skimmer

[taxikoi]

Hi.
Have just had a 4000 gallon pond built,everthing ok except surface skimmer,hardly skims surface at all.
skimmer is powered by aquamax 8000 being used dry{was originaly used wet in old pond} to wide mouth skimmer to hidroclean filter.
Does any one know if pump is strong enough.
Thanks for any advice help.
Also would hidroclean work better with k1 instead filter cartridge.
Taxikoi

[GERRY5]

hi taxi, you would have to ensure the k1 coudnt escape from the hidroclean...but then it would be a devil to clean anyway , stick with the cartridge and clean regularly, can be a pain i know but i think theyre good units personally, as for the pump i assume its the older one that pulls 1770 odd galls per hr .i think that should be more than adequate ,all aquamax pumps can be dry mounted as well so no problem there either,can only think that the pipes and hidroclean are creating a backpressure not allowing the pump to reach its full potential (i.e.restricting the flow of the pump)thus not allowing the pump to pull water thro the skimmer to effectively clean the pond surface properly, just a thought could be way off base here but im sure others will chip in as well..

[Gin Rin]

Can you clarify if the skimmer is gravity feeding to the filter and pump returned, or pump fed and gravity returned.

The size of the pipework could be key, what diameter is the pipe feeding the filter ?

[easylife]

Hi Taxikoi,
I dont think the pump would be a problem as i am using the 8500 dry mounted on a gravity fed pod with no problems
I think that hydro clean filters have to be pump fed so you would be best with 2" off your skimmer to pump and 2" from pump to filter

When you say you Are having trouble with it hardly skimming do you mean the pump is not pulling enough water or the skimmer is not picking up the rubbish off the surface, if it is just not picking the rubbish this may be due to your positioning of your returns
I have 2 returns off each filter and the pick up in one direction is not as good as the other
may be way off the mark but hope it helps
Good luck Alan

[taxikoi]

Hi all.
Thanks for advice,still a bit new on surface skimmers.
have found out water level in pond was too high hence not skimming surface{stupid me but am getting there i hope, still a lot to learn and this is an excellent forum for help and advice,who knows one day i will have learnt enough on koi keeping and give help/advice to.
Many thanks Taxikoi