Why would you want this bug in your swimming pool? If you have a permanently installed above ground pool that needs better water circulation and regular cleaning, then you might want this pool cleaning bug. Read my Hayward Aquabug review!
Hayward Aquabug: Summary
I guess that you do not own a soft-sided Intex pool, because the Hayward Aquabug is not designed for cleaning temporary swimming pools. It is designed for cleaning a permanent above ground pool.
The Hayward Aquabug is a suction-side automatic pool cleaner that is quickly connected to the skimmer or a dedicated vacuum port. It gets vacuum power from your swimming pool pump. It relies on the pool filter and pump strainer basket for filtration because it does not have its own filter bags.
The Hayward Aquabug improves water circulation because it sucks water from the bottom of the pool, which then flows through the pool pump filter and back into the swimming pool.
There are a number of models: the Aquabug (model numbers W3500 and 500), Diver Dave (700), Wanda the Whale (900) and the AquaCritter. They have the same internal machinery, it is only the outer shell that is different. The AquaCritter looks like the Aquabug, but it has a yellow color.
The Hayward Aquabug, Diver Dave and Wanda the Whale are available at an affordable price online (check price on Amazon). The AquaCritter is less popular and much more difficult to find.
Can the Aquabug clean an inground pool?
It is not recommended. The Hayward Aquabug is made for cleaning the bottoms of permanently installed above ground pools only. It cannot climb and clean walls.
An inground automatic pool cleaner will be able to climb and clean walls. There are many suction-side pool cleaners available for cleaning inground pools. For examples, read my review of the best automatic cleaners for inground pools.
Can it clean an above ground salt water pool?
The Aquabug is able to clean an above ground pool that uses a salt chlorine generator to produce natural chlorine.
Does the Aquabug need a booster pump?
No, it does not need a booster pump. It is connected to a dedicated suction line or the skimmer. The swimming pool pump and filter gives the Aquabug its vacuum power. A large pool pump and filter will make it perform at its best.
What is the recommended pool pump horsepower?
The minimum recommended horsepower for using the Aquabug is about 1 HP (1.5 HP would be better). A pool pump weaker than 1 HP might not give the Hayward Aquabug enough suction power to move around and vacuum away debris.
Are the suction hoses included?
Eleven connector hoses and a single leader hose (12 hoses in total) are included with the pool cleaner body. The leader hose is connected directly to the cleaner body, while the connector hoses are pushed together behind it (male and female connector ends). The total length of the included hoses are 32 feet. This is sufficient for an above ground pool of up to 24 feet.
Can you add a leaf canister to the hose sections?
Yes, you may use a leaf canister to trap leaves and debris and to provide a water bypass. You can buy the Hayward W560 standard leaf canister and add it between two hose sections (get it at Amazon).
Please note that it is essential to add the Hayward W560 leaf canister if your pool pump does not have a strainer basket.
Do I need extra hose extensions for my pool?
The simplest way to know how much connector hoses you need is to measure your swimming pool from the dedicated suction line, or skimmer, to the farthest point of your pool. Then you add three more hose lengths to allow for some extra hose movement and pool depth. That is roughly the amount of hose you need to run the Hayward Aquabug in your above ground swimming pool.
You can buy hose extensions if the total length you need is more than 32 feet. You require a connector hose with a male connection at one end and a female connection at the other end.
Keep in mind that you will need less connector hoses to cover the whole pool if the vacuum port is in the middle instead of at one end of the pool. A round or oval above ground pool does not present a problem, but for a rectangular above ground pool, the vacuum port position might increase or decrease the amount of hoses you require.
Will a wrinkled and uneven pool bottom cause problems?
Yes, it might. Large wrinkles, bubbles or dips can upset the Hayward Aquabug and make it stop, move slowly or clean poorly. No pool liner bottom is completely free from wrinkles and dips, but so long as these imperfections are small, the Aquabug will get over it and keep on cleaning.
Can the Aquabug vacuum dirt from the pool bottom?
Yes, it will vacuum dirt from the pool bottom, so long as your pool pump creates strong water flow and your pool filter is regularly cleaned. A dirty pool filter will decrease its performance. The Hayward Aquabug will also vacuum dead algae from the pool floor after the water has been successfully treated with an algicide to kill the algae.
Conclusion: Bitten By The Aquabug
Not really in the mood to clean the above ground pool yourself with a vacuum head or pool brush attached to a long handle? The Hayward Aquabug will do the same job for you and save you precious time. Get bitten by the Aquabug!
Remember to backwash the filter and clean the pump strainer basket before connecting the Hayward Aquabug. It does not take long to assemble the bug head, connect the hose sections, let the air out and connect it to the skimmer vacuum port. Turn the pool pump and filter system on and quickly check if the Aquabug is moving and turning left and right. If it is moving around, it is working.
It is important that the pool bottom is flat and smooth without major wrinkles or bumps. Furthermore, a pool pump of one horsepower or more that has a leaf strainer basket is also recommended. You may also get the Hayward W560 leaf canister to capture large leaves and debris.
The Hayward Aquabug is an affordable suction-side pool cleaner for permanently installed above ground swimming pools. It is cute as a bug! Shop now on Amazon.