I looked at the home made skimmer design, then took a look at the pile of pipes etc. I had lying in the garage.
I found a rain trap (available from your local plumbers merchant for about £15). Attached a length of 68mm pipe to one end (about 4 foot) and cut this to fit a 90 degree fitting (glued in place). The rain trap is basically a short length of pipe with a 90 degree fitting welded inside. - so if anyone wants to make one, the entire skimmer can be made from 1 length of 68mm drain pipe, 2* 38mm 90 degree bends and 2 short lengths of 38mm pipe.
A cheap airstone at the bottom creates the water flow and the air flow adjusted to create sufficient bubbles (excessive bubbles causes too much water to be removed).
The unit just hangs over the pond wall and will be plumbed in to the drainage system already in situ.
A very simple design (thanks!) and it creates about 2 litres of yucky green water every day. The pond is becoming clearer (can certainly see the bottom of the pond - 4 1/2 foot deep).
Posted on Sep 20, 2005, 11:56 AM from IP address 88.110.174.237
