Ok the pool guy came.. he wasn't much help at all.

It seems I do have a bad gasket so I can't recirculate. Putting the drain hose in the pool was an option but I tried it and busted the clamp which holds the hose on so that's not an option now either.

Can I run it on filter? Or should we get in and stir it around?

Now I am at a complete loss and quite heartbroken about the whole thing.

Pool guy didn't fix my light either. There is water and gunk in the dome.