Whilst not all pond keepers use a pond skimmer in their garden pond to remove leaves and other organic vegetation, those that do tend to have clearer water because a pond skimmer also removes surface dust and pollen which can cause the water to appear cloudy. You will notice that I said clearer and not cleaner. Your pond water may appear clear but this does not necessarily mean that the water quality is healthy and clean. Pond water needs to be cleaned or purified of ammonia, a potentially lethal chemical to aquatic pond life.
Ammonia is present in pond environments for the following reasons:
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* Pond fish like humans need to go to the toilet. Unfortunately the toilet in their case is the pond in which they live. Ammonia is present in faeces and urine that they excrete into the pond water.
* Uneaten fish food falls to the pond floor where it starts to decay giving off ammonia and other gases. When feeding your fish get into the habit of removing any uneaten food from the pond surface after about 20 minutes. This will help to reduce the opportunity for the pond water to become polluted.
* Decaying aquatic plants, leaves and other organic matter that falls into the pond and isn't quickly removed, also falls to the pond floor and starts to decay. This further helps to increase the build up of toxic ammonia.
Ammonia is removed from fish ponds by the action of the beneficial Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter bacteria colonies that live on the pond filter media inside of a biofilter. As the concentration of ammonia rises it increases the workload placed on these nitrifying bacteria.
A pond skimmer, sometimes referred to as a pond surface skimmer or pond skimmer filter, skims the surface of the pond, removing floating surface debris such as leaves, grass, twigs, pollen and other floating pond pollutants, before they sink to the pond floor, causing ammonia levels to increase and generally creating an unfit environment for aquatic pond life to live in.
As the debris is sucked into the skimmer it is trapped in a basket where it can be removed at a later stage. Some pond skimmer models also use a secondary set of mechanical filter pads to trap any leaves and other vegetation that has managed to avoid being trapped in the filter basket.
What Type Of Pond Skimmer Should I Use?
The first option is a floating surface skimmer. This option is the best choice for small garden ponds, as it is the cheapest and easiest option to install; simply connect a length of pond tubing to the suction of the pond pump. Furthermore the depth of the pond doesn't affect the operation of this system; simply connect a longer piece of pond tubing between the pond pump and skimmer unit. This flexible option can be easily added to an existing pond, unlike a fixed skimmer that is incorporated into the design of the pond when it is initially built.
A fixed pond skimmer is very similar in appearance and works in much the same way as a swimming pool skimmer. Pond water containing pond debris is sucked from the pond surface where any debris is trapped inside a filter basket. The suction is created by a pond pump, housed in the skimmer chamber. After successfully removing and surface debris the pond water is then pumped into the biological pond filter, where it is purified. I would advise you to use a filter pump, also known as a solids handling pump as it has a much stronger impeller and has been designed to allow larger pond debris such as twigs to pass through it without damage occurring.
Pond Skimmer Filter Installation
Please note that this example assumes that you are constructing your pond using a flexible pond liner such as EPDM flexible liner or other popular liner material such as Butyl rubber or PVC and not a preformed fiberglass pond or concrete pond.
* The first step is to excavate a hole, next to the pond, that is a little bit larger than the dimensions of the pond skimmer.
* The second step is to place the pond skimmer in the excavated hole, ensuring that you have already used fine gravel or soil to create a firm, flat, solid base. The last thing you want is for the skimmer filter to sink into the ground, which will later affect the level of the weir opening in relation to the pond surface.
* The third step is to ensure that you can raise the pond liner above the top of the pond skimmer. The top screw hole on the front panel of the pond skimmer should be level with the pond surface when the pond is filled with water.
* The next stage involves attaching the pond liner to the pond skimmer. After ensuring that that the liner is pressed tightly against the front of the pond skimmer, fix in place using silicone glue. Use some brute force to ensure that the liner sticks to the surface properly. Once you are satisfied that there is a good bond you can trim off any excess pond liner.
* You can now install your solids handling pump inside the pond skimmer, in the chamber provided. Attach pond tubing to the suction of your pump and connect the other end of the tubing to your pond filter.
* You are now ready to place the floating door and pond filter media baskets inside the pond skimmer.
* The end is now in sight! Firmly place the lid on the pond skimmer and lock it.
* Now that you have installed the fixed pond skimmer in place all you have to do is complete the other infrastructure work and fill your pond to the desired level. Once the water is at the desired level you can connect the pump.
Over a period of time the trapped debris will need to be emptied from the skimmer. In order to do this remove the lid from the pond skimmer and remove the filter basket, containing the trapped debris and empty it. You will also need to remove the filter mats and rinse them in a container with pond water; remember that you are trying to preserve any beneficial bacteria living on the mats.
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Brute Lawn Mower Parts # 1501981MA AUGER ASSY 22IN. Overview
Brute Lawn Mower Parts # 1501981MA AUGER ASSY 22IN.Available In Stock. |
