Struggling to Clean Fine Dirt/Sand from Pool Floor – Better Options?

rajthepilot

Active member
Jul 13, 2022
32
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Hi folks,
I’ve been relying on my Polaris P945 robot cleaner, but even with the fine mesh filter canister (Polaris R0517800), I find that it doesn’t pick up all the fine sand/dirt. It feels like the robot stirs up the debris, and it just resettles later in the evening.
I don’t have a vacuum-to-waste setup from the skimmer—everything runs through the cartridge filter, which seems to let some of that fine dirt return to the pool.
I’m looking for a better solution to actually remove the fine dirt instead of just recirculating it. Ideally something that:
  • Sucks out dirt and discharges it outside the pool (even if it removes water)
  • Doesn't rely on the return line and cartridge filter
  • Could be manual or automatic
Any recommendations for equipment or techniques that work well for this kind of debris?

Thanks!
 
The Polaris P945 is a corded robot. What type of vacuum was built with the pool? Did it have a suction side or pressure side cleaner system or was it set up to use a robot from day 1?

You can add a waste line by modifying the plumbing between the pump and the filter to have a valve and Tee that becomes your waste line. Then use a manual vacuum connected to your skimmer to vacuum to waste.
 
The pool was originally built with a pressure-side cleaner system. There are 5 jets in the pool — 4 are connected to the filter return, and the 5th appears to be a dedicated return line likely used with a pressure cleaner.
At some point, a corded robotic cleaner (Polaris P945) replaced that setup. However, I'm not getting good cleaning performance. The robot seems to miss dirt — it looks like the debris just settles back to the floor the next day.
I’ve also used the 5th jet in the past to vacuum debris straight out of the pool (to waste), but the water drains too quickly, and the hose often blows off or breaks due to pressure, even with strong clamps.
Now, I’m questioning whether my filter system is working correctly. The water is cloudy even though pool chemistry is in range. Fine dirt reappears on the floor a day after cleaning. It makes me wonder if:
  • My cartridges are damaged or bypassing dirt somehow.
  • There may be a leak or internal failure in the filter housing.
I’d love advice on:
  • How to test the filter to see if it’s working properly (before replacing cartridges or the whole unit).
  • Whether I should consider re-activating the pressure-side cleaner line with the right equipment.
  • The best way to vacuum to waste without draining too much water or breaking hoses.
Thanks in advance — I really want to get this pool back in shape as I've struggled with the dirt on the floor every year. I replaced the cartridges in 2023. I clean them once a month using the garden hose.
 
I have this issue in a southern KC metro area suburb as it is dusty here in KS. My pool guys (who do the open/close for me) said the only way to totally remove it is to vac to waste. I hate to waste water so I started adding fiber-fill (stuffed animal guts) to my Pentair Kreepy Krauly's filter box and it does a really good job of catching a lot more of the dirt particles without inhibiting the suction. It's just a way of life here in KS and unless I waste water Vac'ing, this will be ongoing and I accept that and have developed my workaround.