Just installed new above ground by myself

[AnnaK]

Sand does shift and settle and the dips and bumps in the floor are normal. Whether it'll settle more on the side you built up I don't know. With each year that passes my pool gets new dips. I don't worry about it anymore.

As to automatic cleaners, can't help you there. I had a Polaris something, can't remember its name, for half a season and didn't like it. It was the kind that floated on top and dragged a bag across the pool floor. It needed too much babysitting, got stuck in one spot a lot and had to be prodded to turn and move elsewhere. I like vacuuming by hand and spend less time doing that than I did watching the Polaris. But lots of our members with AGPs have automatic cleaners and like them.

Welcome to the Pool Forum! May we please ask you to fill out our Pool Chart (link in my signature) with information about your pool and equipment? Thanks!

[Watermom]

I have that Polaris that Anna is talking about. It is the Polaris 65. (It is a pressure side cleaner that attaches to the pool return jet.) I like it fine --- for some things. It does a good job of picking up big stuff like leaves, twigs, 'helicopters' from the maple trees, etc. I use it upon opening in the spring when all the debris is falling from the trees. I also use it in the fall when the leaves start dropping. But, it does not do a good job getting dust and dirt. Other than opening and closing, I don't use it. The rest of the summer I either vac by hand which is the fastest way to do it and actually does the best job and I actually kind of enjoy it. (I do it while in the pool. It is hard to vac a big AG pool from outside the pool -- for me, at least.) I also have a "Wanda the Whale" automatic vac that walks around the floor. (It is a suction side cleaner which means that it has a plate that goes inside the skimmer basket.) Wanda does do a good job of getting the dirt.

[BigDave]

I have a Robo-Kleen cleaner, it's powered by a transformer (that stays outside the pool) connected by a long cable. It has it's own pump the pulls water and debris from the pool floor into it's internal filterbag. It goes back and forth over the floor with some apparently random turns. It gets leaves and sticks as well as fine sand. It doesn't climb walls and doesn't brush. I'm on my second unit, the first lasted three years but I was happy enough with its service that I bought another.

As far as I'm concerned, it pays for itself each time I use it.

[nottapooltech]

@ AnnaK: Thanks Anna, I guess I need to just stop worrying about it. If it does get out of level I guess I will just re-install it the correct way, i've put it up once, I guess I can put it up again. My hand vacuum wont stay on the floor when I push it across the pool floor. It keeps wanting to flip up at the swivel by the end of the handle. It seems to do a good job but I more less have to push it down and around the pool at the same time. Thanks for your help it is greatly appreciated.

@ Watermom: Thanks Watermom, I will check these out, I was just wanting to get one that does well when the pool floor isnt completely free of dips and depressions.

@ BigDave: Big Dave I am guessing if it picks up sticks it will pick up dirt in the depressions of my pool floor.

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Thank you all for your response. I will look into your suggestions. This is a great site.

[AnnaK]

Is your hand vac made for AGPs? Is it triangular? The ones I have are weighted and very well behaved. My favourite is the one I bought at ACE Hardware. It has an almost clear plastic top and I can see the vacuum action as it sucks up dust and tree flowers. It really is sort of a Zen experience, vacuuming the pool

[sunlove]

Watched them put up our AG pool several years ago and the installers dig out the high side to be the same as the low side and the equipment has a laser level. Pretty neat. Then they hand dug places for concrete blocks, and checked the level of those in reference to each other. However my back yard has a slope to it! I have always heard that it should be within 1" level.