Artificial pond - a great landscape solution. But in order for the water in it to stay clean longer, even at the stage of laying it, you need to consider a cleaning system. Skimmers for the pond do an excellent job of this task. From this article you will learn what they are, how to make the right choice when buying them, or how to make this device yourself.

What is a skimmer for a pond and its purpose

Skim - translated from English means "remove the top layer", therefore, skimmer - is a "slotted spoon", that is, a device designed to clean the pond from debris that floats on the surface.

At the same time, it maintains a natural balance in a closed ecosystem of the pond, and also quickly gets rid of such common pollution:

• petals, leaves and pollen of plants;
• insects
• dust and sand caused by the wind;
• life products of residents of the reservoir;
• bird feathers, etc.

If all this garbage is not removed in time from the water surface, it will settle to the bottom and decompose, which, in turn, will lead to turbidity and an unpleasant smell of water, and can harm representatives of the flora and fauna living in this reservoir.

When using a skimmer, there are no such phenomena as:

• stagnation, turbidity and flowering of water;
• siltation of the bottom;
• the appearance of algae.

A significant advantage of such a device is the provision of the same temperature throughout the depth of the pond.

Important! The high price is not always a guarantee of the quality of the product, so before buying, read the reviews about the seller.

Characteristics

When choosing a skimmer, it is worth considering some features of the reservoir:

• size - it depends on how powerful the device should be;
• change in water level - to select the appropriate type;
• depth.

So, small and large ponds need skimmers of different capacities, volumes, types and arrangements. This information should be clarified with the seller; as a rule, it is indicated on the packaging or in the instructions. To disinfect and destroy pathogens, you must purchase a device with a built-in UV lamp.

In addition, it is worth knowing that such cleaners come with a pump and / or aerator included. And for an aesthetic look, skimmers of special shapes are on sale, for example, with a lid in the form of a stone. An important factor is the choice of the company and the country of manufacture, as well as the reliability of the seller, the duration and effectiveness of the cleaning device depend on this.

For large ponds, several skimmers with different cleaning methods must be used simultaneously. Based on the foregoing, before buying, you need to know firmly the area of ​​the water mirror, the depth of the reservoir, the fluctuation of the water level. Having all the parameters, an experienced consultant will offer an apparatus that is suitable specifically for your pond.

Important! It is believed that the simultaneous use of biological and mechanical cleaning methods is the most effective.

Skimmer Varieties

As for the types of such a device, there are three of them. They differ in cleaning method and location. Also, depending on the type, they have a different scope.

Bottom

Bottom skimmer - mounted at the bottom of the pond. It has a fixed support that can be masked with pebbles or stones. Such models are equipped with a telescopic tube, with the help of which the height of the device is regulated, which allows you to even the top of the structure with a water mirror. It is used for reservoirs with a small area.

Floating

Floating is an independent system, with a built-in pump and a float. Its purpose is universal, suitable for use in reservoirs with different depths and areas. Experts recommend purchasing this type of purifier with the function of aeration of water. For large ponds, you may need several of these devices.

Coastal

Coastal (coastal) - is established at the stage of laying the reservoir. This is a stationary device, which is almost all under water. Mount it on the shore. This is the most powerful, high-performance and multi-functional type of skimmers. Suitable for cleaning ponds with a large area. There are also mounted models, but they are used to clean pools.

Skimmer device

The design of the device, as a rule, is a combination of the following basic elements:

1. Box (tank) - made of plastic or stainless metal.
2. Trumpet - she joins the device for water intake.
3. Moving flap - is located on the side of the structure in a special hole.
4. Filter - with coarse and fine mesh for direct cleaning.
5. Pump - for the intake and supply of dirty water into the filter (there are models with and without built-in, so the configuration must be checked with the seller).

Principle of operation

The skimmer works according to the following principle - the pump draws in dirty water and delivers it to the filter, there is two-stage filtration, and clean liquid gets back into the reservoir.

According to the principle of cleaning, there are the following types of skimmers:

1. Mechanical - removes insoluble litter and biological waste left by the inhabitants of the reservoir.
2. UV - effectively destroys harmful bacteria and small algae, they settle in a special container that needs to be cleaned as it is filled.
3. Biological - converts all waste of biological origin into simple elements suitable for filtration.
4. Multifunctional - a universal skimmer that has several types of filtration at once.

How to make a skimmer for a pond yourself

Given that high-quality models are not affordable for everyone, some craftsmen make such devices on their own. This will require certain knowledge, tools and details. Below is one of the ways to make a skimmer at home, having familiarized yourself with it, you can show imagination and make the device as you wish.

So you will need:

• building plastic container with a volume of 60 liters (bought in a specialized store);
• mesh cover from the laundry basket to the size of the box so that it fits tightly into it;
• dense foam;
• PVC film at least 1 mm thick;
• mosquito net;
• plastic pipe bent at an angle of 90 °;
• sewer plug with a diameter of 40 mm;
• 10 screws;
• aluminum tube from a vacuum cleaner;
• glue for PVC pipes;
• A pump or a pump and a hose are required for connection.

Did you know? It is believed that the first simplest water filters were invented 4,000 years ago. For this, sand or crushed pumice was used.

After preparing all the necessary materials, you can proceed with the assembly of the device:

1. First, make a hole on the side of the container, at a height of 10 cm from the bottom, with a diameter such that a plug enters.
2. Insert it, put the corner pipe on the back.
3. Then cut out the side and top of the float hole, 12 cm high and 25-30 cm wide (without cutting the upper rim, which is needed for structural rigidity).
4. From a PVC film, make a float across the width of a rectangular window with wings in the upper part along the height of the hole. Its length should be such that the rectangular part can be folded in half.
5. Attach it to the cutout with a pipe from a vacuum cleaner. To do this, its part is cut off by the height of the window, cut in half and leveled. The film is folded in half so that a pocket forms at the bottom of the float and sticks to the bottom of the float hole.
6. In the resulting envelope it is necessary to insert a piece of polystyrene of a suitable size, to stick plastic on its lower part, which remains after cutting the window.
7. Fasten the lid of the laundry basket with screws at an angle to the float hole so that the float rests exactly on it under the pressure of water, and a mosquito net is laid on top.

The coastal skimmer is ready - it remains to install it near the pond, press it with heavy stones and connect the hose leading to the pump.

Video: do-it-yourself pond skimmer

The best skimmer models

A homemade version of the unit will come out in an order cheaper than the purchased one, but if there is no time or desire to tinker with its manufacture, you need to go to the store.

Before purchasing, you should familiarize yourself with the most popular models of cleaners:

1. Jebao (SK-30) - a floating skimmer equipped with a built-in aerator and a pump, the capacity of which is 2500 l / h. The device is designed for a reservoir with an area of ​​up to 30 m². It has high cleaning characteristics of the pond mirror. Resistant to changes in water levels. Unit power 40 W, cable length 10 m. The price is about 6000 rubles.
2. Pondskimmer 40 - This is a coastal view with high rates of water filtration. Waste is collected in a special container that is easy to clean. In the configuration there is a pump that delivers 13,500 l / h of water. Designed for ponds with a mirror area of ​​up to 55 m². Unit power 50 watts. The price is about 20,000 rubles.
3. Aquaskim - bottom version of the skimmer. The extension tube consists of 2 parts, which makes it easy to adjust the height. The float is designed to regulate fluctuations in water level up to 16 cm. The dimensions of the device are 55 × 30 cm, baskets 1400 cm³, tube diameter 80 mm, which prevents the device from floating up. Able to clean a pond with an area of ​​up to 40 m². The price is about 6000 rubles.

How to choose a skimmer for a reservoir, is written above.

Small or large, with or without animals, any pond needs to be cleaned periodically. Buy or make a skimmer yourself to save time on the maintenance of the pond. Enjoy the purity of the water surface without any extra effort.