Aiper EcoSurfer S2 — solar-powered skimming that runs 8 hours a day without ever charging
The Dolphin handles the floor, but most debris starts on the surface. The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 is a solar-powered skimmer that runs constantly — I've only charged it once, at the start of the season. It catches leaves and bugs before they sink and turn into algae food.
A solar skimmer that runs on autopilot. The handle makes it easy to grab, the basket pulls out without removing the robot, and the solar panel keeps it going all season.
Solar powered — only charged once at season start
Runs 8+ hours daily automatically
Easy pull-out debris basket — no need to lift the robot from the pool
Handle makes it easy to catch and pull out
Catches surface debris before it sinks and feeds algae
Weak propeller — gets stuck at the pool skimmer inlet suction
Solar dependent — less effective on cloudy days
All skimmer robots have this same propeller limitation
A good alternative, but having to lift the whole robot out to empty the basket was a dealbreaker when the Aiper lets you pull the basket from the water.
Solar powered like the Aiper
Good brand reputation
Effective surface cleaning
Debris basket requires lifting robot out of the pool to empty
The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 — $349.99 and runs all season on solar alone.
Surface first, then the floor
Most pool owners focus on the floor, but debris starts at the surface. Leaves, bugs, pollen — they float before they sink. If you can catch them on the surface, they never get a chance to decompose and feed algae at the bottom.
That's the job of the skimmer robot. And the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 does it brilliantly.
I added this in my second year of pool ownership. First year, I only had the Dolphin floor cleaner. The Dolphin did a great job on the floor, but I was still dealing with surface debris sinking and decomposing. The Aiper changed everything.
Set it and forget it
The solar panel keeps it running 8+ hours a day. I charged it exactly once — at the start of the season — and I haven't touched it since. It just floats around, skimming the surface, collecting debris.
Most of the bio debris gets picked up by the skimmer before it ever reaches the bottom. Whatever it misses, the Dolphin gets on the next floor cleaning cycle.
Real talk on the propeller
I have to be honest: all solar skimmers have weak propellers. The Aiper is no exception. It will get stuck at your pool's skimmer inlet because of the suction. That's just the reality of solar-powered motors — you can't expect a lot of thrust from a small solar panel.
But here's the thing: even with that limitation, it still catches the vast majority of surface debris. It's better to have a weak skimmer running 8 hours a day than no skimmer at all.
The Aiper gliding across the pool surface — solar powered and running on autopilot.
Why the Aiper over the others
I looked at the Betta (the other popular solar skimmer), but I didn't like the debris basket design — you have to lift the whole robot out of the pool to empty it. With the Aiper, the basket pulls out from the top while the robot stays in the water.
I also considered the Beatbot iSkim, which would have been a fine choice. But it's missing one feature I really appreciate: a handle. The handle on the Aiper makes it easy to grab and pull from the pool.
The bottom line
If you have a pool, you need both: a floor cleaner and a surface skimmer. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus handles the bottom, and the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 handles the top. Together, they keep the water clear, the algae starved, and my pool ready to swim at all times.
