The Pool Nerd
We buy pool gear, put it through our test pool, and tell you which products earn a recommendation. 53+ products tested, every verdict earned.
Popular Buying Guides
Our most popular guides — based on years of hands-on testing.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners 2026
Our top picks after testing 44+ robots.
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Best Pool Pumps 2026
Variable speed and single speed pumps for every pool.
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Best Above Ground Pools 2026
Top picks for every budget and backyard.
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Best Pool Skimmers 2026
Automatic skimmers to keep surfaces clean.
Read Guide →Watch Before You Buy
Start with our brand-new 2026 rankings, then dive into the questions pool owners ask most.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners 2026
41K viewsJustin ranks the best robotic pool cleaners of 2026 after testing 40+ models head-to-head — from budget picks to the flagship, everything you need to choose the right robot.
Pool Maintenance, Made Simple
Step-by-step guides for common pool problems—from cloudy water to green-pool rescues—based on our own maintenance work.
Most Popular Guides
How to Clear Cloudy Pool Water
Diagnose the cause and get your water sparkling again — fast.
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How to Clean a Green Pool
The step-by-step rescue plan for algae-filled water.
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Pool Shock: The Complete Guide
What pool shock is, when to use it, and how much to add.
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How Long to Run Your Pool Pump
The right daily runtime for clean water without wasting power.
Read Guide →Browse by Topic
Water Chemistry & Balancing
Dial in pH, alkalinity, chlorine, and CYA the right way.
17 guides →Shocking & Algae
When to shock, how to SLAM, and how to beat algae for good.
7 guides →Cleaning & Water Clarity
Clear cloudy water and keep debris out of your pool.
4 guides →Routine & Seasonal Care
Weekly upkeep and opening your pool for the season.
5 guides →Pool Types & Conversions
Saltwater, chlorine, and gunite — plus how to switch between them.
5 guides →Equipment & Robots
Get the most out of your pool robot, pump, and cleaners.
7 guides →Cost & Buying
What a pool really costs and how to spend smarter.
6 guides →All Maintenance Guides
Browse everything — guides, common questions, and every calculator in one place.
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Latest Reviews
Fresh off the test pool — our most recent hands-on reviews.
Clear UV
The first pool robot with built-in UV-C sanitation.
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Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra
The ultimate cordless pool robot with surface skimming.
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Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro
Premium cordless cleaning with wall-climbing ability.
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Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max
Aiper's flagship cordless pool robot.
Read Review →A Healthier Pool With Fewer Chemicals
Everything we recommend follows one philosophy: remove debris mechanically, sanitize efficiently, and dose from reliable water-test results. Those three steps support clear water without unnecessary chemicals.
Remove Debris Before It Decays
A robot on the floor and a skimmer on the surface pull out leaves and dirt before they consume your chlorine and feed algae.
Sanitize With UV Light
UV systems neutralize algae, viruses, and chloramines — so your pool stays sanitary at chlorine levels closer to tap water than a typical pool.
Measure, Then Dose
A water monitor plus our free calculators tell you exactly what to add and how much — instead of shocking on a guess every week.
The Gear That Makes It Work
Dolphin Premier
The robot we recommend to most inground pool owners — and the only Dolphin with a leaf bag.
Read Review → Clear UV
The first pool robot with a built-in UV-C lamp — it disinfects surfaces while it cleans.
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SpectraLight UV
The inline UV system that slashed our chlorine use — the best upgrade we've ever made to our pool.
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ICO Pool Monitor
Tracks your water chemistry throughout the day so dosing decisions follow current readings.
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Betta SE
A solar-powered skimmer that grabs surface debris before it sinks, decays, and feeds algae.
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Dolphin Escape
Strong scrubbing at a fair price—our favorite cleaner for above-ground pools.
Read Review →Dose Exactly What Your Water Needs
Our free calculators tell you precisely how much of each chemical to add for your pool's size and readings — the fastest way to stop over-treating your water.
Shop by Brand
We've tested every major brand — browse our independent, hands-on reviews.
More Robot Buying Guides
We've tested robots for every pool type — find the right fit for yours.
Best Cordless Pool Robots
Battery-powered convenience without the tangled cord.
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Best Corded Pool Robots
Reliable power and longer run times for thorough cleaning.
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Best for Above Ground Pools
Top robots designed specifically for above ground pools.
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Best for Large Pools
Heavy-duty robots for pools 50ft+ in length.
Read Guide →Recent Articles
The latest from across The Pool Nerd — reviews, buying guides, and how-tos.
Pool Filters: The Complete Guide to Choosing, Sizing, and Maintaining Your Filter
Compare sand, cartridge, and DE pool filters: micron ratings, alternative media like glass and zeolite, sizing by filter area, maintenance…
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Best Pool Filters of 2026
The best pool filters for inground and above-ground pools: Pentair Clean & Clear cartridge filters, Hayward sand and DE filters, and Intex…
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Best DE Pool Filters of 2026
The best DE pool filters for inground and above-ground pools: Hayward ProGrid W3DE6020 and W3DE3620 and Perflex W3EC65A compared by pool…
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Best Sand Pool Filters of 2026
The best sand pool filters for inground and above-ground pools: Hayward ProSeries W3S244T2 and W3S180T, Pentair Sand Dollar SD80 and SD60…
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ORP: The Most Important Pool Number
Learn how to check pool ORP, what range to watch, and whether an Ondilo ICO smart pool monitor or handheld ORP meter is right for you.
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Best Pool Speakers
The best pool speakers of 2026, including the JBL Charge 6, Soundcore 2, WONDERBOOM 3, Boom 2, Bose SoundLink Max, Turtlebox, Sonos, and…
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Best Outdoor Speakers
The best outdoor speakers of 2026, from Klipsch and Sonos mounted pairs to portable JBL, Soundcore, Ultimate Ears, and Turtlebox picks for…
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Best Swimming Pool Lights
Compare the 14 best swimming pool lights for inground, above-ground, and soft-sided pools, from Hayward ColorLogic and IntelliBrite…
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Best Fixed Speed Pool Pumps of 2026
Compare fixed speed pool pumps for inground and above-ground pools, plus single speed vs two speed vs variable speed costs and local code…
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What RPM Should I Run My Pool Pump?
Learn what RPM to run a variable-speed pool pump, when to use high and low speeds, and how to set schedules for variable-, two-, and…
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Black Friday Pool Deals (2026)
Shop Black Friday pool deals on speakers, floats, lights, cleaners, and more. Compare my top picks at Poolbots and Amazon for 2026.
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Cyber Monday Pool Deals (2026)
Explore Cyber Monday pool deals on speakers, floats, smart monitors, cleaners, and more. Shop my top picks at Poolbots and Amazon for 2026.
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Pools & Hot Tubs
Explore our buying guides for pools, hot tubs, and more.
Independent, Hands-On Reviews
Why Pool Owners Trust The Pool Nerd
We're not a big media company. We're a small, independent team that gets in the water and tests the products we cover.
Tested in Our Pool
Every robot, pump, and skimmer runs through repeated cycles in our test pool with dirt, leaves, algae, and other everyday debris—not a lab or demo tank.
Side-by-Side Comparisons
We don't review products in isolation. We test them head-to-head so you can see exactly how they stack up against the competition.
5+ Years of Experience
We've been testing pool products since 2020 — through every season, firmware update, and product launch. That depth of experience means we know what holds up and what doesn't.
Our Testing Process
We run each product through multiple cleaning cycles in our test pool — floors, walls, waterlines, and filtration all get evaluated.
Products go up against their direct competitors so you can see the performance differences, not just marketing specs.
We publish what we find — good and bad. If a $500 robot beats a $2,000 one, we'll tell you.