The Zodiac MX8 is a reliable suction-side pool cleaner that handles the tough task of scrubbing floors and walls in stride. Built for inground pools, many pool owners will enjoy the amazing cleaning performance of this simple yet versatile device. Read our full review below to get an understanding of what the Zodiac MX8 is all about.
Twin Turbines
The MX8’s cleaning performance is unquestionably good. It uses two turbines that kick up dirt and debris from your pool’s liner where its suction handles the rest. The turbines work extremely well at loosening settled debris of nearly all sizes to leave your pool’s base looking sparkly clean from above. Sending the MX8 to randomly patrol your pools and it’ll be swim-ready in just a few hours.
39-foot Hose Kit
With your purchase, you’ll get multiple hose connections that span a total of 39 feet when combined. You can connect as many hoses as you need to have your MX8 reach your pool from one end to the other (additional hose kits sold separately).
As you can see, the MX8 isn’t designed for Olympic-sized swimming pools. The 39-foot hose kit allows the cleaner to move freely in pools of between 20 and 25 feet in length at a maximum of five feet in depth. Also, this the MX8 is designed specifically for inground pools.
X-Drive Mobility System
Suction-side pool cleaners don’t come with high-tech navigation hardware that scans its surroundings and identifies obstacles. Instead, the MX8 is equipped with X-Drive Mobility that helps it clean corners and edges while moving in a random pattern while in your pool. The tank-like tracks rotate in the opposite direction every so often to help it escape traps like steps and ladders.
But perhaps what’s most impressive about the MX8 is that it has the ability to scale walls. The tracks provide enough traction to hold onto the sleek pool liners (any material) to loosen and remove debris clinging on walls. It can even stay afloat for several seconds at a time to help clean the waterline.
15-inch Cleaning Path
You’ll notice immediately that the MX8 is a wide cleaning unit. With side-to-side measurements of 15 inches, it’ll be able to clean super-wide pools in fewer passes compared to many Kreepy Krauly cleaners out there. Because it has a wider path, this means it needs less time to touch every square inch of your pool’s liners to keep operation costs at a minimum.
Compatible with Most Pool Pumps
Remember how we said that the MX8 is a versatile cleaning tool? This is what we mean; the MX8 is compatible with most pool pumps, small and large. It requires at least 20 GPM of waterflow to keep its tracks moving and its turbines spinning so you most likely won’t need to purchase a brand-new pump.
Granted, 20 GPM is hardly anything when it comes to large inground pools, and it moves as slow as a snail at this waterflow level. The higher the GPM rating, the more efficient the MX8 becomes. Just something to think about…
Easy to Install
If this is your first suction-side pool cleaner, then forget about installation problems. The MX8 connects directly to your pool’s skimmer or a 1.5-inch pool vacuum line. No booster pumps, no additional piping, and no electrical outlets needed. Just hook it up, drop the MX8 in your pool, turn your main pump on, and watch as the MX8 does its thing.
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Blockage and Maintenance Issues
The MX8, though a beautiful suction-side pool cleaner, isn’t without its faults. Firstly, the inlet throat isn’t wide enough to handle multiple waterlogged leaves simultaneously. If this does occur, you’ll need to fish the unit out of your pool, open it up, and manually unclog the inlet. Catching this problem isn’t all that noticeable from above since it doesn’t send alerts and it will continue patrolling your pool’s floor.
According to customer reports, maintenance issues arise a lot more often than they’d like. The tracks can become unhitched at random times, and sometimes the unit will stop in its tracks entirely for seemingly no reason at all.
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Verdict: Should I Get the Zodiac MX8?
If you have an inground pool of up to 25 feet long, then you should know that the Zodiac MX8 is ready to work. Installing it is a breeze, and the suction-side cleaner works with most pool pumps, weak or strong. It can even climb walls and loosen debris hanging around at the waterline so you won’t need to do as much manual scrubbing. There are a couple of issues in terms of maintenance, but they are overshadowed by the promise of a swim-ready pool in just a couple of quick hours.
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Last Update: 2023-09-25 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
