don't work very well, but it is still very useful for moving and storing not only the Dolphin, but its power supply. The remote allows you to establish parameters of your pool's dimensions, whether you want it to climb the walls, and how long a cycle. In addition you can run it manually.

How much does it weigh? I dunno--less than a 5 gallon bucket of water by a long shot, but it's still fairly heavy.

Will it last 5 years? It D*** well better! So far, though, it's been pretty good.

Sorry for all the questions but thanks! One last question :) Does using the robotic cut down on your filtering time as most claim to do?

It would, but that's not how I pick the time I use. The Dolphin is VERY effective at "polishing" the water, as it's called. The Dolphin's bag (and that of most robotics) is a VERY effective filter and in 8 hours of running it seems to be a total turnover of the water.

It really glistens after the Dolphin has run!

Both made by the same company:

http://www.aquaproducts.com/apsite/index4_22_05.htm

While other folks have found the Dolphin/Aquabot effective and trouble free, My experience with the Aquabot Turbo was less than ideal. I have a 26Kgal vynil liner pool. (L shape with stairs on the "foot" of the L). For my pool, The Aquabot Turbo was far from drop it in overnight and forget it:

It would climb the walls to the waterline, eat it's own cord and get tangled up
get stuck in the corners, stairs, ladders
get stuck and spin on top of the main drain (there's an $80 cover for the main drain that allows the robotic cleaners to navigate it).

After futzing with the cleaner for ~2 months, I gave up and got the Pool Rover Plus (at ~60% of the cost $475 shipped) after a reading review posted on this forum prior to it going down. I absolutely love this cleaner. It's just so ridiculously simple (just makes timed K-turns). No microprocessors, No cicuit boards in oil bath, no tracks/brushes... SIMPLE! And since it's the same impeller/filter bag design (in fact the same filter bag as the Aquabot Turbo) you get all the "water polishing" benefits. Plus it's a 2 hour clean cycle NOT an 6~8HR overnight cycle. If I really want the water to sparkle, I run it 2~3 cycles for a deep clean. It's pennies/cycle to run this cleaner. I actually don't think I need to run the pump/filter ($1~2 for an 8HR cycle) on days I do the deep clean. You should see the stuff it pulls out of even the cleanest looking pool

Now it doesn't scrub or climb walls to the water line (it'll climb the hopper ramps and almost go vertical). With a plaster pool perhaps the scrubbing/water line cleaning is a big benefit. But with a vynil liner I personally think NOT scrubbing is a PLUS! Why prematurely wear out the liner? I much rather run the brush manually over the walls at the start of the cleaning cycle.

If you have a vynil liner pool, check out the Pool Rover PLUS (Plus is for IG pools).

I can't speak for other robotic pool cleaners. My only experience is with the Pool Rover. It does such a great job of cleaning the pool we never have to do any manual cleaning. We have a 26K gallon 33' round above ground pool. IMHO two of the best purchases I've made for the pool have been the Aquarite and Pool Rover.

I purchased our New Pool Rover off Ebay from a pool dealer last year for $280.00.

I just wanted to update this post. I've now been a pool owner for 3 years. During that time I've gone through 3 pool rovers. Two were new and one was bought for spare parts. I've had failures in the transformer controller box, two pumps on the rovers and plugs coming out of the socket on the power box. The cord also twists and tangles with every run requiring a manual unwind. When they are working they do a great job but reliability and quality leave much to be desired with these expensive items.