Here's one member's method. Pretty interesting, maybe a fetish. I don't see what you think.
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ighlight=clean
Just kidding, but that's one way to do it.
I have a 24' AG. I don't use a automatic cleaner. I use a vacuum, and do it by hand. I use goggles and a snorkel to look under the water while a vacuum. I scrub the walls occasionally. I skim any junk that gets in just as soon as I see it. I vacuum when I start to see stuff on the pool floor. And scrub maybe every two weeks at most.
I wouldn't use the automatic cleaner in the pool when you or anyone else is in there, it's an accident waiting to happen.
Other than scrubbing the walls, I like to think my pool tells me when it needs to be cleaned. Try the auto vac. If yours works, good, go for it. Mine sucks, no I take that back, it doesn't that's why I don't use it. Hope this helps.