Can a pool robot pick up fine sand and algae?
Short answer
Fine sand, yes; very fine dust and algae need a finer filter. Beatbot's AquaSense 2 and Sora 70 come with 150-micron filters that Beatbot says catch sand, and Aiper's Scuba X1 has a 3-micron filter it recommends for dust and algae. Beatbot lists a 3-micron basket for the Sora 70 as a separate accessory that wasn't out yet when we checked.
Which robots can do it?
- Beatbot AquaSense 2Yes
Beatbot specs a 150-micron filter with a 2 L basket for the AquaSense 2 and says it catches leaves, hair, sand and insects.
Good to know: Maker's spec. No ultra-fine filter is offered for this model; one buyer review on the page says it wasn't enough for very fine silt.
- Aiper Scuba X1Yes
Aiper lists a replaceable 3-micron MicroMesh ultra-fine filter for the Scuba X1, which it calls best for fine debris like dust and algae, next to a 5 L basket for leaves and twigs.
Good to know: Maker's spec, not a test.
- Beatbot Sora 70Yes
Beatbot specs a 150-micron filter and a 6 L basket for the Sora 70 and says it removes fine sand to large debris in a single pass.
Good to know: Maker's spec. The 3-micron ultra-fine basket for dust and algae is a separate accessory Beatbot listed as coming 'in the coming months'.
Why it matters
Sand from the filter, dust blown in by wind and algae settle on the pool floor as a fine layer that slips through ordinary filter baskets.
Not proven yet
How well any of these robots clears algae in practice. The micron ratings are makers' specs, and none of the pages we read says a robot replaces brushing or treating the water for algae. We didn't find a filter rating for the Mova Rover X10.
How we know (3 sources)
US product page for the Aiper Scuba X1, read Oct 23, 2026: cleans floor, walls and waterline with Waveline 2.0; comes with a charging dock, charger and a retrieval hook. Waterline retrieval is offered through the separate HydroComm Pro accessory. Spec table: up to 180 minutes per charge, 4 hours to charge, pools up to 2,150 sq ft; surface skimming is listed only for the X1 Pro Max. Reopened Oct 26, 2026: a replaceable 3 μm MicroMesh ultra-fine filter that Aiper calls best for fine debris like dust and algae, next to a 5 L top-load basket for leaves and twigs; names fine sand leaking from sand filters as one kind of debris; 6,600 GPH flow. No price shown.
Read the sourceProduct page for the Beatbot Sora 70, read Oct 23, 2026: cleans the water surface, floor, walls, waterline and shallow areas down to 8 inches; up to 5 hours of floor cleaning and up to 7 hours of surface cleaning on a 10,000 mAh battery; pools up to 3,229 sq ft. Smart water-surface parking floats it to the edge so you don't lift it from deep water. Reopened Oct 26, 2026: 6 L basket with a 150 μm filter; Beatbot says it removes fine sand to large debris in a single pass, 6,800 GPH flow. A dual-layer 400 μm + 3 μm ultra-fine basket for dust and algae is listed as a separate accessory 'available in the coming months'. Listed at $1,099 on sale.
Read the sourceProduct page for the Beatbot AquaSense 2, read Oct 23, 2026: cleans floor, walls and waterline (scrubbing the waterline twice per pass); 10,000 mAh battery for up to 4 hours of floor cleaning, pools up to 3,230 sq ft; charges in about 4 hours on a wireless dock. Parks above the water when it's done or the battery is low, with SmartDrain for lighter retrieval; one-click parking from the app. Reopened Oct 26, 2026: 150 μm filter with a 2 L basket (FAQ says it catches leaves, hair, sand and insects), 5,500 GPH flow (Beatbot's highest internal lab figure). No ultra-fine filter is offered for it; one buyer review says the standard basket wasn't enough for very fine silt. Listed at $799 on sale.
Read the source
Status timeline
No status has changed since we started tracking. Every entry is dated and backed by the sources on this page.
- First recorded: In storesBeatbot AquaSense 2
Beatbot specs a 150-micron filter with a 2 L basket for the AquaSense 2 and says it catches leaves, hair, sand and insects.
- First recorded: In storesBeatbot Sora 70
Beatbot specs a 150-micron filter and a 6 L basket for the Sora 70 and says it removes fine sand to large debris in a single pass.
- First recorded: In storesAiper Scuba X1
Aiper lists a replaceable 3-micron MicroMesh ultra-fine filter for the Scuba X1, which it calls best for fine debris like dust and algae, next to a 5 L basket for leaves and twigs.