b3dw23,
This is probably just a confusion on terminology, but the pool returns are where clean filtered water gets injected back into your pool. They are usually small openings (called jets) on the walls of the pool and have adjustable "eyes" that let you adjust the angle the water leaves the opening. The pump does not suck water in from these openings.
The pump is sucking in water from either your pool cleaner connection or the skimmer or both depending on your pump input valve handle position. You may have found a position that blocks both inputs and stops the flow to the pump. Do not run the pump in this position as it can damage the pump/impeller from no water flow. I would expect the pump to be making a very non normal sound when this is occurring. There would be no flow from the jets back into the pool when this is happening. You should be able to find a position where it is drawing in water from both pipes (pool cleaner and skimmer). This is what I suggested you try to find and use if the pool cleaner is still moving around normally. If not, then you may have to use only skimmer or only pool cleaner at a time. Maybe you adjust valve to only run pool cleaner one day and then only use skimmer the next day. You would have to manually move the valve each day to change the cleaning source mode.
I also noticed in one of your photos the floating chlorinator. The previous owner may have been using trichlor tabs to add chlorine to the pool. This may have also raised your CYA (cyanuric acid also known as stabilizer) to levels higher than you would want. When you get your test kit you definitely want to do the CYA test and post results.
hope this helps.
This is probably just a confusion on terminology, but the pool returns are where clean filtered water gets injected back into your pool. They are usually small openings (called jets) on the walls of the pool and have adjustable "eyes" that let you adjust the angle the water leaves the opening. The pump does not suck water in from these openings.
The pump is sucking in water from either your pool cleaner connection or the skimmer or both depending on your pump input valve handle position. You may have found a position that blocks both inputs and stops the flow to the pump. Do not run the pump in this position as it can damage the pump/impeller from no water flow. I would expect the pump to be making a very non normal sound when this is occurring. There would be no flow from the jets back into the pool when this is happening. You should be able to find a position where it is drawing in water from both pipes (pool cleaner and skimmer). This is what I suggested you try to find and use if the pool cleaner is still moving around normally. If not, then you may have to use only skimmer or only pool cleaner at a time. Maybe you adjust valve to only run pool cleaner one day and then only use skimmer the next day. You would have to manually move the valve each day to change the cleaning source mode.
I also noticed in one of your photos the floating chlorinator. The previous owner may have been using trichlor tabs to add chlorine to the pool. This may have also raised your CYA (cyanuric acid also known as stabilizer) to levels higher than you would want. When you get your test kit you definitely want to do the CYA test and post results.
hope this helps.
