9 years later and your video is still giving inspiration to us all. You have just solved the puzzle for my new project of building a raised pond out of sleepers, though only 2000 litres (440 gallons) I want a simple but effective skimmer to remove leaves and this is it, the perfect solution, everything else I've seen has always been based around Koi ponds, no use to me. Thank you mate for taking the time and effort to make this video and sharing it with us all, very much appreciated.
Hi Paul. The container is 12" across the top and 12" high. The concrete only needs to come up about 3-4" from the bottom. The inner basket is 10" across the top. I just matched up the basket with to the best fitting container at the same time/place. You want about an inch in space for the basket to fit around the container. The rocks are more for balancing out the pump. The greater the pump's suction-rate the more stones (extra weight without sinking it) you will need in order to keep the container from pushing up and going dry faster than it can take in water at the intake-level. Hope this makes sense. Let me know if you have other questions. Regards..
I'm trying to figure out how much concrete vs foam I'll need. What was the size of you containers - both the inner and outer ones? I see that you did still need to add some rocks to get it to float at the right height, but if I put too much concrete in in the first place, it will just sink. Any thoughts? Thanks. Paul
Молодец! Очень грамотно все сделано ! Легко чистить и очень дёшево с экономии денег можно потратить на пруд на что-то другое , на пример курить установку туман возле водопада! Класс 👍 спасибо за видио обзор !
At 1st I was like, "saran wrap?", then I was all, "Ohh, awesome! Way cool". Thanks for sharing! Well done. Would you ever consider building a huge Bell Siphon that pours into something to cascade the water occasionally? I'd love to build a hinged bamboo vessel array so that when each one is full of water they tilt forward to empty into the next. Imagine two dozen of those bamboo guys bouncing away each time the bell siphon empties. I'd love to see that video =D
Thanks, Abitaskew Dataflow. I appreciate it and I like your idea.....though I do not believe anyone could build it to what you envision as well as you. Would be great to see it in RU-vid-Land should you choose to create it. All the best...
Hi Paul - The pump is a Hayward Power Pro from a few years back. It will pump about 70 GPM at the level I have it mounted. There are three intakes for my pond. So the floating skimmer is just one of the three intakes for said pump. IF your pump is too powerful for the skimmer (pushes it up out of the water bone-dry), you can always add another intake or two. At least that is what I ended up with. Regards.
Surely if it pushes up out of the water there is too much foam lower down in the unit, making the whole thing rise in the water as it pumps out? The way to stop this is to use bouancy just around the top edge so as the water level drops, more water floods in as the unit is not rising above the level of the pond?
It's actually pretty cut and clear from start to finish, bro. But, if you disagree I'd suggest you find one on the market all ready to go - rather than DIY it. All the best.
I've decided to make a floating filter like the one you have made. It makes sense to me. How do I find out what type of strainer you have in the bottom of box that hose is screwed onto? Any info would be greatly appreciated. By the way, I really like the Swimmin' Hole you've built on your property. It is quite impressive so far! Thanks, Dick
Thanks. The skimmer works good for my application when I have the intake set just right.....and with the correct amount of pebbles in the basket for optimized weight. The basket is a pond-plant basket that I purchased at a Lowes in their pond section, but you could just as easily order one from one of the on-line pond stores. The part that screws on to the hose on the bottom is just a sludge pump attachment (purchased at Tractor Supply). Hope this helps!
+Markus Schwarz 4:20 in I see the modified pond basket typically used for placing aquatic plants into a pond and I see the sump pump attachment used for filtering out debris for the intake of a sump pump hose. Hope this helps. All the best...
The trick to the concrete is to fill by about 10% up your planter, then float it in the pond to see how far down it sank (with water in it up through your intake pipe hole after the foam has been molded in). IF it does not sink enough you can add more concrete or just adjust with a few stones in you skimmer basket. Once you have the sinking effect at the level you are going for you can mark down about a centimeter below the water level for where the water will skim in (and you will cut out this zone). Does that make sense? Thanks for the question. All the best...
How's it working after the water soaks into the foam? The red can great stuff is not enclosed cell foam. Found that out while doing a water fall. After a while it acts like sponge.
I'd agree that untreated foam would become absorbent over time. For this app, I'm optimistic that as long as the exterior acrylic paint continues to stick, and that bc the foam is more compressed as a result of the process to the mold.....that it will continue to work well... I might cheat and re-apply more paint before it goes back in for the summer though.
I am going to build a pond skimmer based on your design, using slightly different parts. How did you figure out how much concrete to add, as opposed to the amount of foam you used to provide buoyancy?
The trick to the concrete was to go about 10% up your planter, then float it in the pond to see how far down it sank (with water in it up through your intake pipe hole). IF it does not sink enough you can add more concrete or just adjust with a few stones in you skimmer basket. Once you have the sinking effect at the level you are going for you can mark down about a centimeter below the water level for where the water will skim in (and you will cut out this zone). Does that make sense? Thanks for the question. All the best...
Wow! Great DIY job! This looks much more effective than what i've found on the market. Maybe i'm not looking in the right place. Can you recommend an off the shelve floating skimmer for a 10, 000 gal pond by any chance? Cheers!
Thanks, Mathieu Khoury. Regarding your question.....honestly, I have not tried any off the retailed floating skimmers, so my input would not be worthy. However, in the event you buy something, I'd be grateful to hear your ratings. All the best...
a great idea using the foam for buoyancy, mines very similar but attached to the pond wall. Is the expanding foam just general diy foam or is it a fish safe foam "if there's such a thing".
Thanks - I wasn't really able to find any foam product off the shelf that stood out with specifications for environmental advantages. I'm thinking that it is such a small use of the product for the scope of the pond that it should be fine. Certainly let me know if you find a product that would be better for consideration. And thanks for the question..
great stuff now makes a waterfall foam that comes in black even www.homedepot.com/p/GREAT-STUFF-12-oz-Pond-and-Stone-Insulating-Foam-Sealant-283064/202522224
Thanks for the question. The foam was just regular spray foam; nothing special. However, the foam should stay very well sealed with several coats of a good quality exterior acrylic paint. All the best...
Hi! What is the point of the fitting on the bottom of the basket at 4:45? I understand the larger filter drain that’s attached to the bottom of the pot, but can’t figure out the reasoning for the piece connected to the basket. Love this build, thank you for sharing!
Do you think this skimmer is large enough for your pond? I have a similar, natural, pond that is prone to algae and am thinking of something similar. Just not sure how large to go and how much pump I need.
No, I think I'll need a few more skimmers to get the effect I'm looking for. I'm also prone to algae at times. I've been boosting the beneficial bacteria with the Bioverse product see: www.bioverse.com . Also, plan on pushing up oxygenated water from the deepest part of the pond (to additionally help the beneficial bacteria overtake the algae's resources). The waterfalls work well with oxygenation too, but I need to get to the deep area and work my way up for better coverage.. Also hoping to get more plant-life growing to help clean up additional nutrients away from the algae. Hope this helps.
+dysonman2009 Not sure on this one - to be honest..... However, you might be able to check with some of the foam manufactures on what elements (if any) could leach off creating toxicities for fish? My foam is sealed pretty well by the paint - but then again perhaps there are toxins in the paint that are not good for fish? I'd assume the size of your pond, average temperatures, how often you change or add in new water, etc. would all be factors here? Sorry, that's all I have on this one. All the best...
We're going to build one for our koi pond. We'll use waterfall foam which is already black and will not need painting. We'll also use something else as the weight on the basket. Good design, and lots of thought behind to.
Thanks for the kind words and input, Susan. Let me know how the waterfall foam goes, as it might not expand as well, or perhaps you will just need the whole can? All the best...
Would you have a description/name of the item used at 4:20, it's threaded? it's an essential piece to the build, I'd love to know exactly what this is and where I could search for it.
Correct, for a floating skimmer you'll need to balance out based on the suction-rate of the pump. If there is a low suction-rate less weight is needed and vise versa.
Hi Clark, The skimmer is connected to a pool vacuum hose at the bottom of the container - which feeds to a pool pump behind the shed. Correct, the rocks balance it out for optimal intake.
Nothing formal - other than the video's visual step by step. There are some previous posts below to that topic. If you choose to build one and get stuck, just let me know. All the best...
Thanks, look back at some of the previous questions and answers listed on this thread. I believe you will find some information in here regarding materials specs, etc. All the best...
the idea is good for a retro skimmer but is the expanding foam ,hot glue gun adhisive & spray paint all pond safe ? because they will all have toxins that will leach out & as most koi keepers will tell you if there is anything in the water they will not tollerate it !!
Dude really!? That is true DIY. Clever sir, very clever. What was the overall bill when you were done with the skimmer? P.S. the zip ties totally make this drifter status ;-)
Thanks, racerz129. In a round-about way....the flower pot was $10, foam $5, cement (amount used) $2, garden basket $5, ties $1, sump pump head & plumbing attachment $10, spray paint sealant $5, basket weight $2.....plus the miscellaneous scrap stuff I had laying around....so on a conservative scale, about $40 - $45 ish (my estimate)....Best Regards...
Hi MaryDene. Scroll down to some of the orher comments and replies. There is useful input, but I will say the video is more about a DIY method. Although the video visually will walk you through the materials All the best...
People looking to do this have to come to their REALIZATION that No matter how you decide to do this, whether you buy off-the-shelf skimmer or make your own watching DIY videos like these, YOU NEED STRONG SUCTION at the bottom of your skimmer. That's how any skimmers work; enough SUCTION to pull water away from your pool. If you don't have enough suction, then you need to either UPGRADE your main pool pump that can provide strong suction or buy a new and separate pump just for the SKIMMER. So, the skimmer will have strong suction to pull water all on its own. This is usually the issue people have with their skimmers. It's not that your skimmer is designed badly or broken. This is what people putting out videos like these fail to mention.
Hi, Per Shop. Understood - scroll down to some of the other comments similar to yours and you should be able to gather other input. Thank you and all the best...
Cássio Landim I'd say the hard part is getting them to float, stay balanced and work efficiently. If your application can be stationary (grounded), then it is much easier. I'm still toying around with more simplified concepts, but this is all I have to share for now.. Cheers...
Hi Angel, I understand. However, this visual project was purposefully never intended for those fairly new to DIY. That said, if you read some of the older comments you should find additional data. All the best.
