Good to know but I don't have to worry about that here. We do not get rain anymore. You are lucky.
Instapark Betta review
- Thread starter Orion7319
- Start date
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
That’s right, I forgot you were in California. We have been getting a lot more rain then usual this year. Seems like in the past 10 years we have gone from summer droughts to lots of rain.
DanF
Silver Supporter
- Mar 17, 2019
- 594
- Pool Size
- 12500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Hi Orion. Following this thread as I get considerable surface debris also, so thanks for your review. I do have a question about robot floor cleaners, as I see you have a Dolphin Nautilus and I have the S200. Does the Betta get hung up on the Dolphin's cord while both are in the pool?
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yes they sure do. Any combination of skimmer robot and floor cleaner robot will have this issue. I choose to run my dolphin at night and the betta during the day. The betta charges while running all day and I usually have less wind here at night so less stuff getting in the pool at night (unless a storm comes though at night). Here is another thread that you might find interesting. It might offer a solution if you want to try it and run both at the same time.
Ariel Surface bot and Maytronics Dolphin Deconfliction
Last November, I pre-ordered an “Ariel by Solar-Breeze” surface bot. Before the actual delivery of Ariel, I had then decided to also make the switch from a suction-side cleaner to a Dolphin Robot by Maytronics for cleaning the bottom, sides and tile. In my research, I noticed several threads...
www.troublefreepool.com
Selenap
Well-known member
Sold! I have chosen this for my Christmas present. I am in the Blue Ridge Mountains and I have a forest full of stuff that gets in my pool. It ends up in my cartridge filter and takes FOREVER to clean out.
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Yeah your area is pretty much just mountains and woods that seem to go on forever. I know I have passed by Waynesville several times, heading into Cherokee but can’t recall if I have ever stopped though. Very scenic part of NC. The beta does a great job. If you have been following this thread, they have great customer service if it breaks. Make sure you get the one with the small power button.
It looks like the blue ones are back in stock and I ordered it earlier this week and it arrived in a couple of days. I charged it up for several hours yesterday and put it in the water at sundown and it worked very well! Quieter than the Solar Breeze and picked up hair, grass and floating bugs. It does a really good job avoiding bumping into the pool walls and I really like the deep trap that's easy to pull up from the Betta. Overall I'm very happy with it and it seems to be an improvement over my two Solar Breezes. Let's hope it lasts longer!
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
It also tries not to run into you when your floating in the pool. Does yours have the small power button? These things can pick up lots of stuff, and I really like the design. Yes I’m hoping they finally have their reliability issues worked out. The only design changes I would care to see would be the ability to charge it from an outlet and the ability to update its software from home.
How small of a power button is "small?" There is a small, red power button on the end of the Betta. I would say it's about 1/2" square. Unfortunately the one pic I took after unpacking it from the box does not show the power button. I also agree that a plug in charger would be nice to have!
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- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The ones with the smaller buttons are the newest ones. You can see the difference from some of my earlier posts. It looks good in blue.
Hi Orion, great review. I've had my Betta (in blue) for about a month. It appears to be the newest version with the small power button. I did have an issue with a shallow top step which the company helped me with. Also, if by VS pump was set high (e.g. for extra skimming) the Betta could get hung up in the skimmers. I put in these cheap grates to keep it from getting jammed.
Amazon.com : HydroTools by Swimline Pool Skimmer Screen : Swimming Pool Skimmers : Garden & Outdoor
I have a cordless floor/wall robot (Water Tech 550i - just posted review) so no issues with having both running simultaneously.
Amazon.com : HydroTools by Swimline Pool Skimmer Screen : Swimming Pool Skimmers : Garden & Outdoor
I have a cordless floor/wall robot (Water Tech 550i - just posted review) so no issues with having both running simultaneously.
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I haven’t seen a grate like that before. That would be perfect for running the skimmer and keeping the robot out. Do you have any pictures of that grate installed?
Here are some pictures. They are also good at keeping floats and toys out. You can get several to cover the entire skimmer inlet, but I was only interested in blocking the Betta. They are just held in place by the tension of the curved plastic bars.
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
That’s cool! I have a skimmer wizard to keep the leaves out, but it keeps almost everything out. I might have to get one of those as well and use the skimmer wizzard for bad weather and vacations and leave that one on most of the time. Also you do indeed have the latest version of the beta.
EDIT: I do wonder if that will work with my pool skimmer. It’s a vinyl pool and the skimmer is smaller.
Well, since it's Amazon, you could always return. They are actually too short for my skimmer opening. I had to shim them using an old waterline tile. I think you can get them to fit a pretty wide range of skimmers.
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I just bought one. Curious if this one keep out pine straw like my other one.
DanF
Silver Supporter
- Mar 17, 2019
- 594
- Pool Size
- 12500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Thanks for the info, guys. Curious as to whether either skimmer guard would prevent a robotic skimmer from getting stuck at the guard itself when pump is running???
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
The skimmer wizzard does for me, but I haven’t tried it with my pump at full speed.
DanF
Silver Supporter
- Mar 17, 2019
- 594
- Pool Size
- 12500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
@Orion7319 How easy is sit to install the wizard? Couldn't find anything on YouTube and Amazon reviews say instructions were lacking.
- Jul 1, 2020
- 1,288
- Pool Size
- 19775
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Pretty easy, but your skimmer basket has to have a bar in the middle. You have to get the tension on the bungie cords adjusted just right or it will either be too loose and dangle or if it’s too tight, the skimmer basket will pull up and out of the skimmer. Also my skimmer has two holes near the lid for some reason, that I can attach mine to as well. You have to stretch the bungie cords to get them to lock and unlock in place on their attached clips. It will make sense if you get one.