Paramount - Products

TABLE OF CONTENTS

YOUR FIRST 14 DAYS
WATER CIRCULATION
SUCTION
Skimmer And Main Drain
PRESSURE
Main Returns
Aerator
THE PUMP
RUNNING THE PUMP
When To Run The Pump
How Long To Run The Pump
THE FILTER
VALVES
BRUSHING THE POOL
VACUUMING THE POOL
SKIMMING THE POOL
ATTACHED SPA
SAFETY
CHEMICALS
WATER SAFETY
POOL CLEANING SYSTEMS

YOUR FIRST 14 DAYS
From the moment construction of your swimming pool is complete and it is filled with water, the chemicals must be kept at their ideal levels. Most important is the chlorine concentration. Some type of chlorine (tablet, granular, or gas from a chlorine generator) must be added immediately to ensure the prevention of algae growth. In addition the total alkalinity and the pH must be tested to determine the need for acid or soda ash, and, if necessary, calcium should be added to prevent damage of the pool surface from soft water. In plaster pools, the water will be very cloudy for a week or more. During this time, it is necessary to brush the pool with a standard nylon pool brush at least three times per day, circulating the pool water with the filtration system 24 hours per day for the first 14 days. The filter will require cleaning almost every day to remove the extra plaster dust from the water, and it is possible that the pool will require large amounts of acid during this time as well. It is always best to make sure that the water requires acid (by testing the pH) before adding it. If there is an imbalance in both the pH and the total alkalinity, it is recommended to bring the total alkalinity to the ideal level first, then adjust the pH as needed. There will be a time when the porous fresh plaster will have absorbed quite a large amount of acid and the demand will decrease. It is unwise to get into a habit of adding acid, and forgetting to test the pH beforehand. The total alkalinity will also begin to rise with the presence of the additional plaster dust. It is recommended that the water be tested for all chemicals at your local Pool retail showroom at least two or three times per week during the first 3 weeks. Once the plaster dust has been removed from the pool water, it is then time to add conditioner to the pool. Since conditioner does not dissolve rapidly, it is necessary to allow the system to circulate for at least four days without cleaning the filters (as the conditioner usually dissolves in the filter). This is not practical while large amounts of plaster dust are still present. After four days have passed from the time the conditioner was added, bring a water sample to a local Pool retail showroom to have the water thoroughly tested. At this time, all chemicals should be at their ideal levels, and your new swimming pool should be ready to enjoy.

WATER CIRCULATION
Properly adding chemicals to the pool water is just one step in the prevention of algae growth. Of equal importance is proper water circulation. Even if the chemical levels are well within ideal ranges where you take the test sample from, if the water is uncirculated, none of the chemicals will get evenly distributed throughout the pool water, thus there will be some areas of the pool with chemical levels far below ideal. Understanding how the water circulates throughout the pool, and what can be done to maximize the efficiency of the water's movement, is crucial in the prevention of algae growth. This section explains the swimming pool circulation system and it's operation.

Water turnover and filtration is the second half to maintaining healthy water in your swimming pool. The correct sizing of the equipment and filter greatly effect the amount of energy and time required to keep your pool clean and clear. The filtration system should be sized to turnover the entire volume of water in your pool two to three times daily. There are two different "sides" of the pool's circulation system: the suction and the pressure sides. The suction side refers to the water that is approaching the pump from the pool, whereas the pressure side refers to the water that is returning to the pool after it has passed through the pump. The suction side of the system has two main components: the skimmer and the main drain. Water flows from the pool through each of these openings to the pump, and from there, proceeds through the filter and returns to the pool.

A. SUCTION
Skimmer And Main Drain
The skimmer is located immediately adjacent to the pool water inside the pool deck. There is a rectangular opening in the pool tile which leads into the skimmer and which contains the skimmer weir, a plastic door, hinged at the bottom, which prevents debris from re-entering the pool once the pump is turned off. A plastic cover on the pool deck provides access to the skimmer approximately 18 inches from the pool water, directly above the rectangular opening described above. Once the cover is removed, the skimmer basket is visible. The skimmer basket traps large debris such as bugs and leaves before it enters the pipes leading to the pump.

Large debris such as this could become trapped in the pipes, causing restriction of water flow and possible starvation of the pump. Since the complete blockage of this basket could also lead to water flow restriction and improper circulation, it must be cleaned at least twice per week (sometimes more often), and also immediately following a wind storm where large amounts of debris have been blown into the pool. Beneath the basket is a unit called a float valve (For pools equipped with a Paramount in-floor cleaning system with active main drain, the float valve may not be present. In this event, please refer to the section of the manual relating to the Paramount in-floor cleaning system in your pool for more information). It is round and resembles a flying saucer. This float valve serves two functions. It regulates the flow between the main drain and the skimmer, and it also prevents air from entering the piping network in the event that the pool water lever were to fall below the level of the skimmer entrance.

On the bottom of the float valve there is a small teardrop-shaped flap attached to the valve with a single screw. This flap is responsible for the regulation of flow between the skimmer and the main drain. If the flap is closed, the main drain is the sole port through which the water flows out of the pool. If it is completely open, the skimmer transports most of the water out of the pool. Any position in between will result in a proportional amount of water flowing through the skimmer and the main drain. For example, if the flap were positioned so that it was about 3/4 closed, most of the water flowing out of the pool to the pump would flow through the main drain. On the other hand, if it were only 1/4 closed, the majority of the water flowing out of the pool would do so through the skimmer. For proper water circulation, it is best to position the flap so that it is about 2/3 closed.

This will allow for more flow through the main drain than through the skimmer, which will promote a "bottom-to-top" circulation throughout the pool. Most of the water in the pool will be pulled through the main drain at the bottom of the pool and returned to the pool at the top, where the main returns are located (see the section of this manual on "Returns"; for pools with a Paramount in-floor system the circulation pattern is different, see the section regarding your system).

The float valve can be placed in the bottom of the skimmer in any orientation, as long as the flap is at the bottom. It should be noticed upon removal of the float valve that a black rubber O-ring is present in the bottom of the skimmer. This serves as a seal to ensure that all of the water flowing through the skimmer is flowing through the float valve, instead of around it. Inside the float valve is a small plastic float that prevents air from passing through the skimmer in the event that the pool water level drops below that of the skimmer entrance. If this occurs, the float drops down and seals against another black O-ring within the float valve assembly. Beneath the float valve are two holes, each approximately 2 inches in diameter. The hole that is closest to the swimming pool is connected directly to the main drain at the bottom of the pool (in pools with a Paramount in-floor system this is different, see the section regarding your pools system).

The other hole is connected to the pump. While the pump is running, the hole farthest from the pool will be pulling water into it, and a strong suction should be felt, while no suction should be felt from the other hole. Once the float valve is in place and the flap is positioned correctly, the water will flow up through the pipe closer to the pool and will turn to flow down the pipe leading to the pump. If the float valve is not in place, the water will follow the path of least resistance and will only flow through the skimmer and into the pipe leading to the pump, and the main drain will not be functioning.

B. PRESSURE
The pressure side of the system refers to the water that has already passed through the pump and is returning to the pool. The pressure side of the system includes the filter, backwashing assembly, heater (if present), the main returns, and the aerator. In this section, the main returns and the aerator are discussed leaving the filter, backwashing assembly, and the heater for subsequent sections.

Main Returns
The main water returns (named "returns" because they return water to the pool) are generally located about 1 foot beneath the water surface and resemble eyes in appearance. They may have openings ranging from 1/2 inch up to 1 inch. In order to aim the orifice in a certain direction the outer ring of the return can be loosened by turning counter-clockwise. Once the desired direction is achieved, the ring can then be tightened to hold the return in place. The returns should be aimed so that a circulation pattern exists on the surface of the pool. This usually means that all of the returns should be aimed either to the left or to the right, depending on the style of the particular pool. Usually, all of the returns should be aimed so that they are level with the water surface, as opposed to up or down. This may interfere with the operation of some suction-powered pool cleaners, however, and if this is the case, please refer to the section on "Suction-side pool cleaners".

Aerator
The aerator is a small fitting just above the water line approximately halfway along the poolside. The aerator serves a single purpose: to cool the water in the event that it gets too warm for either swimmer comfort of chemical efficiency. Above 90 degrees F., chlorine becomes too active to remain in the water, and quickly dissipates. If the water temperature rises above 90 degrees F, it is recommended to turn the aerator on by opening the valve which controls it (see the labels on your specific pool valves to determine which is for the aerator). Water will flow from the aerator fitting and should spray approximately 2/3 of the way across the pool. If the spray does not carry this far, begin to close the valve that flows to the main returns until the water flowing from the aerator reaches the desired spot. Be careful not to close the other valves completely, as a possible over-pressure situation may result, causing damage to the system or even personal injury. Watch the pressure gauge at the top of the filter to insure that the pressure does not rise above the maximum operating pressure of that particular filter.

THE PUMP The pump is essentially the heart of the swimming pool's circulation system. It pulls water from the pool through the skimmer and main drain, pushes it through the filter, and returns it to the pool through the main returns. The pump itself consists of three components: The motor, impeller, and hair and lint trap. The motor is electric, uses either 110 or 220 volts, and turns at 3,450 rpm. It is air cooled, and because of this is not perfectly sealed from the environment, so caution should be taken to keep excess water from entering the motor through the cooling vents located on the underside of the housing. Connected to the end of the shaft of the motor is the impeller.

As it turns, it pulls water in through the hair and lint trap at the end of the pump and pushes it out the top of the pump through a pipe leading to the filter. The impeller contains small openings and is very susceptible to becoming clogged with debris. If the pressure on the gauge at the top of the filter is reading lower than the recommended levels, and if the amount of water flowing back to the pool has decreased, it is possible that the impeller is either clogged or damaged. This can be determined by separating the assembly at the impeller housing and checking the impeller visually.

A special hair and lint trap is located at the end of the pump assembly to prevent debris from entering the impeller assembly. Inside the hair and lint trap is a basket that should be checked and emptied at least twice per week. If the basket were clogged, the flow of water into the pump would be restricted and the pump would begin to pump air instead of water. This is known as a "loss of prime". At this point, the motor would begin to turn faster, and would eventually burn out. If this basket were not present, the impeller could become clogged, which would prevent it from pumping large quantities of water, or it could become damaged.

A. RUNNING THE PUMP
The entire operation of the swimming pool is dictated by the operation of the pump. The cleaning system cannot, in general, operate without the main pump, and the pool water cannot be filtered without the main pump operating. It is crucial, therefore, to be aware of the proper schedule for the operation of the main pump.

When To Run The Pump
There are two factors which determine the time of day when the pump should be operating: chemical demand and energy cost. Since ultraviolet light from the sun removes chlorine from the water, it is apparent that the highest chlorine demand would be during the daytime. Since most methods of chlorine addition require the pump to be operating to furnish the pool with the proper amount of chlorine, this would lead to the conclusion that it is better to run the pump during the day, rather than at night.

However, due to the higher cost of electrical power during the daylight hours, these two factors must be weighed in order to determine the schedule that best meets the needs of each pool, and its owner. The ideal case would be to run the pump from sunrise to sunset, and this schedule would be best for those situations where the cost of electricity does not vary throughout the day. In other cases, however, it may be necessary to run the pump during the night to avoid high utility costs. It should be noted that the amount of chlorine that is added to the pool must be enough so that the chlorine level remains at or above 3.0 ppm for the majority of the daylight hours, especially in the afternoon.

How Long To Run The Pump
The two main factors in determining the length of time that the pump should be run during each cycle are the chemical demand and filtration. During the summer months, the chemical demand is at its peak, and since the bathing load is generally higher during this time, the amount of debris in the pool is higher also. This requires that the water be filtered more thoroughly to remove the excess debris. A "rule of thumb" exists which can be used to determine the length of each pumping cycle. For every 10 degrees F of outside air temperature, run the pump 1 hour. For example, if the average maximum air temperature for a month was 100 F, then the pump should be operating for at least 10 hours per day for that month.

Since the temperature cannot be accurately predicted each month, this rule should be followed conservatively. It is recommended that the pump run 12 hours per day during the hottest summer months, and 4-5 hours per day during the winter months, and to varying degrees during the spring and fall. The daily cycle can be divided up into multiple cycles, but each cycle should be no shorter than 4 hours, since this is the minimum time it takes for all of the water in the pool to pass through the filter at least once, and it is also the recommended time between the addition of chemicals and the next water test/or pool use.

CARTRIDGE FILTER
Cartridge filters use polyester elements that are filled with very small pores. These pores allow water to pass through but trap dirt and debris, as well as microscopic particles, down to 20 microns (1/50 of a millimeter) in diameter. As the pores become clogged, the water has no place to go, so the pressure in the filter tank begins to rise, which shows up on the pressure gauge at the top of the filter. If a rise occurs in the pressure, this usually means that the filter needs to be cleaned. This is done by disassembling the filter tank (Usually a clamp is present around the tank that holds it together.) and removing the filter element. Remove the plug at the bottom of the filter tank and rinse the inside out before removing the filter element or much of the debris trapped in the tank will pass back into the return line to the pool and be broadcast back into the pool. Once removed spray the filter element with very high pressure water and/or soak the element in a mixture of a filter cleaner and water.

Once the element is clean, it can be placed back into the tank and the clamp refastened. Then the pump can be restarted, making sure that the pressure rises from zero to the normal operating pressure soon after restart. As the pressure is rising, open the manual air relief valve to release the air that was introduced into the tank during the cleaning process. The filter element should be cleaned every week, or when the pressure on the gauge reaches a value 5-10 psi higher than the normal operating pressure, whichever comes first. Once or twice a year, it should be soaked in a mixture of filter cleaner (available at a Pool retail showroom near you) and water.

*REGAINING PRIME* If the pressure does not rise within 1 minute, shut the pump off and force water into the system through the skimmer by placing a garden hose into the hole at the bottom of the skimmer which is farthest from the pool and restarting the pump. The water from the garden hose should be enough to flood the pump and restart the system. Be sure to open the manual air relief valve after the pump has regained its prime to release the excess air from the filter.

SAND FILTER
Sand filters use a large amount of #20 silica sand as a filter for the pool water. They are composed of a one-piece fiberglass tank and are filled approximately 2/3 with sand. Special pipes and fittings inside the tank direct the water from the top of the filter to the bottom, allowing it to filter through the sand as it moves down. Sand filters can trap microscopic particles down to about 15 microns in size, and the pressure in the filter tank increases as the filter becomes clogged with debris. A process known as backwashing accomplishes cleaning of the filter. As the name implies, forcing the water through it backwards, and removing the debris and the water by placing it outside the pool area using a flexible backwash hose cleans the filter.

Backwashing
Before backwashing, it is important that the pump be turned off to avoid damage to the backwash valve mechanism. For filters with a side-mounted, vertical backwash valve, rotate the handle to unlock the valve, push the handle down as far as it will go, and rotate the handle once again to lock the valve in the backwash position. Make sure that the backwash hose is extended to the desired area, and turn on the pump. A large quantity of water and debris will flow out of the hose. Continue until the water which is flowing out of the hose is clear and wait an additional 30 seconds to ensure that the filter is properly cleaned. Turn the pump off and return the valve to the normal filter mode by carrying out the above steps except in reverse order. Once the valve is returned to the filter position, open the air release valve to release trapped air in top of lid or tank tops.
Turn the pump on and monitor the pressure gauge for proper operation of the system. If the pump fails to fill with water, or the pressure fails to build to the normal operating value, follow the steps in the "REGAINING PRIME" section below. For filters with a top-or side- mounted rotating backwash valve, the process is similar, but instead of pushing the handle down to backwash and up to filter, the handle of the rotating valve is pushed down and then rotated to the backwash and filter positions, respectively. Once all of the trapped air is released through the air release valve and only water flows out, close this valve.

Due to the presence of minerals such as calcium in the pool water, which can harden and solidify the sand, it is recommended that the sand be completely changed every 5-7 years. #20 silica sand is available at any Pool retail showroom.
*REGAINING PRIME* If the pressure does not rise within 1 minute, shut the pump off and force water into the system through the skimmer by placing a garden hose into the hole at the bottom of the skimmer which is farthest from the pool and restarting the pump. The water from the garden hose should be enough to flood the pump and restart the system. Be sure to open the manual air relief valve after the pump has regained its prime to release the excess air from the filter.

DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FILTER
Diatomaceous earth (D.E.) filters utilize two components to filter pool water. Ribbed polyester grids (usually eight) are assembled within the tank connected together with a network of piping called a manifold. The grids themselves are far too porous to be an effective filter for pool water, but they are coated with a substance called diatomaceous earth (also called D.E. or just earth). D.E. is made from a number of sources, including crushed seashells and microscopic algae skeletons (diatoms). It resembles flour in appearance and once it is introduced onto the filter grids, it is capable of trapping particles as small as 5 microns, which is smaller than algae itself, making D.E. filters the most efficient filters available from swimming pools. As the filter becomes clogged with dirt and debris, the pressure in the tank begins to rise and the filter is then cleaned by backwashing.

Backwashing
Before backwashing, it is important that the pump be turned off to avoid damage to the backwash valve mechanism. For filters with a side-mounted, vertical backwash valve, rotate the handle to unlock the valve, pull the handle up as far as it will go, and rotate the handle once again to lock the valve in the backwash position. Make sure that the backwash hose is extended to the desired area, and turn on the pump. A large quantity of water and debris will flow out of the hose. Continue until the water which is flowing out of the hose is clear and wait an additional 30 seconds to ensure that the filter is properly cleaned.

Turn the pump off and return the valve to the normal filter mode by carrying out the above steps except in reverse order. Once the valve is returned to the filter position, open the air release valve to release trapped air in top of lid or tank tops. Turn the pump on and monitor the pressure gauge for proper operation of the system. If the pump fails to fill with water, or the pressure fails to build to the normal operating value, follow the steps in the "REGAINING PRIME" section below. For filters with a top-or side-mounted rotating backwash valve, the process is similar, but instead of pulling the handle up to backwash and pushing it down to filter, the handle of the rotating valve is pushed down and then rotated to the backwash and filter positions, respectively. Once all of the trapped air is released through the air release valve and only water flows out, close this valve.

After the backwash process is complete, additional D.E. must be added to the filter to replace what was removed with the water and debris. A convenient unit of measure for D.E. is a one-pound coffee can. Add one one-pound coffee can for every 5 square feet of filter area (found on the label on the outside of the filter tank) to a large (5 gal.) bucket of water and slowly pour the mixture into the skimmer (next to the pool) while the pump is running (in normal filter mode . . . not backwash). If you have a Paramount in-floor cleaning system with a booster pump make sure it is off before D.E. is added to the skimmer.

Do not add dry D.E. to the skimmer as this will result in the D.E. piling up in the skimmer and also to the uneven coating of the grids. Once the new D.E. is added, normal filtering can be resumed. In addition to backwashing, it is recommended that the filter be disassembled and thoroughly cleaned by soaking the grids in a mixture of filter cleaner and water at least twice per year. This will remove excess D.E. that wasn't removed during normal backwashing.

*REGAINING PRIME* If the pressure does not rise within 1 minute, shut the pump off and force water into the system through the skimmer by placing a garden hose into the hole at the bottom of the skimmer which is farthest from the pool and restarting the pump. The water from the garden hose should be enough to flood the pump and restart the system. Be sure to open the manual air relief valve after the pump has regained its prime to release the excess air from the filter.

VALVES
As mentioned earlier, each swimming pool has a different arrangement of the equipment. Because of this, each one also has a different number of valves, and their locations vary from pool to pool. Paramount recommends you label each valve in order to remember the intended use for that valve. Please refer to the equipment printout on your particular pool for this information. Be aware, however, that the 2-way and 3-way swing valves installed on most pools have the ability to be completely closed and if every valve is in the closed position, an overpressure situation will result, and damage and personal injury may occur. To avoid this, extra care should be taken to ensure that at least one valve on the pipes leading from the filter to the pool (on the pressure or return side) must be open at all times to give the water a place to go. Never close all valves while the system is in operation. All 2- and 3-way valves and round gate valves can be moved while the pump is operating.

BRUSHING THE POOL
Even though most modern swimming pools are equipped with an automatic cleaning system, there is no substitute for a thorough brushing of the walls and bottom of the pool. Most automatic cleaners can't scrub the floor to remove small debris and algae spores from the pores in the pool surface, and this must be done to ensure a stain and algae free pool surface. It is recommended that the pool be brushed with a standard 18-inch nylon bristle pool brush (found at any Pool retail showroom) at least twice per week. The entire process usually only takes 10 minutes and is well worth the time and effort. Be sure to brush the pool while the pump is operating, and to cover the entire pool from the tile line to the main drain. Sweep slowly and push the brush toward the main drain so that the debris will be pulled into the drain and then into the filter, where it will be removed from the water. If large amounts of debris were removed during this process, it is advisable to clean the filter afterward.

VACUUMING THE POOL
If the amount of debris in the pool is too great to be removed by either the automatic cleaning system or by brushing, the pool should be vacuumed to remove the debris before it becomes attached to the pool surface and requires special methods to remove. A manual vacuum system is available at any Pool retail showroom that will operate in any swimming pool. It consists of three major components: a vacuum head, a flexible vacuum hose, and a long telescopic pole. The pole that is used for brushing can also be used for vacuuming as both the brush and the vacuum head are connected to the pole with a quick disconnect attachment. The process of vacuuming the pool manually can be accomplished by following these steps.

First, make sure that the pump is operating and that the filter has recently been cleaned. In fact, it is recommended that the filter be cleaned immediately before and after vacuuming the pool. Attach the vacuum head to the telescopic pole, and attach either end of the vacuum hose to the top of the vacuum head. Keeping the opposite end of the hose and the pole accessible, lower the vacuum head into the pool. Before the vacuum hose can be attached to the suction line in the skimmer, it must be filled with water to prevent a large amount of air entering the pump and causing a loss of prime. This can be accomplished by either placing the free end of the vacuum hose over one of the main return lines, allowing water to flow into the hose and push out the air, or by inserting a garden hose into the vacuum hose and using the water from the garden hose to push air out of the vacuum hose.

As the hose is filling with water, the vacuum head should be lifted from the bottom of the pool about 1 foot to assist in the escape of the trapped air. Once the bubbles have stopped flowing from the vacuum head, bring the free end of the vacuum hose to the skimmer, keeping the end of the hose beneath the water at all times so that no more air is allowed to enter the hose. Remove the lid from the skimmer, and also remove the skimmer basket and float valve. Cover the free end of the vacuum hose with the palm of your hand and quickly lift the hose over the pool deck and into the skimmer through the opening at the top. Once the end of the hose is underwater, remove your hand and insert the hose into the suction hole in the bottom of the skimmer (the hole farthest from the pool)(If you have a Paramount in-floor system with a booster pump make sure the booster pump is off or the vacuumed debris will be returned to the pool via the floor returns). The suction will hold the hose into the hole and will form a good seal. If the hole is too large for the hose to seal properly, an adapter is available at any Pool retail showroom. Once the connection has been made, slowly move the vacuum over the pool surface in a similar fashion as brushing, except with vacuuming, it is not necessary to push the vacuum toward the main drain. It is necessary to vacuum the entire pool, from the tile line to the drain, but care should be taken to keep the vacuum head underwater at all times to prevent air from entering the system.

When the pool has been sufficiently cleaned, pull the vacuum hose out of the suction hole in the skimmer and wash the hose and head with fresh water to remove chemicals that could decrease the life of the equipment, and store them in a shaded area. Once again, it is recommended that the filter be cleaned immediately after vacuuming to remove the excess debris and increase the efficiency of the filter system. Replace the float valve, skimmer basket, and skimmer cover.

SKIMMING THE POOL
While vacuuming and brushing remove dirt and debris from the bottom of the pool, they do not remove the debris such as grass, leaves, and bugs which float on the water surface. The skimmer built into the pool deck usually removes this debris, but it can accumulate in large amounts and it may take the built-in skimmer an appreciable time to remove it. By using a hand skimmer, the debris can be quickly removed before it has the opportunity to become saturated with water and sink to the bottom. While there are no specific guidelines as to when the pool should be manually skimmed, it is recommended that it be done either before or after brushing. A manual skimmer can be used in conjunction with the same telescopic pole used for brushing and vacuuming, and can be found at any Pool retail showroom.

ATTACHED SPA
In the case where a spa is attached to the swimming pool and the water is allowed to overflow into the pool, both the pool and the spa share the same filter and pump systems, and they are connected to each other within the piping network. The spa will contain its own main drain, and may also have its own skimmer. In this case, the skimmer and main drain operate exactly the same as in the swimming pool, and the suction line in the skimmer meets that of the pool immediately adjacent to the hair and lint trap attached to the pump. A 3-way swing valve will be present at this junction to regulate the flow between the spa and the pool suction lines. For normal operation, the pool suction line should be considerably more open than that of the spa to ensure that the spa does not drain.

Since the volume of water in the spa is small compared to that of the pool, very little suction is needed for proper circulation of the spa. If a separate skimmer is present for the spa, and the skimmer contains a float valve, set the flap in the same position as that in the pool skimmer, and adjust the 3-way valve near the pump so that the vast majority of the water is coming from the pool skimmer (i.e. adjust the 3-way valve so that the spa suction line is almost closed). On the pressure side of the system, there will be separate valves present to direct water flow to the therapy jets in the spa. To operate the therapy jets, simply open the swing valve that is labeled "therapy jets" and if needed for more flow, partially close the valve labeled "return". This will direct more water into the spa's therapy jets and less into the pool's main returns. Be aware that the water in the spa will overflow into the pool, and if the spa is heated, some heat may be lost to the pool.