Please Make Sure Your Skimmer is Koi Safe

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by luke frisbee Aaron we agree, but i have always thought one bar will do as the skimmer opening is only five inches high and a bar near the middle is only going to allow the koi less than 2 inches tall into the Skimmer. And koi that small can swim around in the skimmer

Yeah, but you never know when you are going to get one of those sideways Koi. They are rare but do appear on occasion.

[Lee]

Lukester,

You're not seeing this as you should...

My dear and special friend....you can add more bars to keep out any smaller sized fish.

You can also narrow the opening between the bars if you only have small fish or you can widen the opening between the bars for larger fish.

And, should you require more precautions - you can have one bar (if that is all you require) or you can affix ptwo or three horizontal bars...properly affixed to the sides of the skimmer opening and then add/affix as many vertical bars (Luke, that's up and downward to you)as you remember from your nights in lock up at the Gainsville police station...in order to keep out any small fish.

Obviously, the little fish cannot get in to the skimmer if you affix the correct size of grill work to prohibit their entry.

Remember, the objective is really only to allow the surface water into the skimmer and that will remain constant...and, will flow freely through whatever number of bars or how they are placed...

Wishing you and yours a very Happy New Year!

Your pal,

'Air-rrrrron'
Grand Cayman

[luke frisbee]

arron
I see what you see..I just don't embrace the philosophy...especially those "straight up and down" bars.
AND I have only had visits to the Tallahassee and Auburn college town Holding tanks.... I don't think they have a jail in Gainsville...as all the boys play nicely there.
and why not add some of those leaning over bars that go this //////// way and then some that go the other way?

Special Friend
Luke
Grand Poohbah

[kent wallace]

I agree that verticle bars or grating nullifies the effect of skimmers in that the water flow in a skimming action is horizontal.I make a horizontal bar assy that looks like this.

[Lee]

Indeed, you obviously understand the concept.

However, if it was my pond I would not affix anything which protruded ("out") into the pond as I would be concerned that something which 'stuck out' as your 'skimmer's cell bar's' could become something your finest fish would run into, strike a glancing blow against, or be startled and run into and somehow hurt themselves upon....

All of my skimmer bars are installed flush within the face of the skimmer.

Nothing sticks out. Nothing whatsoever protudes - as that which protrudes 'out' is a serious injury to one of my fish - waiting to occur...

However, as above photographed - Obviously, you have the idea. How we can show it to Lukester, is the question, as he still recalls each of his visits to jail whilst under the influence...

How else would he choose to remember his cell bars arranged in this angle ///// or in this angle\\\\\\\\?

Had he been able to stand upright...he would remember the cell bar doors up-right. And, in a vertical posture.

If only he could remember those numerous events more clearly?

With my best regards,

Lee
Grand Cayman

[Russell Peters]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lee Indeed, you obviously understand the concept. However, if it was my pond I would not affix anything which protruded ("out") into the pond as I would be concerned that something which 'stuck out' as your 'skimmer's cell bar's' could become something your finest fish would run into, strike a glancing blow against, or be startled and run into and somehow hurt themselves upon.... All of my skimmer bars are installed flush within the face of the skimmer. Nothing sticks out. Nothing whatsoever protudes - as that which protrudes 'out' is a serious injury to one of my fish - waiting to occur... However, as above photographed - Obviously, you have the idea. How we can show it to Lukester, is the question, as he still recalls each of his visits to jail whilst under the influence... How else would he choose to remember his cell bars arranged in this angle ///// or in this angle\\\\\\\\? Had he been able to stand upright...he would remember the cell bar doors up-right. And, in a vertical posture. If only he could remember those numerous events more clearly? With my best regards, Lee Grand Cayman

Lee,

Your observations on the protrusions are good. Even though the fittings are rounded they do have raised portions on them that at the very least would cause scratches if your Koi suddenly came into contact with them. Also if you Koi were spooked and ran into it with some force it could knock them out or cause lascerations.

Happy New Year to ou Lee.

[kent wallace]

Hello Lee. Well as things work out the owner of the pond I just finnished and is featured in this months KOI NATIONS magazine wants a couple of skimmer guards. I'll see if I can make something that meets with your approval.

[luke frisbee]

Arron
Are you exercising like we discussed?

[Louie]

My pond is above ground. I have a 3" pipe with a 3"elbow inside the pond . The elbow has a grid in the opening I cut some of the grid out so leaves woud flow thru. Some times leaves get caught but never enough to plug up most go to the settleing tank. The 3" pipe goes to the settleing tank I have an elbow with a length of pipe that is about 4" under water. As the skimmer fill it starts a syphon that draws plenty of water and air. Very cost effective and have never had a problem with fish. Santa Ana winds are blowing and the skimmer is keeping up.

[Lee]

Louie,

What you've designed is a common installation for a skimmer in a lot of ponds I have seen...however, they slide another larger diameter pipe over the actual suction pipe and around that free floating pipe they add foam rubber to keep the larger diameter pipe just level with the water line and the foam helps also to keep the fish from bouncing off it or harming themselves from hitting it.

I think their use of foam-rubber is a neat trick, don't you?

It keeps the top of the larger diameter pipe skimming at an ideal height to the surface water (going up and down with the water level) when installed at a balanced height...and, it skims away the water perfectly.

They also use a lot of foam around all the inlet pipes and out let pipes too.

Thus, they don't get any fish hurt from any protrusion - accidents.

It's something which you might want to also add/try?

All the best in the New Year....

Your pal,

Lee Aronfeld
Grand Cayman