| Setting the Skimmer |
To the left is a picture of what your skimmer box will look like once the
pump and all the filtering components are installed. The water will flow
through the skimmer door (or weir) opening on the right side of the
skimmer box and into a large, mesh net. This net will trap any large debris
like leaves, excess fish food, regularly until you get a feel for how often it
fills up during the different seasons of the year. Dividing the mesh net half
of the skimmer box from the pump half of the skimmer box is a black frame
(which is very difficult to see in this photograph). This frame holds either
check valve assembly which connects the pump to the flex pipe that pumps
the water up to the filter box.
pump and all the filtering components are installed. The water will flow
through the skimmer door (or weir) opening on the right side of the
skimmer box and into a large, mesh net. This net will trap any large debris
like leaves, excess fish food, regularly until you get a feel for how often it
fills up during the different seasons of the year. Dividing the mesh net half
of the skimmer box from the pump half of the skimmer box is a black frame
(which is very difficult to see in this photograph). This frame holds either
check valve assembly which connects the pump to the flex pipe that pumps
the water up to the filter box.
| Step 8: |
In the picture to the right, the skimmer box lid is in the place where we're going to
put the skimmer box itself. Notice how the plumbing from the bottom drain is going
to come up directly under the skimmer door opening.
put the skimmer box itself. Notice how the plumbing from the bottom drain is going
to come up directly under the skimmer door opening.
If you are installing a bottom drain (and you are, aren't you), you will also have a 3"
bulkhead fitting, a 3" threaded male adaptor, and a 3" PVC 45 degree connector.
These will be installed on the front of the skimmer box under the door opening.
Hopefully, the factory already drilled the hole for you, if not, you will have to drill
template, and use a marker to mark the inside perimeter of the "O" ring in the
center of the area below the skimmer door opening. I use a Roto-Zip to cut along
the outside edge of the marking. Once you have made your hole, make sure your
bulkhead fitting fits through comfortably but snuggly. Silicone the threads of the
bulkhead fitting and screw it into place. NOTE: The threads on a bulkhead fitting
are opposite of the PVC adaptor. This is so when you're tightening the male adaptor
into the bulkhead fitting, you're not simultaneously loosening the bulkhead fitting.
Tighten your bulkhead fitting down as hard as you can.
bulkhead fitting, a 3" threaded male adaptor, and a 3" PVC 45 degree connector.
These will be installed on the front of the skimmer box under the door opening.
Hopefully, the factory already drilled the hole for you, if not, you will have to drill
template, and use a marker to mark the inside perimeter of the "O" ring in the
center of the area below the skimmer door opening. I use a Roto-Zip to cut along
the outside edge of the marking. Once you have made your hole, make sure your
bulkhead fitting fits through comfortably but snuggly. Silicone the threads of the
bulkhead fitting and screw it into place. NOTE: The threads on a bulkhead fitting
are opposite of the PVC adaptor. This is so when you're tightening the male adaptor
into the bulkhead fitting, you're not simultaneously loosening the bulkhead fitting.
Tighten your bulkhead fitting down as hard as you can.
Next, coat around the inside of the bulkhead fitting and the threads of the male PVC
adaptor with PVC primer and then glue. Screw the PVC male adaptor into the
bulkhead fitting right away. PVC glue sets up REALLY fast! Now you can set the
skimmer box aside while you dig the place for the skimmer box to set at the pond
edge.
adaptor with PVC primer and then glue. Screw the PVC male adaptor into the
bulkhead fitting right away. PVC glue sets up REALLY fast! Now you can set the
skimmer box aside while you dig the place for the skimmer box to set at the pond
edge.
shown in this picture. Remember, the flex pipe needs to enter the right side of the
skimmer box, so don't set the lid dead center from where the pipe comes up.
skimmer box, so don't set the lid dead center from where the pipe comes up.
Take your shovel and mark out the corners of the lid, then remove
the lid, set it off to the side, and start digging. The hole will need
to be just a bit bigger than the skimmer box so that you can make
adjustments, and the sides must be straight up and down, taking
care to clean out the corners. (In the picture to the left,you can
see the bulkhead fitting just below the skimmer door opening.)
The ground beneath the skimmer box must be completely level.
To accomplish this, you can dig it out a little deeper than it needs
to be and then backfill it with enough sand to bring it back up to
the right level. Check that the skimmer box is level front to back
determine if the box is truly level, and if it is "tippy" one way or
the other.
the lid, set it off to the side, and start digging. The hole will need
to be just a bit bigger than the skimmer box so that you can make
adjustments, and the sides must be straight up and down, taking
care to clean out the corners. (In the picture to the left,you can
see the bulkhead fitting just below the skimmer door opening.)
The ground beneath the skimmer box must be completely level.
To accomplish this, you can dig it out a little deeper than it needs
to be and then backfill it with enough sand to bring it back up to
the right level. Check that the skimmer box is level front to back
determine if the box is truly level, and if it is "tippy" one way or
the other.
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The skimmer box needs to be set deep enough so that the second
screw hole from the top is at the finished water level, therefore,
the hole for the skimmer box needs to be a little deeper than your
first plant shelf.
screw hole from the top is at the finished water level, therefore,
the hole for the skimmer box needs to be a little deeper than your
first plant shelf.
NOTE: In this picture, the 3" male PVC threaded coupling is not yet
installed. Before you backfill against your skimmer, make sure you
have the 3" male PVC threaded coupling glued and screwed down
tight.
installed. Before you backfill against your skimmer, make sure you
have the 3" male PVC threaded coupling glued and screwed down
tight.
Still standing in the skimmer box, backfill dirt over the pipe you just installed, pack it down and smooth it out. Once the liner is
in place, you won't even see the flex pipe. Also, if you have filled your pond up to just below the top plant shelf, as suggested
in Step 7, there will now be enough water pressure against the liner to throw some dirt down around the flex pipe coming up the
side of the pond.
in place, you won't even see the flex pipe. Also, if you have filled your pond up to just below the top plant shelf, as suggested
in Step 7, there will now be enough water pressure against the liner to throw some dirt down around the flex pipe coming up the
side of the pond.
pre-drilled holes in the front of the skimmer face
plate, through the liner so that it comes out the
appropriate hole on the skimmer box itself, and screw
the nut on from the back, tightening them down as
much as you can by hand as you go. Work your way all
the way around the skimmer face plate. Once all the
screws are installed, go back and tighten them down as
hard as you can using channel-lock pliers and a
Philips-head screw driver. You should end up with one
extra screw, washer and nut, which the company
provides in case you strip or lose one. When you have
the face plate installed and every screw is tightened
down, take a utility knife and cut the liner out of the
door opening from the inside of the skimmer box. You
can now fill your pond up the rest of the way and put
all the guts into the skimmer box as described on page
1 of this step.
plate, through the liner so that it comes out the
appropriate hole on the skimmer box itself, and screw
the nut on from the back, tightening them down as
much as you can by hand as you go. Work your way all
the way around the skimmer face plate. Once all the
screws are installed, go back and tighten them down as
hard as you can using channel-lock pliers and a
Philips-head screw driver. You should end up with one
extra screw, washer and nut, which the company
provides in case you strip or lose one. When you have
the face plate installed and every screw is tightened
down, take a utility knife and cut the liner out of the
door opening from the inside of the skimmer box. You
can now fill your pond up the rest of the way and put
all the guts into the skimmer box as described on page
1 of this step.
You are now ready to silicone the face plate (or weir) onto the front of the skimmer box. Cut away any extra underlayment so
that it does not touch the skimmer box anywhere where the face plate will go. Then pull your liner up the front of the skimmer
box. Be sure you have enough liner to cover the plant shelf, into the corner where the shelf meets the skimmer, and up the
way to make sure you have enough liner at the front of the skimmer box so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the liner
away from the box is to stand inside the pond on top of the liner, with your toes right up next to the skimmer box, and drape
the liner over the top of the skimmer box from there. A gap between the liner and the plant shelf will cause the liner to
stretch and pull away from the front of the skimmer box once the pond is filled with water. When you're sure everything is in
making sure there are no folds in the liner under the face plate. Line the holes in the face plate up with the holes in the front
of the skimmer box. Take a awl or a Philips head screw driver and poke it through the top corner hole of the skimmer box, the
liner, and the top corner hole of the weir.
that it does not touch the skimmer box anywhere where the face plate will go. Then pull your liner up the front of the skimmer
box. Be sure you have enough liner to cover the plant shelf, into the corner where the shelf meets the skimmer, and up the
way to make sure you have enough liner at the front of the skimmer box so that the weight of the water doesn't pull the liner
away from the box is to stand inside the pond on top of the liner, with your toes right up next to the skimmer box, and drape
the liner over the top of the skimmer box from there. A gap between the liner and the plant shelf will cause the liner to
stretch and pull away from the front of the skimmer box once the pond is filled with water. When you're sure everything is in
making sure there are no folds in the liner under the face plate. Line the holes in the face plate up with the holes in the front
of the skimmer box. Take a awl or a Philips head screw driver and poke it through the top corner hole of the skimmer box, the
liner, and the top corner hole of the weir.
Once everything is at the right depth and completely level, stand in
the skimmer box and backfill against the back and sides of the box.
Most of your work now will be done from inside the box, so if you find
sitting on the edge of the box uncomfortable, grab the lid and set it
across the left side of the skimmer box for more comfortable seating.
the skimmer box and backfill against the back and sides of the box.
Most of your work now will be done from inside the box, so if you find
sitting on the edge of the box uncomfortable, grab the lid and set it
across the left side of the skimmer box for more comfortable seating.
We are now going to be attaching the flex pipe from the bottom drain
to the front of the skimmer box using the 3" PVC 45º coupling.
Measure how far it is from the male adaptor to the flex pipe, keeping
in mind that you will need to add 2" to each end for the pipe to fit in
the coupling properly.
to the front of the skimmer box using the 3" PVC 45º coupling.
Measure how far it is from the male adaptor to the flex pipe, keeping
in mind that you will need to add 2" to each end for the pipe to fit in
the coupling properly.
you silicone the 45 onto the flex pipe that runs to the bottom drain, make sure it is cut to the right height so that the 45 will
direct the piece you are installing right into the bulkhead fitting. Clean any dirt off the flex pipe and silicone the short piece to
the main drain line. Now silicone the short piece into the male adaptor on the front of the skimmer box.
direct the piece you are installing right into the bulkhead fitting. Clean any dirt off the flex pipe and silicone the short piece to
the main drain line. Now silicone the short piece into the male adaptor on the front of the skimmer box.