HUH!?!?!?!?!??!

I've been running my sand filter on a timer since the day the pool was installed--now in season 5 for this pool.

You need to run your pump long enough to turn over your water once in 24 hours. That's all. At this point in the season (late May, now beginning of June) I run on high about 14 hours a day SOLELY because I want the skimmer to run--we are having the worst pollen season in a decade and it sits on the surface.

Soon I'll go to low, with the same schedule. I also run it based on the sun and my solar panels.

Sand filters don't filter better by additional water cycles. They do filter better at lower speeds because more stuff can get trapped.

My 2 speed is falling-off-a-log simple: There's a toggle switch on the back of the motor housing. That's it!