I have a Solana TX. I have replaced filters on it many, many times and I am familiar with the water flow. With the jets on high water clearly flows towards the filter. My floating thermometer hits the corner and if the grill is off it is sucked right up to the filter. During operation and if the cap at the top of the filter is removed there is great suction at the top of the tube that the filter goes over (Pleatco PWK-30.) A cyclonic vortex occurs and the water is sucked down. If attempting to replace the cap with the jets still on the pressure is usually too great and the jets need to be turned off to affix the cap.

Coincidentally, I have just changed the water and replaced the filter and none of the above occurs. The water is not clear and little bubbles float around with dirty body oils, etc. The water flow does not gravitate towards the filter. There is no suction at the top of the filter. I can cover the hole without the cap and there is no suction. The filter shows some debris but it appears that the majority of the suction is at the bottom of the filter. Thinking that the pump needed to be primed I inserted a hose down until bubbles no longer came out of the spa holes. No change in the suction of the filter. I checked the plumbing and there are no obstructions.

The spa technician says that this is normal. I don't believe him. I mean, why have a tall filter if it only filters at the bottom? It has filtered very strongly for over two years. He says the filters must have been defective and good ones should never create suction at the top. New, genuine Watkins filters defective for over two years?

What say the experts?

Well, there is no magic to it, water will be sucked in wherever it can go in and will come out wherever it can come out.

Is the water level really high now where in the past it may have been lower?

If the water level is high then there won't be as much direct suction at the filter. If the water level is lower then there will feel like there is more suction because the water level is closer to the intake.

The water may be dirty due to many different factors.

The water is at the same level -- just over the top of the filter. Same as always. The spa tech. basically said that a filter is supposed to let water pass. OK. That's a given. But there needs to be suction to cause water to be drawn towards the filter. Normally the water flow causes water to pool at the top-right, next to the filter compartment. It then whips around the lip and into the filter. That is no longer happening and why I notice "dirty bubbles" floating around with no purpose. No goals in life -- kind of like my teenagers