Which AG auto cleaner is best and where to buy

[NWMNMom]

Its from Sta Rite (Pentair) and it works pretty good. I think they are still under $200 - BestbuyPoolSupply.com carries them, but so does a lot of others. They are pretty easy to deal with there.

It only has one moving part and does a nice job of making the full circuit of the pool in under 3 hours for about that size, less for smaller pools like our old one (less than an hour). You can set the clean pattern at 4 different variations. Attaches right into the skimmer using your pump so does not require separate power source and will even work quite well with low flow pumps. It does hang occassionally if there is a larger item, but we usually try to get the sticks, etc., out before we clean. You do need to have the ladder out or it may hang on the backside. An intermediate leaf cannister with a bypass in between the cleaner hose and the skimmer will save on stopping and cleaning out the skimmer basket if there are a lot of leaves or debris. One of the better investments we made because I HATE hand cleaning in the pool - I set a timer and come back when it rings.

[CarlD]

The BEST??? Well, that would be certain robotics. I have an AG (with a deepend) and I am thrilled with my Dolphin Dynamic.

But if by "best" you mean best dollar to performance value, look at the Polaris 65 too.

Vacuum side cleaners ensure the junk is trapped in the filter, but they can be weak.

Return side cleaners are like a pressure water that blows the debris into a catch-bag--which can allow stuff to pass through. A handful of cotton balls can improve the filtering.

Don't know anything about the aux. pump types.

Robotics do the best job, and cost the most...Some, like the AquaBot, have a rep for being hard on the liner and are better for plaster/concrete. I have not had that with my Dolphin. All of them filter as well as a DE filter--if not better. The catch bag is three or four layers, kind of like sweatshirt material and very, very fine.