I'm with CarlID on that. We had our 18x48 "dougnut pool" with a solar panel for 5 years and enjoyed it very much, but our children grew larger and invited more friends all the time, we have outgrown it. We kept our chemistry set, pumps on timers, the covers on when we should, had a nice Lil Shark for easy cleaning and it worked very well for us until it was time to move up. These work pretty well for letting someone find out the schedules and routines required for pool ownership, or if its not for them at all! I think these things cost close to nothing these days - a couple hundred and cheap filter/hose replacements if there is a problem (not a $600 initial expense like when we bought ours, but isn't that how it always goes?)

We saved until we could afford more than just the first thing that fit a budget. Wish a big round would have worked, but narrow sun exposure in our yard led us to a buttress-free 18x33, which has been ordered and will be delivered soon. (shade = mosquitos up here in the northern swamps)