Pump and skimmer

I recently read one of the tips about pump sizes, which got me to thinking about my 1.5HP pump on my 24' pool. I checked out the sand filter and it simply cannot filter water at the rate that pump can push it. I bought a new dual speed motor (1 / 1/8 HP), replaced the impeller with a 1HP impeller and installed a new shaft seal. The water in my pool is clearer now than its been before minus the huge electricity demand.

The only problem I'm having at the moment is surface debris not going down the skimmer. I kept the water level about 4" up the skimmer to keep the 1.5HP pump from sucking air, but now running the pump on low speed it doesnt remove things from the surface. Is there any sort of *adjustable* barrier I can put in the skimmer to decrease water flow, or perhaps I should say increase water flow from the surface? Maybe there is a better way alltogether aside from lowering the water level? I loke the extra couple of inches, but will do what I have to do =)

Here is something you can attach to the skimmer. I don't have one, but it looks interesting and should be good for what you want.

http://www.intheswim.com/Pool-Cleani...Pool-Skimmers/


Scroll down the page, it's the "skim -it"

I think that will do the trick. I played with some ABS I have laying around and made an arm that extends from the skimmer out about 3 feet. Its held in place by a tab on the top and bottom snapping into the back portion of the skimmer. Now I need to get it looking a little better before my wife throws a fit =)