Wandering in the Wasteland of Pool Maintenance!

[Dr. Spike]

Do you have any other intakes? If so, you will need to plug them or turn them off with the valve.

I have 2 intakes, 2 skimmers, no main drain. I plug the intake that is plumbed with the skimmer that I use to vacuum, the other skimmer and intake are shut off at the valve.

EDIT: If you took the gizmo out of the skimmer, it shouldn't be plugged. Does it skim when the pump is running? With the lid off you should see water flowing over the weir (flapper)?