Here's a few things I've learned from owning an 18'X48" Intex easy set pool. (the one with the big blow up ring on top).

Cleaning can be really tough and the filters don't filter out all the dirt and fine stuff.

Putting a pair of panty hose over the filter does help keep the bugs and stuff out of it and it works a little better.

To clean to bottom, I used a 16 gallon shop vac to get a good siphon going and then disconnected the hose from the vac to finish vacuuming the bottom of the pool. It made a mess, but got most of the dead stuff off the bottom - algae, dirt, silt, and leaves.

I have tried every vacuum system made for this pool and have yet to find one that works really well...even with cotton balls added to the filter bag. The new one at Walmart with the knee-hi sock attached to it, is the best yet, though.

Hope this helps someone out there. I won't buy another one of these pools due to the difficulty maintaining them with the cartridge system they come with. The cartridges are expensive and don't work very well on the whole. Next time I'll definitely use a better pump/filter combination. On the other hand, I've had this pool up for going on 3 seasons. For the money I paid for it, it's been a reasonable method of providing fun for the family in the short run.

That said, if you're short on immediate budget, it's a good pool. If you can afford something more, I'd go that route.