well after days of not being able to figure this out, we called our pool installer. he called us back and said it was probably the "cottonwood floaties" that are clogging the skimmer/pump. he told us to clean everything out (you would not belive all the floaties stuck in the skimmer/pump) and to go buy some skimmer basket nets.

lo and behold--it worked!! we finally got to vacuum yesterday!!

after about an hour or so of running smooth--we then started getting champaign bubbles from the jet. the vacuum continued to work fine, so we are still stumped.

hubby is going to backwash today. we may have to replace the sand.

hopefully after those things, all will be well.

just wondering about those champaign bubbles--any ideas on what could cause them after about an hour of working fine??

thanks for all the help!!