Koi fish amongst lilly pads.
The importance of a surface skimmer in a pond is one of the key elements when it comes to pond filtration. It helps to keep the water circulating, and it skims the debris off the top of the water. In some ponds excess foam is caused by the waterfall and the surface skimmer helps to keep that to a minimum. Although, too large of a skimmer will hurt rather than help the pond in that it’ll skim the food right into the filter. Otherwise, a properly sized surface skimmer will do wonders when it comes to catching debris before it has a chance to sink to the bottom of the pond and become harmful.
There are many designs when it comes to different styles and types of skimmers. Some have an integrated UV light in the skimmer. This is pretty chic
A typical pond surface skimmer with basket.
because it hides the light and it’ll keep the water looking clear rather than turning green. Most designs are pretty much the same in that the water comes in from the pond, and it goes through some sort of mechanical filter to trap leaves, branches and other large pieces of debris, and then it goes to the pump and/or other parts of the filter (i.e. sand filter). Each manufacturer has their nuance difference that puts them at the top of their competition, but with that being said, it is much better to have a skimmer than not to have one.
Without a skimmer the pond water has the potential to become stagnant, which will aide in algae growth. When the surface of the pond isn’t agitated either by a skimmer, aerator, or anything like that the CO2 in the water doesn’t have a place to go. Since it stays in the water the algae will have an endless supply of CO2 to thrive off of. To put things in perspective in a planted aquarium the less surface agitation the better because more CO2 is left in the tank for the plants to feed off of. In a pond it is the opposite, and one wants to make sure the CO2 levels are low. This is also good for the fish.
Too much CO2 means the oxygen levels in the pond is probably not as high as it should be. You can tell when the fish start to pipe (pop their heads out of the water and gasp for air) that the oxygen levels are too low. As a koi owner as well as owner of a koi pond maintenance company (Aquatic Federation) I know that when it gets to this point it is usually fatal. So in order to prevent this situation from happening, make sure the water is well aerated by surface skimming and keeping the water well circulated.
Understanding the basics of filtration and why we need these elements really improves your long-term success when it comes to your pond. Not all of the things being sold on the market today are helpful, so keep checking back for more helpful tips that will save you money in the long term.
Love Your Fish.
