Zodiac AX20 Activ Suction Cleaner

Yes. The MX8 has been discontinued and the AX20 Activ is the current model filling that role. It connects to your skimmer box, is powered by your existing filtration pump, and suits concrete, pebblecrete, tile, fibreglass and vinyl surfaces, which covers virtually every Auckland residential pool.

It plugs into your skimmer box and uses the suction created by your filtration pump to drive itself around the pool and vacuum debris. There is no separate motor, no electrical connection and nothing to charge. That simplicity is the main appeal: fewer components means fewer things to go wrong.

Yes. The cleaner only operates while your pump is running, so cleaning happens during your normal filtration hours. If you are on a variable speed pump, the cleaner will need a higher speed than your everyday Eco setting to work properly, which we set up when we install.

Yes. Debris travels through the hose into your skimmer basket and then to your filter. That means emptying the skimmer basket more often and backwashing more frequently, particularly during autumn leaf fall. An inline leaf catcher such as the Zodiac Cyclonic Leaf Catcher takes most of that load off your filtration.

Concrete, pebblecrete, tile, fibreglass and vinyl. That covers the full range of Auckland residential pool interiors. Very rough or damaged surfaces will accelerate wear on any suction cleaner, so if your pool interior is aging it is worth having us assess it.

A suction cleaner costs less up front, has no electronics and no battery, and is simple to live with. A robotic cleaner runs independently of your pump, captures debris onboard so it never reaches your filter, and higher models clean walls and waterline. Suction is the value choice, robotic is the convenience and performance choice. We will give you an honest comparison.

Reasonably, though getting the hose length and flow adjustment right is what determines whether the cleaner works well or wanders. We set this up correctly at installation, which is the difference between a cleaner that covers the whole pool and one that gets stuck in a corner.

Check and clear the skimmer basket regularly, inspect the hose for splits, and check the cleaner's wear parts periodically. The most common problem we see is reduced performance from a full skimmer basket or a blocked pump basket rather than a fault with the cleaner itself.

A manufacturer backed warranty applies, with duration and conditions set by Zodiac and dependent on how the cleaner is used and the surface it operates on. Your purchase is also covered by the New Zealand Consumer Guarantees Act. Sparkling Pools registers the warranty and manages any claim with the supplier for you.

Because setup determines results with a suction cleaner, and most poor performance we are called out to is a setup issue rather than a product fault. We have serviced Auckland pools since 1992, we set the hose length and flow correctly, and we back it afterwards. Call 09 570 4797.