Replacing Dolphin M400

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SirSwimAlot

SirSwimAlot

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Jun 1, 2016
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East Coast
I've had a M400 for over 10 years and it has been fantastic. I'm having a few problems with it, and thinking about getting a replacement. I was looking at the E70 but I'd love cordless and something that can skim the surface. I hear cordless doesn't compare well with corded units still.

Anyone have any first hand experience?
I really love the idea of a basket over the constant removing filter walls of the M400 as it doesn't hold much and it's a pain to empty.

I was considering an aquasense ultra, but I'm skeptical it is as good as maytronics.
 
If I got 10 years out of a Maytronics robot, I would be in line to get another one. Why switch? I have a Maytronics Active30, and it has the basket filter. My cord has been great to me(not a lot of tangling), and the robot does a great job of cleaning my pool going into its fifth season🤞

Not sure if any submerged robot will skim the surface. Mine scrubs the tile line(I don't rely on it to do the entire tile line) at various points in the pool. I just got a surface skimmer(Betta SE Plus) that is great so far.
 
SecoSteve said:
If I got 10 years out of a Maytronics robot, I would be in line to get another one. Why switch? I have a Maytronics Active30, and it has the basket filter. My cord has been great to me(not a lot of tangling), and the robot does a great job of cleaning my pool going into its fifth season🤞

Not sure if any submerged robot will skim the surface. Mine scrubs the tile line(I don't rely on it to do the entire tile line) at various points in the pool. I just got a surface skimmer(Betta SE Plus) that is great so far.
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I believe the Aquasense claims to do surface as well.

How much maintenance is the Betta? I was looking at one as well last year. How small of things does it collect, generally the first thing I do when i get in the pool is spend 30 minutes or so swimming around with the top portion of a skimmer collecting things like small leaves, bugs, and small pellet organics. You have any problems with the betta while running a vacuum robot?
 
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Sooo easy to clean the filter. Just pop the lid pull the basket out and rinse the basket. The Betta basket has a very fine screen and has collected a ton of debris in the couple days I have had it. I don't think it will let anything get through.

The darn price has skyrocketed since the end of winter. I could have got it for about $300, but now is going for close to $400. I found a $40 discount at Leslie's(the only promo I could find) and got it for $349.
 
SecoSteve said:
Sooo easy to clean the filter. Just pop the lid pull the basket out and rinse the basket. The Betta basket has a very fine screen and has collected a ton of debris in the couple days I have had it. I don't think it will let anything get through.

The darn price has skyrocketed since the end of winter. I could have got it for about $300, but now is going for close to $400. I found a $40 discount at Leslie's(the only promo I could find) and got it for $349.
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I just ordered it from Leslie's for $350.
 
I haven't yet run it with the vacuum at the same time. The instructions recommend NOT using it with a corded robot, but there is a metal bar near the intake that you can swing down(or up?), which will prohibit the cord from being drawn in. Mine also came with a piece of pool noodle in the filter basket that I believe is to be put in the pool skimmer opening to prevent the Betta from getting stuck in the skimmer. Be sure to remove that pool noodle from the filter basket before using the Betta.
 
SecoSteve said:
I just got a surface skimmer(Betta SE Plus) that is great so far.
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I just looked that up to see what it was. Gotta say I’m intrigued. Our pool is surrounded by trees, so there’s always something floating on the surface. Even after scooping stuff out, there will be something new in the water before I can even hang the net back on the hooks. I don’t mind larger debris, like leaves. Skimmer baskets and cleaner do a good job with that kinda stuff. It’s the fine particles that clog up the nets in my skimmer baskets that I’d like to find a way to manage better. That Betta might just be the answer.
 
jark87 said:
I just looked that up to see what it was. Gotta say I’m intrigued. Our pool is surrounded by trees, so there’s always something floating on the surface. Even after scooping stuff out, there will be something new in the water before I can even hang the net back on the hooks. I don’t mind larger debris, like leaves. Skimmer baskets and cleaner do a good job with that kinda stuff. It’s the fine particles that clog up the nets in my skimmer baskets that I’d like to find a way to manage better. That Betta might just be the answer.
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I have looked at it for a couple years, but never got it. I just ordered one myself.
 

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jark87 said:
I should stay off this forum. :) Just spent $350 at Leslie’s on the Betta.
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I feel the same way. It's a lot of $ but this morning I came out to check the pool and skimmers before work, and there was ZERO debris on the surface and not much in the skimmers :party:
 
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SirSwimAlot said:
do you ever run it with your maytronics in the pool? Should I worry about it getting caught up in the cord?
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I occasionally run my Surfer M1 skimmer (pretty much a Betta SE Plus - with gadgets) with my Dolphin E70 or Letro Legend cleaners in the pool. The Surfer regularly gets stopped by the floating cord/hose until either the skimmer backs up or the line gets pulled out of the way by the robots, but no harm is done. Occasionally, the skimmer will happen to cruise up behind and parallel to a line and wind up straddling it. After that, it often stays stuck on the line and goes for a ride as the robot pulls it around the pool.
 
Buggs said:
I occasionally run my Surfer M1 skimmer (pretty much a Betta SE Plus - with gadgets) with my Dolphin E70 or Letro Legend cleaners in the pool. The Surfer regularly gets stopped by the floating cord/hose until either the skimmer backs up or the line gets pulled out of the way by the robots, but no harm is done. Occasionally, the skimmer will happen to cruise up behind and parallel to a line and wind up straddling it. After that, it often stays stuck on the line and goes for a ride as the robot pulls it around the pool.
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How do you like the E70? I just ordered one to replace my M400. I'm really looking forward to a real basket rather than the small baskets with the sidewall filters that are a huge pain to keep emptying and cleaning. Seems like the basket will be so much easier.
 
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SecoSteve said:
I feel the same way. It's a lot of $ but this morning I came out to check the pool and skimmers before work, and there was ZERO debris on the surface and not much in the skimmers :party:
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Yep. I picked mine up at the store shortly after purchasing online. Much to my surprise, it had plenty of charge right out of the box. Placed it in the water and it’s been cruising ever since!
 
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SirSwimAlot said:
How do you like the E70? I just ordered one to replace my M400. I'm really looking forward to a real basket rather than the small baskets with the sidewall filters that are a huge pain to keep emptying and cleaning. Seems like the basket will be so much easier.
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The big, top-loading basket is definitely a nice feature. I previously mentioned that I got the E70 primarily for two reasons: 1) to share the brushing duties and 2) to pick up the fine silt that slipped through my Letro Legend's debris bag. The uber-fine filters made quick work of the dirt on the floors. For me, those filters now a requirement for any robot pool cleaner. I am quite satisfied with the E70 so far.

I have to admit it's a bit of overkill for what it does, but I'm hoping the extra expense is due in part to better build-quality helping it last longer than a similarly capable, but less expensive unit like the Dolphin Quantum.

Have you seen that Maytronics introduced the new Dolphin M550? It appears to be an E70/M600 with the bells and whistles removed and priced a bit lower.
 
Buggs said:
The big, top-loading basket is definitely a nice feature. I previously mentioned that I got the E70 primarily for two reasons: 1) to share the brushing duties and 2) to pick up the fine silt that slipped through my Letro Legend's debris bag. The uber-fine filters made quick work of the dirt on the floors. For me, those filters now a requirement for any robot pool cleaner. I am quite satisfied with the E70 so far.

I have to admit it's a bit of overkill for what it does, but I'm hoping the extra expense is due in part to better build-quality helping it last longer than a similarly capable, but less expensive unit like the Dolphin Quantum.

Have you seen that Maytronics introduced the new Dolphin M550? It appears to be an E70/M600 with the bells and whistles removed and priced a bit lower.
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No I didn't see that, but I already ordered the E70 and the price isn't a major issue.
 
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