We run our pump from 11am - 6pm each day on a timer, longer if heavy swimmer load and we need to circulate extra chemicals. We have solar panels to push water though though so our timing is based a lot on heat generation.

We leave our solar blanket on when not in use - daytime it keeps the crap out of the pool, night it keeps the heat in. We actually suspend an actual set of netting for pond protection from birds/leaves over the cover during the fall winter months, I think it helps some to keep a lot of crap off the cover.