One of the most common questions we hear from new pool owners: “If I get a robotic skimmer, can I skip the pool filter?” The short answer is no — but understanding why helps you get better results from both.
What a pool skimmer does
A surface skimmer — whether manual or robotic — removes floating debris from the top layer of water: leaves, pollen, insects, hair, and oils. It works at the surface only. It doesn’t circulate water through the pool, balance chemistry, or trap microscopic particles.
What a pool filter does
Your pool’s filtration system (sand, cartridge, or DE) circulates the entire volume of water through a filter medium, trapping particles that are invisible to the naked eye — bacteria, algae spores, fine sediment, and dissolved solids. Filtration is what keeps water chemically balanced and safe to swim in.
Why you need both
Think of it this way: the skimmer is the first line of defense. It intercepts large debris before it sinks, breaks down, and creates work for your filter. A pool with an active surface skimmer puts significantly less load on the filtration system — meaning cleaner filter cartridges, less backwashing, and better water clarity.
Skip the skimmer and your filter has to handle everything: large debris, oils, pollen, and fine particles all at once. That’s how filters clog faster and water gets cloudy despite running the pump on a full schedule.
The right combination
Run your filter on a regular cycle (typically 8–12 hours/day). Let a solar skimmer handle continuous surface maintenance during daylight hours. Together, they cover every layer of your pool — the SolarSkim Pro at the surface, your filtration system handling everything below.
See how SolarSkim Pro works alongside your existing pool system →