Bestway 58233E 800 GPH Above Ground Swimming Pool Surface Skimmer Debris Cleaner with Quick Set Up & Adjustable Mounting Bracket for Customized Height

The media could not be loaded. The instructions are par for the course for this company. Vague pictures that don’t exactly represent what you get, but it’s simple enough. Comes with two attachment arms based on the type of frame/pool you have (clamp for a pole frame, and a more brace type one if you have a flat plastic rim topped pool)This connects directly to the suction side of your pool, so if you have to remove the included gray filter cap for the inlet attachment before connecting this skimmer basket like I did, just turn off your pump (makes life way easier) and have one of the rubber nipples the pool came with) or a piece of pvc pipe handy to slide into place so your pump hose on the outside doesn’t fly off with without something to hold onto. The inlet cap has a screw in it, so don’t spend forever trying to muscle it off before you realize. Either get in the pool with a small Phillips screwdriver, or remove it all together (the removed cap is pictured.) We just filled our pool last week (Ohio) and it’s too frigid to get in yet.Screw the skimmer basket’s pump inlet attachment into the inlet pool piece you just took the cap off of, remove the nipple/pipe from the pool wall, and wiggle the skimmer basket inlet piece back into the hole. THEN attach the rest of your skimmer basket. You want the water level nearly flush with the gray lock rim. Nearly, so there’s enough water flowing in from the suction, but it isn’t low enough to let any debris escape back into the pool.All in all, it’s an excellent product, low-ish profile, but definitely not sturdy enough if you’ve got rowdy kids (or adults) who aren’t going to mind the basket or the hose and potentially dislodge it/cause your pump hose to disconnect and your pool to start gushing water 🤣. I’d recommend a flat backed skimmer assembly if that is the case. But this was affordable and we don’t have kids so I’m happy with it. You could also probably buy a shorter hose so there isn’t so much excess. Don’t cut it, it won’t attach unless you’ve got a really good clamp to screw on in the place of the narrow end of the hose.Anyways, no issues for me besides the instructions kinda suck, I imagine this would be difficult for someone who can’t intuitively look at a picture and assemble based on that, or is new to pool things.

I purchased this skimmer for my Coleman steel pool, and boy, am I glad I did!First, the skimmer package comes with two different mounting clamps - one for the ring of an inflatable pool, and the other a clamp for a steel pool with round top rails. Unfortunately, neither is a mate for the oval rails of my Coleman, but I rigged mine in place with two zip ties and everything stays perfectly in place.Next, the package comes with a variety of adapters to attach to various pool inlets. I chose the one that fit best and I was up and running in less than 10 minutes. My Coleman pool is designed with twin inlets and I found that when using one inlet as designed and the other attached to the skimmer, my pump did not supply enough suction for proper function of the skimmer. This was not a problem. I simply rearranged my pool to use a single, larger diameter pool inlet hose and used a different (supplied) inlet adapter for my skimmer. I closed off the second inlet and was once again in business in only a few minutes. Now there is more than enough suction for my skimmer.The last piece of the puzzle is finding the ideal height for your skimmer mount. I have found that mine works best if the skimmer basket is tightened so that the adjustment nut is level with the water line. In a calm pool, the floating part of the skimmer should remain at a fairly constant level - without bouncing - for ideal suction.Before I attached this skimmer I was fighting an uphill battle using a hand skimmer to keep bugs and leaves out of my pool. Now, by just running my pump a few hours a day my water is bug-free!!! I do have to clean my filter cartridge daily, but that is a small price to pay to have the bugs in the filter instead of the water.Great product and great price!

The media could not be loaded. This skimmer is a must if you have a Bestway above ground pool and aren't ready to cut your liner for a built-in model. It is extremely effective with one critical mod. Your pool came with the pictured adapter probably. Take the screw out of the far suction cover, unscrew the cover and place the adapter into the suction fitting, then install the grated suction cover again. The suction will hold it against the fitting body and it is too long to fall out inside the cover. This will restrict but not block suction on the far line and greatly increase skimmer effectiveness. On our oval pool, the skimmer collects best mounted near the return jet between the middle suction port and return. The skimmer had a flap gasket on the bottom under the basket that will pull in and filter more mid-depth pool water to make up for the restricted suction on the far line and both will filter debris or algae that gets stirred up while vacuuming. If you pole/brush vacuum, just unscrew the suction cover and pop out the restriction fitting until you get your vac hose fully flowing and pop the adapter back in to increase vac flow. It will easily stay in place even without the cover if the pump is running. I'd also suggest changing your return jet to the intex adjustable jet with air injector so you can aim the output water slightly to increase circular flow on top of the water. If you are tired of skimming your pool constantly, this setup greatly reduces the trash floating on top which leads to less work cleaning the bottom!Also, BESTWAY designers: This skimmer would be greatly improved by simply changing the screw mount to a squeeze clamp like woodworkers use. Since we need to take it out and hang it over the side while swimming (otherwise kids run into it and settled debris floats back into the pool even with basket removed), it would be a simple change to press a lever to release tension and then squeeze a handle a few times to remount it. I'll give you my address to send your royalty checks! lol....