Thanks for the photos's. Very nice by the way. This is the exact skimmer that I have. As I said, we keep active kids in the pool daily, and when the waves start rolling, water comes out of the hole on top of the skimmer lid. When there is no activity in the pool, it is fine. I keep the water level in pool just under halfway up on the skimmer opening to the inside of the pool. I don't know what the recommended level is....... I just wanted to make sure I didn't suck air through the skimmer to my pump. As i said, it's a 27' round, and dug out to 5.5' in the center. Thks again..