I think it is the tank and not algae

[Rangeball]

I'm just frustrated that I repeatedly told the pool store what was going on and they said "everyone is battling algae this year - you just have to keep shocking and vacuuming" - grr.

Translation-

"You're not alone. Our bad advice and incompetence is screwing all our customer's pools up."

[kbcpa]

Rangeball,

I was not trying to offend anyone, nor did I mean anyone here was incompetent. I was speaking about our local pool store and that is the only place I mentioned. Yes, I am frustrated that this has been going on for 2 months and I kept telling them the problem occurred when turning on the filtration. They never even mentioned a spider gasket to me, never suggested that I possibly had water going back into my pool when vacuuming to waste. I got that info here and am very thankful for the help I have received here. I have learned more on this forum in the past few days than I have from the local pool store.

I apologize for offending, but I did not make a generalization about all pool stores.

[kbcpa]

Rangeball,

I re-read your post and may not be interpreting it correctly. If I offended, I'm sorry - do you work at a pool store? Perhaps that isn't what you were meaning and I went on the defensive too quickly. Again, my apologies.

[Rangeball]

Rangeball,

I re-read your post and may not be interpreting it correctly. If I offended, I'm sorry - do you work at a pool store? Perhaps that isn't what you were meaning and I went on the defensive too quickly. Again, my apologies.

No need to appologize, my translation was for the pool store's comment

When I was using them, I heard at least one "everybody has it" type comment every season.

I think you are on the right track, and certainly in the right place for info

[kbcpa]

Okay, our filter required the purchase of a key assembly and not just a spider gasket (Hayward SP714TX). So, we put the new one on and still had water coming back into the pool on waste and some on backwash. When going through the different cycles, the gasket part came loose and we had to take it back off and correct the positioning on it because we were losing water on filter.

So, what else could it be? I'm stumped - there is nothing else in the tank that changes the water flow on the different cycles is there? I can't see that I need a whole new multiport valve because the bulk of it is the key assembly that we replaced which did not solve the problem. I hope they take it back - it was $37.

What else do I need to look for to stop this water from returning to the pool on waste?

Thanks!

[duraleigh]

If you have determined it's not the multiport, the only thing left is the plumbing after the multiport. Is it possible your ball valves are not positioned correctly?