Quote Originally Posted by poolgal13 View Post
Strange! I went out to take a picture like you asked and tried one more time to open the valve just enough until water came down the slide like normal, and VOILA! the pressure on the tank is fine. If I open the valve on the pipe all the way (basically turn the handle all the way) the pressure goes up. I'm guessing that in previous years when the pool company opened up our pool for us, they probably never had the pipe opened all the way. I think it's all good for now, but if something weird happens, then I will re-post.
That is a bit weird.

Which do you think has the shorter pipe run length, the pool returns or the water slide? How many eyeball returns are there in the pool? Do you know the PVC pipe diameters for the pool returns versus the slide?

I'm trying to understand why your pump seems to be forcing more water to the slide than the pool returns. Water flow, like electricity, tries to follow the path of least resistance. So, adding more parallel streams of water to the pressure side of your plumbing, ie, opening the pool slide valve, should decrease your system pressure not increase it. As I stated in my first reply, the only thing that would cause what you're seeing is a three-way valve where turning on the slide fully also diverts water away from your pool returns. There are other even less likely scenarios (like having a variable-flow water pump) but I suspect that's not the case.

Pictures would definitely help sort out this mystery...but if you're happy with what got, enjoy the water slide!!