As for manual vacs ....... I like the ones that are roller style with built in brushes. If I use my all brush style it tends to stick to the bottom while vacuuming due to the suction power. The roller one just pushes around easily and sucks everything up with out making a mess. It does have some brushes on it as well, so if I need to scrub, I can do that on the fly. You can prob pick up everything you need at the local Walmart. The toughest part to find is the skimmer box to hose adapter .....you may be at the pool store anyway for that, so look at the vac heads while you are there too.
I am hoping the Aquabot Jr. does a good job for me . I have an 18' x 36' with an 8' deep end. All the walls are inclined except for about the top 3' which is vertical. I dont get much of any dirt or any algea (using liquid bleach in a automated "Liquidator", so my clorine levels are very consistent) . I get lots of leaves and blown around "stuff" that makes its way to the pool. I could vacuum every day if I wasn't lazy, lol . I am hoping to run the Aquabot Jr. every other day or daily if needed to help with the manual vacuuming chore.
I am hopeful it will work for the tree debris that usually falls to the bottom of the pool. It almost never stay on the sides.
Do you know if the Aquabot can be left in the pool most of the time (except when we are actively using the pool) ?
Also, wondering how it will work under a solar cover if anyone knows ?
Thanks,