What is a koi pond skimmer and do you need one?

What is a koi pond skimmer and do you need one? | Morris County, NJ

9/10/2018

Skimmers... it's a word often associated with swimming pools, however they are a integral piece of the filtration puzzle for koi ponds and water gardens. Koi pond skimmers perform the mechanical part of the filtration process. Koi pond skimmers are a line of defense in keeping leaves, twigs and other debris by catching this debris in an easy to empty debris basket. In addition, the great koi pond skimmer also houses the pump, the heart of any koi or fish pond. Why is any of this of any importance for the koi pond hobbyist?

Why would I add a koi pond skimmer to my koi pond?

Candidly, why wouldn't you? The fish pond skimmer serves not only the function of skimming your pond of debris, it houses the koi pond pump. There are many advantages to having a pond pump housed in a skimmer versus just having it laying in the pond bottom.

Skimming action- Because your skimmer is constantly pulling water into it, it's also skimming any debris that has fallen into your pond. This help keep the pond from becoming filled with unwanted leaves and other debris that may fall into the pond.
Easy Access- A pond skimmer is installed on the edge of a pond. This provides extremely easy access to your pump should something go awry. A light lid is removed from the skimmer and your pump is right there. There is no need to "get wet" to check your pump or pull it from the pond for the winter.
Protection- A koi pond skimmer as a couple layers of protection for your pump from getting clogged. The Skimmer basket grabs larger debris and then a skimmer filter pad grabs finer particles before the water reaches the pump. This protection means your pond pump will less likely become clogged.

What is the general maintenance of a Koi Pond Skimmer?

The low maintenance koi pond skimmer is designed to sweep the surface of the water so the fish pond is free from debris and collected in an easy-to-remove access basket . The debris basket inside the skimmer is the first filter stage of the skimmer. The basket will collect leaves, twigs, seeds, and other debris that falls or blows into the pond. Here in Northern New Jersey (NJ) (Long Valley, NJ - Morris County) it only takes a few minutes every week or every other week to empty the debris basket. The pond skimmer basket will require more frequent attention during the fall months because of the quantity of leaves falling off the surrounding trees.

It is a good habit during your first season with a new pond to periodically check the quantity of debris in the basket. This is especially true in the fall. Keep a mental note as to how often your basket has to be emptied. It's important that the debris basket is not allowed to become too full, as too much debris can reduce the water flow to the pump. General maintenance should be done weekly, and routine eyeball maintenance will let you know if it needs to be emptied. If your waterfalls slow down, then odds are your debris basket is full.

Do you need a pond skimmer?

Is your pump consistently becoming clogged? Are you tired of getting into your pond to clean your pump? Are you consistently using a net to keep the fallen debris out of your pond and just frustrated with it? Do you have to participate in the polar plunge to remove your pump for the winter months?

If you've answered yes to any of the above questions, a pond skimmer is the solution.

#TheWeeklyRibbit