My first pond (still)

[Josh]

Hello again everyone!

I was here back in August planning to build my first pond. I received
some great advice from several people here, and was well on my way to
becoming a pond expert ;-) Currently I am planning on a
goldfish/water garden avenue, as koi seem to require much more.

Then however, my job took over and after some heavy traveling he
weather was to cold to play pond. (I may live in GA now, but I moved
from FL, so cold is a relative term). It's about time to get back to
the process now, I have a big hole in my yard the dogs have been using
to play in and it's time to fix that (my carpet is already red!).

Quick Pond Specs:
14'L x 9'W x 2'D -> around 1900 gallons
I've got some details up at
http://www.woosworld.net/pond/

I was planning on making a skimmer out of a rubbermaid tub, but I have
been considering buying one after reading alot of horror stories about
leaks etc. Can anyone comment on the home grown skimmer idea? My
current plan was to feed my bottom drain into the tub(skimmer) to
allow my pump (installed further down the line, to allow gravity to
feed water as far as possible) to pull water from the skimmer(sort of
a combo bottom drain/skimmer). I think I may need to get a leaf trap
or do something as I am afraid I will get to much junk in my pump.
This is where we left off last year.

I would appreciate anyone who has done this before helping me to avoid
some common mistakes. I'd like to get it right ;-)

Thanks alot!
Josh

[RichToyBox]

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


"Josh" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello again everyone!
>
> I was here back in August planning to build my first pond. I received
> some great advice from several people here, and was well on my way to
> becoming a pond expert ;-) Currently I am planning on a
> goldfish/water garden avenue, as koi seem to require much more.
>
> Then however, my job took over and after some heavy traveling he
> weather was to cold to play pond. (I may live in GA now, but I moved
> from FL, so cold is a relative term). It's about time to get back to
> the process now, I have a big hole in my yard the dogs have been using
> to play in and it's time to fix that (my carpet is already red!).
>
> Quick Pond Specs:
> 14'L x 9'W x 2'D -> around 1900 gallons
> I've got some details up at
> http://www.woosworld.net/pond/
>
> I was planning on making a skimmer out of a rubbermaid tub, but I have
> been considering buying one after reading alot of horror stories about
> leaks etc. Can anyone comment on the home grown skimmer idea? My
> current plan was to feed my bottom drain into the tub(skimmer) to
> allow my pump (installed further down the line, to allow gravity to
> feed water as far as possible) to pull water from the skimmer(sort of
> a combo bottom drain/skimmer). I think I may need to get a leaf trap
> or do something as I am afraid I will get to much junk in my pump.
> This is where we left off last year.
>
> I would appreciate anyone who has done this before helping me to avoid
> some common mistakes. I'd like to get it right ;-)
>
> Thanks alot!
> Josh

[RichToyBox]

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


"Josh" > wrote in message
om...
> Hello again everyone!
>
> I was here back in August planning to build my first pond. I received
> some great advice from several people here, and was well on my way to
> becoming a pond expert ;-) Currently I am planning on a
> goldfish/water garden avenue, as koi seem to require much more.
>
> Then however, my job took over and after some heavy traveling he
> weather was to cold to play pond. (I may live in GA now, but I moved
> from FL, so cold is a relative term). It's about time to get back to
> the process now, I have a big hole in my yard the dogs have been using
> to play in and it's time to fix that (my carpet is already red!).
>
> Quick Pond Specs:
> 14'L x 9'W x 2'D -> around 1900 gallons
> I've got some details up at
> http://www.woosworld.net/pond/
>
> I was planning on making a skimmer out of a rubbermaid tub, but I have
> been considering buying one after reading alot of horror stories about
> leaks etc. Can anyone comment on the home grown skimmer idea? My
> current plan was to feed my bottom drain into the tub(skimmer) to
> allow my pump (installed further down the line, to allow gravity to
> feed water as far as possible) to pull water from the skimmer(sort of
> a combo bottom drain/skimmer). I think I may need to get a leaf trap
> or do something as I am afraid I will get to much junk in my pump.
> This is where we left off last year.
>
> I would appreciate anyone who has done this before helping me to avoid
> some common mistakes. I'd like to get it right ;-)
>
> Thanks alot!
> Josh

[Josh]

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
>

[Josh]

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
>

[RichToyBox]

I used a bulkhead fitting going through the liner and the front of the
skimmer box with some silicone sealant between the skimmer and liner.

My skimmer came with nets to collect the leaves, and a filter media pad
between the pond side and the pump side of the skimmer. This media catches
a lot of the debris and keeps it out of the pump. I have to pull it out
about once a week and wash it.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Josh" > wrote in message
om...
> 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
> >

[RichToyBox]

I used a bulkhead fitting going through the liner and the front of the
skimmer box with some silicone sealant between the skimmer and liner.

My skimmer came with nets to collect the leaves, and a filter media pad
between the pond side and the pump side of the skimmer. This media catches
a lot of the debris and keeps it out of the pump. I have to pull it out
about once a week and wash it.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Josh" > wrote in message
om...
> 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
> >