What Is A Pond Skimmer?
A pond skimmer saves you the work of skimming debris from your pond. The technology of a pond skimmer automatically removes debris (leaves, pollen, twigs, dirt and more). Skimmers are a type of mechanical filter where a screen, a net, or a basket is built-in to capture debris from the water. The skimmer creates a sweeping motion that keeps debris from sinking to the bottom of the pond.
A skimmer continually pumps clean water back into the pool. If the pond skimmer does not maintain a water return function, then the water level of the pond will lessen. If the aquatic water level lowers than the aquatic pond’s plants or fish will be unable to breathe and survive.
Top Rated Pond Skimmers of August 2025
Do I Need a Pond Skimmer?
If you do not use a filter in your pond, it will naturally fill up with algae. The water develops a dull, dirty, and smelly environment. If your pond is home to beautiful fish like Koi, Goldfish, Minnows, and other species, they cannot live in an unclean pond.
A pond skimmer mechanism keeps materials from sinking to the bottom on the pond where it can become decayed. A decayed condition will produce ammonia. Ammonia is bad for any pond ecosystem, plus it is toxic to plants and fish. A pond skimmer is needed for an outdoor pond and an indoor pond.
When debris remains in a pond without being filtered out, the harmful debris will cause the water to turn a disgusting green or black. This environment is not suitable for any type of aquatic life.
Another purpose of using a pond skimmer is that this mechanism will save you time and energy in skimming the muck off the pond manually. Without a pond skimmer you will probably need to drain the water and physically remove debris. Without an installed skimmer you should probably invest in the use of a pond vacuum.
How Important Is A Pond Skimmer?
Automatically collecting leaves, dirt, and anything else that lands on the surface of a pond is quickly collected via a net or basket from a skimmer. Pond skimmers are an investment in the environment of any aquatic pond.
Both outdoor ponds and indoor ponds, if not filtered properly, can develop organic compounds that creates a filmy and bubbly surface. A mechanized skimmer will remove this film because of its active ability to agitate and skim off the surface of the pond, leaving a clear and healthy water environment.
Pond skimmers are further vital for the aquatic environment because they help to aerate the water. Aerating is adding oxygen to the environment to keep the water crystal clear for a better living abode for both fish and plants.
Aerating pond water keeps the pond from becoming stagnant. Pond skimmers activate the water both below the surface and on top of the surface to keep the water oxygenated.
Where should a pond skimmer be placed?
There are 3 types of pond skimmers:
Fixed
A fixed skimmer is one of the more popular models. It affixes permanently to the side of the pond. Its structure blends well into the pond landscape. A large basket collects and holds various sized debris without your need to check consistently.
Floating
Commonly a floating pond skimmer is equipped with a pump built-in or the pump is optional. As its name implies, this pond skimmer floats around the pond collecting and filtering out debris. Your pond does not need a liner with this model skimmer.
Sits Within the Pond
These are skimmers that connect to an existing pump system or a secondary pump. It is mobile, affordable and is non interruptive to an indoor pond or an outdoor pond. This skimmer can easily be removed or relocated during various times of the year.
