The Zodiac (Baracuda) G3 suction-side automatic inground pool cleaner is an affordable, easy-to-install alternative to the more expensive pressure-side or robotic pool cleaners. The Baracuda G3, or Zodiac G3 as it is now called, cleans inground swimming pools and seems to be reliable, durable and cheap to maintain. It has some minor issues, such as its tendency to get stuck on top of a raised main drain and problems with handling large leaves. In brief, it is not a perfect pool cleaner, so it needs a little attention now and then, but it keeps most of an inground pool clean by vacuuming away the dirt, debris and leaves.
Zodiac G3: List Of Features
- Model number: W03000.
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty on pool cleaner.
- 2-year manufacturer’s warranty on long-life hose.
- Baracuda G3 long-life diaphragm is included.
- Cleans tile, gunite and fiberglass pool surfaces.
- Comes with a 39-foot long-life feed hose which is scuff-resistant.
- It is made for cleaning inground pools.
- Quick-release cassette design provides easy access to the Baracuda G3 diaphragm.
- It can be connected to the skimmer or to a dedicated 1.5-inch vacuum line.
- The FlowKeeper™ valve automatically regulates water flow for peak performance.
- The wheel deflector helps the pool cleaner to handle corners in the pool.
- The 36-fin disc increases adhesion to pool surfaces while decreasing problems with obstacles such as steps and ladders.
What is included in the box?
The product manual lists the following components: hose sections, hose weight, flow gauge, wheel deflector, pool cleaner body, finned disc, 45-degree elbow, 4.5-inch connector, hose protector net, FlowKeeper™ valve and valve cuff.
Are the feed hoses included?
The Zodiac G3 ships with 12 feed hoses, which have a total length of about 39 feet (or about 12 meters) when connected together. These are long-life hoses that are more resistant to the scraping and brushing that commonly occurs while the pool cleaner works.
Where do you attach the feed hose?
Remove the skimmer basket and connect it to that suction pipe. If you have a dedicated vacuum line port on the side wall of the pool, then you can use that suction port instead and leave the skimmer basket where it is.
Can the Zodiac G3 clean an inground fiberglass pool?
Yes, it can clean an inground fiberglass pool. It can also clean tile and gunite pool surfaces.
Will it work in an above ground pool?
No, it is only made for cleaning inground pools. The Zodiac G3 is not intended for cleaning above ground pools.
Does the Zodiac G3 remove tree leaves from the pool?
The Zodiac G3 vacuums small to medium leaves well enough, but large leaves might get stuck in the diaphragm and severely decrease its suction power.
The pump filter needs to be cleaned more often if the pool collects a lot of leaves, since the smaller leaves will steadily clog up the pump filter and decrease suction power.
You might look at buying and adding something such as the Zodiac cyclonic leaf catcher. It traps the leaves before they reach the skimmer and pump filter basket (see details at Amazon).
Troubleshooting Tips
It takes a bit of tweaking and testing to get any pool cleaner to work at its best. Here are a few pointers to consider when the Zodiac Baracuda G3 is not swimming like a barracuda fish:
- Make sure that the main drain is closed.
- The flow gauge can be used to check for proper water flow.
- Adjust the hose weight until the pool cleaner navigates the pool without problems.
- Clean the pool pump filter regularly: if it is dirty, the G3 will not function properly.
- If your pool collects a lot of leaves, then you may want to add an extra leaf catcher into the suction hose line.
- Always store the hoses in a straight line, since bent hoses cause movement difficulties.
Advantages And Disadvantages
- It lasts many years, and it is less expensive to maintain than other pool cleaners.
- The diaphragm is its only moving part: no complicated gears or wheels that will need to be replaced.
- It is a little heavier than previous models, but it can still climb and clean the walls up to a few feet.
- The biggest issue is that it often gets stuck on a raised anti-vortex main drain.
- Large leaves might get stuck inside the diaphragm and clog it up.
- It uses the pool’s pump, and therefore the pump’s strainer basket will need to be cleaned more frequently than usual.
Conclusion
The Zodiac G3 suction-side automatic pool cleaner is easy to assemble: put on the finned disc, the wheel deflector and the hose. Then connect it to the skimmer or to a separate vacuum line. You might need to spend time on getting the hose length and hose weight balanced, as well as testing the flow rate.
It works with the pool’s own pump, so you do not have to install and run an additional booster pump. The Zodiac G3 only works if the pool pump is running. The FlowKeeper™ valve automatically adjusts the flow rate of the water so that it will work even with a low-speed pool pump.
The Zodiac G3 sucks up debris such as leaves and dirt that accumulate on the pool floor and walls, but it probably will not clean the steps. The debris and leaves are captured by the pool filter. Checking and cleaning the pool filter regularly will ensure the optimal operation of this suction pool cleaner.
The long-life diaphragm is the only moving part of the pool cleaner. The unique quick-release cassette makes it easy to check or replace the diaphragm. This is probably the first part that might need replacing within a year or so of regular pool cleaning. Generally speaking, it is not an expensive pool cleaner to maintain or to repair.
All things considered, the Zodiac Baracuda G3 is recommended because it is easy to assemble and install, given that neither special tools nor extra plumbing are required. Furthermore, it has only one moving part: a durable, long-life diaphragm. Of course, it might not do a good job in all inground swimming pools, yet the majority of owners were satisfied with their purchase (buy now on Amazon).