Should You Get A Pond Skimmer?

You’d really like to have a Koi pond, but you’re wondering how to keep an outdoor pond clean. Koi pond owners go with a pond skimmer with which to help assure the cleanliness of their pond. But, as with most things, there are different grades (or qualities) of pond skimmers. At Everything Koi, we feature PondBuilder and Atlantic skimmers.

In fact, one landscaper that featured the building of Koi ponds for their clientele, when installing a large pond with two waterfalls, actually included two skimmers for optimum cleanliness!

How Do I Set My Skimmer Up?

Next to the pond, and in small hole in the ground, is where this skimmer sits. Hooking the skimmer up is relatively easy. The face of the skimmer attaches to your pool liner, and you bolt the skimmer’s “faceplate” over the liner. You then remove the liner inside the faceplate with a box cutter. At the back of the skimmer sits the pump. Before the water gets to the pump, filtration occurs. Because the water entering the pump is always clean, the life of the pump is extended. The location of the skimmer, in this instance, is nice because when you look in the pond, you don’t see an unsightly hose and pump. That also means that there is lots of room for plants and fish.

How Does the Skimmer Work?

Right where the pump is located, water goes out the back when you turn on the pump. New water from the pond begins filling the skimmer. Garbage, fish waste, leaves from trees, or seeds are captured in a basket through which the water first flows. If you so choose, you can feed your compost pile – but most people use a garbage bag – as you remove the skimmer lid and empty the basket.

After the basket, water flows through a woven fabric filter material. Beneficial bacteria grow here, and small particles are removed from the water (some nutrients are also removed here). The mat will get heavier as good bacteria multiply. As needed, you can take the fabric out of its compartment and give it a good hosing off. You might have to do this every several days if you feed your fish a lot. Depending on the circumstances, and if you don’t feed your fish often, some people have been able to go for weeks or even a month before they have to take the filter out and hose it down.

The Bottom of the Pond

If you happen to be installing a new bottom drain in your pond, this drain can actually be connected to the skimmer from the bottom of the pond. But keep in mind that, before debris sinks to the bottom, skimmers usually remove approximately 85% of your pond’s debris. Should you choose to add a skimmer to the bottom drain, however, you’re going to achieve an incredible 99% debris removal. If you have a waterfall, you can also, on the side opposite the waterfall, install a skimmer. This set up will give the pond full filtration.

At Everything Koi, we carry pond skimmers and so much more. In fact, when it comes to quality supplies for water features, lakes, and ponds, we offer everything from pond equipment to water garden products to everything you need for plant care. Email us today if you have questions, or give us a call at 908-420-9908.