My pool equipment is about 12 ft above the pool and 16 ft from the edge. I've installed a new Waterway cartridge filter and replumbed the suction side to include Jandy check valves on both the skimmer side and the suction cleaner side. These are joined together with a 3-way valve and then the plumbing angles down at 45 degrees to the pump. Nothing seems to be leaking. Pump basket o-ring is new and lubricated. When primed and running there is great circulation in the pool but no pressure reading on the filter gauge and hardly any air comes out of the air relief valve when it is opened. Pump loses prime after being off for several hours in spite of the new check valves. I'm thinking of plumbing in a 2 ft high loop on the return side after the filter to force water to stay in the filter tank. Does this sound reasonable?