Simply Koi and More Koi

ok all i know you lot have played and found ways around things i am needing your help
i would like to some how skim the surface with the pump at the bottom i have a laguna 6000 in a cage and then inch and a quarter pipe coming out the pond to a cl2 pump feed is there any way of getting a feed like suction to this
i have added photos of the pond to give idea of setup the bubbles are the way the water is shooting down them pipes and the last bay is full k1 with air so might make it a little worse the pipe to pond will be altered asap but fittings are not cheep the lenght of black pipe i got already was £27 so its a case of each payday
this is a new pond 9 feet across and 4 feet deep all over but i just added the cl2 as was running a smaller filter till funds were ready and i want to hit next year with both feet firmly on the ground as its been a learning curve all the way as this was £2500 just to get here with fish i thought it would have been a cheep job but i was wrong pipe to shed is to a 55 watt yamatsu then out to filter
if not i have to get a surface skimmer so if any one here has one for sale i am first after oasis or a velda

I would say try to avoid 1 pump driving bottom suction and skimming - the chances of you ever getting it balanced are going to be slim.

If cost prohibits you from a 2 pump setup you probably need to be able to switch the pump you have between 'skimming' and 'bottom suction' - not the easiest thing to do with an "in pond" pump.

Does a Laguna 6000 have a facility for a 2nd or satellite collection area? I know the last Aquamax I bought did have - if it does, you can use that feed to drive a floating skimmer - but ideally you would have a permanent skimmer set into the top edge of your pond with a pump behind it.

Hope this helps, Martin

Good luck Dazza,

I can't think of a better way of doing this other than buying and fitting a permanent surface skimmer as Martin suggests. By gosh does all the prices add up quickly, keep saving

But then again their are some clever DIY enthusiasts in this group who might come up with alternatives.

TicToc

what would be a good idea is one of the oasis skimmers that are weighted changed to a bottom drain as well so one pump fitted the item would need a reducing valve fitted so say 80% sucks via the bottom drain the other is sliped down the tube to bottom the item is already made just need a the manufacture to do one for this purpose

Hi Mate, I will be honest with you I have tried a few in pond skimmers with varying degrees of success from none at all to limited, the velda type ones being the best of a somewhat un inspiring selection. Biggest problems being all the excess pipes in the pond for the koi to catch themselves on and the other being trying to balance the pump.
The best bit of money I spent was on an Aquosis over wall pump absolute Dogs if you cant put in a wall mounted skimmer, ok a little more expensive and needs at a minimum an Aquamax 5500 but worth every penny.