Does your Pond Need a Skimmer?


As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made on our website. If you make a purchase through links from this website, we may get a small share of the sale from Amazon and other similar affiliate programs.

Having a pond in your backyard adds a layer of pleasing aesthetic to your landscape. What’s not so pleasing, however, is the debris build-up and maintenance work that comes with having one. This leads to a lot of people wondering if they need a pond skimmer to take care of such debris.  

A pond skimmer is not necessary as some people like to do the work by hand when it comes to cleaning the pond. There are some other options, as well as an external pump. The question is not so much whether anyone needs a skimmer but really why so many people choose to have one. 

There are several considerations when it comes to adding a skimmer like the size of your pond and whether you physically can do the maintenance work. Let’s dive into to what a skimmer can and can’t do for you and when it makes sense to get one. 

A Skimmer’s Primary Functions

Skimmers are meant to take the workload off the maintenance keeper of the pond. Skimmers are similar to the ones you see built into the size of pools, but a little difference in size since your pond is most likely not the size of a backyard pool. 

Functions

  • Remove Debris
  • Return Clean Water
  • Aerate The Water

Part of the benefit of having the skimmer is because you won’t be able to watch your pond 24/7, and the skimmer keeps doing the job around the clock when you aren’t available to do so. There are quite a lot of options that you can find on Amazon, the one from Little Giant for example has a capacity of 10,000 Gallon per Hour.

When debris is collecting while it’s still surfaced near the top, it’s a lot easier to take care of then when it sinks to the bottom. When the debris gets to the bottom, it can get stuck and become difficult to get to in the long run. 

Remove Debris 

Photo 170076023 © Marina Denisenko – Dreamstime.com

As mentioned above, the primary function of the skimmer is to remove the debris that falls into the pond from other parts of the landscape. Most commonly, it’s leaves from trees and pollen that sits on top of the surface of the pond. Most stay afloat for a little before becoming waterlogged, giving the skimmer a chance to scoop it up before it gets to the bottom. 

The skimmer sits on top of the water table at the edge, similar to how a pool skimmer is built into the sides of a pool.  The pump draws water into the skimmer, allowing it to start filtering the water from the debris. The flapping door allows the water to continuously allow the water to flow in and out of the skimmer. Then the debris (such as leaves and twigs) gets cause into a mesh net inside. For smaller particles, there is a sponge that absorbs them. 

Return Clean Water 

Another important feature is the skimmer returning clean water to the pond at a quick rate. Without clean water continually coming in, a number of things can happen that would cause problems for pond owners. 

Issues without quick turnover of freshwater:

  • Fish/species become ill or die in unclean water
  • No ability to grow plants around the pond with a lack of water
  • Debris build-up at the bottom of the pool due to the low level of water

After the pump has taken in the debris-filled water, it pushes the clean water back into the bottom of the pond for two reasons. 

  1. The first is so that the water coming in doesn’t go against the water coming out. This would just dirty the newly cleaned water and possibly prevent the debris from making it to the skimmer.
  2. The second reason is that typically fish (if you have some) swim slightly under the surface and closer to the bottom. This gets the freshwater to them fastest and keeps them healthy.

Note: If you have a waterfall attached to the pond, it is possible to set up the skimmer in a way that allows the freshwater to be pumped through the waterfall. This is recommended because the waterfall is a focal point, and you don’t want debris to be coming down the waterfall. 

Aerate the Water 

Without the water being aerated, the water can become stagnant, and the fish and plants won’t have a healthy environment to live in. When oxygen is added to the water, it helps keep the water clear. Still, water usually becomes dirty water. 

The pump continuously pulls the water in and pushes it out to keep the flow of things moving even if you can’t see a real current in the water. The water surface then has an easier time absorbing the oxygen. 

If you like to learn more about that topic, I wrote an article about how a waterfall will aerate your pond. You can check it out here.

Having a skimmer or something else?

That being said, what is it like if you had one versus maybe if you skipped on having a skimmer to help take care of the extra debris. Some people like to use an external pump, so maybe that is a better option for you as well/ Let’s explore what it’s like to have one or the other and weigh the benefits and negatives. 

Cleaner      ProsCons
NothingYou get to save money in the short-term by not adding any cleaning aids to pick up the debris.    

If caretaking is your thing that you’ll have plenty to do. 
If you don’t do a good job of cleaning the pond on your own daily, the buildup can cost you in the long run if you are not diligent.The workload, even for a small pond, can add up and take a lot of time to make sure the plants and fish are healthy. 
Skimmer.Something that does the work for you for the most part. 

It’s multi-functional and helps with the debris cleanup, water filtration, and water aeration. 
  Depending on how fancy you want to go you could be looking at paying anywhere from a couple hundred all the wat up to $800 Also, depending on the quality of the skimmer you buy will result in how soon you will have to replace it for another one. 
External PumpThe out of the water pumps are less maintenance than pumps that are submerged underwater such as the skimmer.    Can be equally as expensive as a skimmer, and sometimes people have both making it twice the money. It’s about personal preference and what is worth certain hassle-free work for you. 
Photo 157007337 © Viesturs Kalvans – Dreamstime.com

For the following comparisons above, all three are perfectly fine options. Most people opt for either a skimmer or an external pump because they don’t have the physical ability or time to continually clean the pond by hand.

The size of the pond also plays a role in what kind of aid you may or may not need. Financials also make an impact on the decision. That being said, it may cost you more in the long run if you opt for cheaper aides or none at all for the short term. 

The location is another thing to consider when thinking about how extensive the aid may or may not need to be  If your pond is right under a line of trees, then it’s a good chance there will be a lot of maintenance due to the amount of debris falling in. 

Final Thoughts

Skimmers aren’t necessary but do a great job of giving the extra help one needs when it comes to keeping a pond healthy with its inhabitants such as fish and plants as well. For a relatively simple tool, it does the most important work, such as the debris clean up and filtering of the water. 

Most people have some sort of aid in their pond, and a skimmer is certainly a popular choice when it comes to that and the external pump. 

Are you a landscaping enthusiast and want to help me grow Landscapingplanet.com? I am looking for writers! Just send me an email at [email protected].

Lars

I am always happy to share all my knowledge about how to keep your garden in good condition and make it special.

Recent Posts