So just pick up a bulkhead fitting and cut it into the bottom of the
skimmer for the bottom drain to feed to right? The pump chamber on
the skimmer can act as a sort of settling chamber, as long as I have
some sort of a net in there to prevent it from all just going down the
pump line right?

Would I be better of suspending some kind of a net/mesh there (and if
so, what size do I want so that I trap the debris, but don't just clog
the line there) - or would picking up a leaf trap and putting that in
the line between the skimmer and the pump be better?

Thanks for helping!

"RichToyBox" wrote in message news:VH66c.32320$_w.539660@attbi_s53...
One of the problems with DIY skimmers is getting a weir that will work at
differing water levels. The idea is to create a very thin draw of water off
the surface into the skimmer. If it is just a door, then the water depth
would be too deep with the pond full, or too shallow with the pond
evaporated slightly. The commercial skimmers have hinged buoyant weirs that
are tipped into the skimmer by the water level difference between the pond
and the inside of the skimmer.

I have my bottom drain on my smaller pond, and used to have on the larger
pond, feeding through the skimmer and it works well. A leaf net to catch
the debris is needed, or the pump will just eat what sinks, which is the
reason for putting in a skimmer, catch it before it sinks.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html