Does anyone know what this thing is?
when ii remove the filter, look down the the filter housing, there is a yellow type of bobber, its about 5 inches long and tapered, from about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inches at the top it also has 4 flat tits sticking out of it.
no one at the spa parts places i called knows what it is. is it some sort of check valve? i also found peice of one in my pump head when i took it apart, anyhelp?

I'd guess an old silver ion cartridge, or the extender part from it, left from the previous owners. Can you post a pic?

This is taking quite a few assumptions; like you're fairly new to the spa, either buying it used, or recently buying a house that already had the spa there.

could it be this a purifiyer http://www.lesliespool.com/images/us/lo... 420_lg.jpg

Yes that is it, the two in the lower part of the picture.

That's an old silver ion cartridge. Just throw it away, before more peices break off and end up in your impellor, or worse, through the impellor and lodge themselves behind a jet nozzle, rendering the jet useless.

Thanks for your help guys!