Negative. There should be a white ring that goes around the blue cup to seal it with the main body of the skimmer. All the water and the trash should flow over the top edge. If your pump/filter is not clogged, and is pulling enough water, AND the seal ring is in place, the blue part should be constantly sucked down to where it's a 1/8in below water level, creating a "whirlpool" of sorts. The blue part is about 8in tall. Assuming that it needs at least 2 inches to remain in the assembly without popping out, that gives it about 6in free travel. I set my 'slide rail' so that the blue part is about halfway out when it floats. Then your water level can rise or drop 3in without causing it to either suck air if it gets low, or have the skimmer pop out and float away if it gets too high. Hope this helps!

PS If the pump is pumping plenty, and the blue part isnt sinking down, and assuming you never saw it work b4, I have to assume from what ur describing, that the 'seal ring' is missing. That's why its sucking water around the blue part instead of over it. If you dont see anything like that, I can tell you from experience look very closely at the bottom of the pool. It blends in and is hard to see, but that's almost always where it ends up. Happy Hunting!