Skimmers

[Ralph & His Clowder]

After a recent wind storm that blew all sorts of debris (especially
orange blossoms) into my pond, I'm starting to consider a skimmer for my
1500 gallon pond. It would have to be retrofitted, so it needs to be as
simple as possible. Any advice? Any brand recommendations? Has anyone
made their own instead of buying one?

Gabrielle in southern Arizona

[~ jan[_2_]]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:24:32 CST, Ralph & His Clowder
> wrote:

>After a recent wind storm that blew all sorts of debris (especially
>orange blossoms) into my pond, I'm starting to consider a skimmer for my
>1500 gallon pond. It would have to be retrofitted, so it needs to be as
>simple as possible. Any advice? Any brand recommendations? Has anyone
>made their own instead of buying one?
>
>Gabrielle in southern Arizona

I know people who have made side skimmers using utility sinks.

I had to do my (no nitch) skimmer & bottom drain as a retrofit. You can see
a diagram on my webpage (below) under My Filter. We have moved the skimmer
since this diagram, as I needed the island removed so the fish had more
room. Now the hose to the skimmer is connected to the bottom drain hose,
and closer to the side of the pond, rather than in the middle. ~ jan
--------------
See my ponds and filter design:
www.jjspond.us

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[Hal[_1_]]

On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:24:32 CST, Ralph & His Clowder
> wrote:

>After a recent wind storm that blew all sorts of debris (especially
>orange blossoms) into my pond, I'm starting to consider a skimmer for my
>1500 gallon pond. It would have to be retrofitted, so it needs to be as
>simple as possible. Any advice? Any brand recommendations? Has anyone
>made their own instead of buying one?
>
>Gabrielle in southern Arizona

Someone used a net bag with a stream of water pumped into the opening
that was half submerged. That should work well in a round pond, but
mine has some dead spots the current from the pumped stream didn't
effect.

Regards,

Hal

[Ralph & His Clowder]

I'll try something like this -- there's a spot in my somewhat round spot
where a lot of junk collects so I might have some luck. If not, I'll try
a no nitch.
Gabrielle

Hal wrote:

> On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:24:32 CST, Ralph & His Clowder
> > wrote:
>
>
>>After a recent wind storm that blew all sorts of debris (especially
>>orange blossoms) into my pond, I'm starting to consider a skimmer for my
>>1500 gallon pond. It would have to be retrofitted, so it needs to be as
>>simple as possible. Any advice? Any brand recommendations? Has anyone
>>made their own instead of buying one?
>>
>>Gabrielle in southern Arizona
>
>
> Someone used a net bag with a stream of water pumped into the opening
> that was half submerged. That should work well in a round pond, but
> mine has some dead spots the current from the pumped stream didn't
> effect.
>
> Regards,
>
> Hal
>

[Ralph & His Clowder]

If I can't make something, I'll try the no-nitch. It looks pretty simple
to install, Thanks!
Gabrielle

~ jan wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:24:32 CST, Ralph & His Clowder
> > wrote:
>
>
>>After a recent wind storm that blew all sorts of debris (especially
>>orange blossoms) into my pond, I'm starting to consider a skimmer for my
>>1500 gallon pond. It would have to be retrofitted, so it needs to be as
>>simple as possible. Any advice? Any brand recommendations? Has anyone
>>made their own instead of buying one?
>>
>>Gabrielle in southern Arizona
>
>
> I know people who have made side skimmers using utility sinks.
>
> I had to do my (no nitch) skimmer & bottom drain as a retrofit. You can see
> a diagram on my webpage (below) under My Filter. We have moved the skimmer
> since this diagram, as I needed the island removed so the fish had more
> room. Now the hose to the skimmer is connected to the bottom drain hose,
> and closer to the side of the pond, rather than in the middle. ~ jan
> --------------
> See my ponds and filter design:
> www.jjspond.us
>
> ~Keep 'em Wet!~
> Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
> To e-mail see website
>

[~ jan[_2_]]

On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 01:52:43 CST, Ralph & His Clowder
> wrote:

>I'll try something like this -- there's a spot in my somewhat round spot
>where a lot of junk collects so I might have some luck. If not, I'll try
>a no nitch.
> Gabrielle

Here's a no nitch without all the (outside) plumbing:
http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-pondmaster.html or
http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-oase.html

>Hal wrote:
>> Someone used a net bag with a stream of water pumped into the opening
>> that was half submerged. That should work well in a round pond, but
>> mine has some dead spots the current from the pumped stream didn't
>> effect. Hal

I was trying to find a picture of that, unfortunately Aqua-Mart doesn't
carry it any more. I'll have to do some searching. I have seen this one in
action, and imho, I'd rather have one of the no-nitch above. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State

[~ jan[_2_]]

>>Hal wrote:
>>> Someone used a net bag with a stream of water pumped into the opening
>>> that was half submerged. That should work well in a round pond, but
>>> mine has some dead spots the current from the pumped stream didn't
>>> effect. Hal

Here's the one I was thinking of, though the picture doesn't it do it
justice as far as showing how it works:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ynw9ul ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State

[G Pearce]

>>I'll try something like this -- there's a spot in my somewhat round spot
>>where a lot of junk collects so I might have some luck. If not, I'll try
>>a no nitch.
>> Gabrielle
>
> Here's a no nitch without all the (outside) plumbing:
> http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-pondmaster.html or
> http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-oase.html
>
>>Hal wrote:
>>> Someone used a net bag with a stream of water pumped into the opening
>>> that was half submerged. That should work well in a round pond, but
>>> mine has some dead spots the current from the pumped stream didn't
>>> effect. Hal
>
> I was trying to find a picture of that, unfortunately Aqua-Mart doesn't
> carry it any more. I'll have to do some searching. I have seen this one
> in
> action, and imho, I'd rather have one of the no-nitch above. ~ jan
OK Jan, I'll bite - what is "no nitch" :~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Gale :~)

[~ jan[_2_]]

On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 18:59:15 CST, "G Pearce" >
wrote:

>> Here's a no nitch without all the (outside) plumbing:
>> http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-pondmaster.html or
>> http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-oase.html
>>
>OK Jan, I'll bite - what is "no nitch" :~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> Gale :~)

Pictured in the websites above... at least the floating round portion of
it. Not sure why they call it no nitch. Anyone? ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State

[Ralph & His Clowder]

~ jan wrote:
> On Tue, 3 Apr 2007 18:59:15 CST, "G Pearce" >
> wrote:
>
>
>>>Here's a no nitch without all the (outside) plumbing:
>>>http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-pondmaster.html or
>>>http://www.aqua-mart.com/skimmer-oase.html
>>>
>>
>>OK Jan, I'll bite - what is "no nitch" :~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> Gale :~)
>
>
> Pictured in the websites above... at least the floating round portion of
> it. Not sure why they call it no nitch. Anyone? ~ jan
> ------------
> Zone 7a, SE Washington State
>

Maybe because it doesn't sit in a nitch (or niche) at the edge of the pond?
Gabrielle