10 Best Pond Skimmer [Buyer Guide]
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When you have a cascading water feature, you want it to stand out and look pretty. The clue is in the name, it’s a feature that you’ll want to show off! However, they tend to get quite dirty pretty quickly. Here at Konservatory, we recommend keeping your pond clean to make the most out of it. In order to keep your pond looking fresh, you might want to consider purchasing a pond skimmer. A pond skimmer is used to make sure any debris in your pond is removed, keeping it looking clean and beautiful. Pond skimmers are essentially nets attached to long aluminium poles, which allows you to reach even the furthest corner of your pond. The netted area is made from a very fine mesh, which means it’ll be able to pick up even the smallest of debris. Whilst the handle is usually made from aluminium, which is a durable and sturdy metal, but also incredibly lightweight. Having a lightweight pond skimmer is essential, as you wouldn’t want to make it any harder to reach a long stretch of water!
Now that it’s clear about what a pond skimmer actually is, we understand if you’re finding it difficult to choose the right one for you and your pond. Here’s where this buyer guide comes in handy! We’ve done all the hard work for you and reviewed 10 of the best pond skimmers on the market. After the reviews, we’ve also included a detailed and informative summary to make you aware of all the buyer considerations you might want to keep in mind. If you’re still wanting more, we’ve also included an FAQ section comprising the most common questions asked about pond skimmers. So, if you’re wanting to find out a little more about skimmers – keep on reading this buyer guide!
Oase Pond Skimmer
The Oase pond skimmer is known to noticeably improve water quality and produce clear water, due to it being able to reduce the nutrients. This gives the pond an overall nicer and cleaner look aesthetically. This pond skimmer comes with a whopping 2500l re-circulating pump to create a powerful drive to reach a larger surface area. Another great addition to this product is that it is made with a fine sponge for mechanical biological filtration. This pond skimmer is suitable for ponds with a surface area of up to 25m².
Key Features:
Improves water quality
2500l re-circulating pump
Fine sponge
Specification:
Brand
Oase
Colour
Grey
Dimensions (L x W x H)
29.7 x 26.3 x 33.2cm
Weight (kg)
3.1
Pros
Powerful drive
Mechanical biological filtration
Cons
Slightly more expensive than other pond skimmers in this guide
Swell UK Pond Skimmer
The Swell UK pond skimmer is suitable for ponds and can cover a surface area of up to 20m². This pond skimmer also features an impressive flow rate of up to 660gph which allows more water to be filtrated at any one given time. This product also comes with a cable that can reach up to a length of 10m, which is great if your pond is a little bit further away from the power supply.
Key Features:
Suitable for ponds
Cable length of 10m
43w
Specification:
Brand
Swell UK
Colour
Grey
Dimensions (L x W x H)
28.6 x 23.4 x 21.6cm
Weight (kg)
2.75
Pros
Flow rate of 660gph
Covers a surface area of up to 20m²
Cons
Will not cover ponds bigger than 20m²
Supa 4-in-1 Pond Skimmer
The Supa 4-in-1 pond skimmer is a great kit which has multiple purposes. You get a pond brush which is ideal for cleaning and carefully removing slime and algae. A pond skimmer is also included, which is great for removing leaves and other debris. The catching net that also comes included in this kit is perfect for catching fish. It’s super easy to use thanks to its straightforward design. This pond skimming kit is also extremely sturdy and durable made to last.
Key Features:
4-in-1 cleaning kit
Easy to use
Sturdy
Specification:
Brand
Supa
Colour
Grey
Dimensions (L x W x H)
46 x 39 x 7cm
Weight (kg)
0.74
Pros
4 tools for four different tasks
Ideal for removing leaves and other debris
Cons
Requires some manual work
DIEYING Pond Skimmer
The DIEYING pond skimmer is an easy to assemble piece of equipment, all you have to do is elongate it, and turn one part anticlockwise, and the other clockwise to lock the pole at the desired length. This pond skimmer ensures easy pool cleaning to get rid of blanket weed, bugs and debris floating around the pool for the perfect finish and crystal clear water. This product is comfortable to hold and does not scratch the edge of the pool, pond or water feature. You can also use this pond skimmer for daily maintenance of in-ground.
Key Features:
Easy to assemble
Comfortable using
Telescopic pole design
Specification:
Brand
DIEYING
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
47 x 29.4 x 6.7cm
Weight (kg)
0.37
Pros
Easy pool cleaning
Does not scratch edge of pool
Cons
Requires some manual work
ECHG Pond Skimmer
The ECHG pond skimmer is made of high quality, heavy duty plastic which is not easily damaged during the skimming process. It is lightweight and durable to last you years. The net mesh is made of a dense polypropylene which can easily clear insects, leaves and other debris that tend to float on top og the water. This product follows an easy glide operation design which allows it to move smoothly. The frame is also designed to not scratch the edge of the pool or other water feature. This pond skimmer features a special design at the end so that poles can easily be mounted on. This pond skimmer also fits most standard poles, however the pole itself is not included in this product.
Key Features:
High quality
Fine mesh
Easy glide operation
Specification:
Brand
ECHG
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
44 x 28 x 2cm
Weight (kg)
0.1
Pros
Will not scratch the edge of the pool
Fits most standard poles
Cons
Pole not included
Chiely Professional Pond Skimmer
The Chiery Professional pond skimmer is made with an aluminium alloy and will not break when under pressure. The net is sturdy and moulded structurally with curved edges, meaning there will be no damage caused on the inside of the pool or pond, this durable design means that this pond skimmer can last you years! This pond skimmer also features a telescopic pole design with adjustable lengths, meaning you can easily change the length to adapt to the needed water depth. This product really helps when it comes to cleaning away leaves, insects, blanket weeds and all other debris that is likely to lay on the pool.
Key Features:
High quality materials
Telescopic pole design
Easy pool cleaning
Specification:
Brand
Chiely
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
46 x 26.4 x 6.2cm
Weight (kg)
0.36
Pros
Adjustable length
100% satisfaction guarantee
Cons
Requires some manual work
RingSun Pond Skimmer
The RingSun pond skimmer is made with high quality PVC and nylon ensured for long lasting usage. The head is designed with rounded corners to ensure that no damage will be done to the inside edges of the pool or pond. This pond skimmer fits most standard telescopic poles however the pole itself is not included. This skimmer is specifically designed for easy cleaning of leaves, insects and other debris that you tend to find on the water bed.
Key Features:
Made with PVC and nylon
Lightweight
Sturdy
Specification:
Brand
RingSun
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
43.4 x 28.1 x 6.4cm
Weight (kg)
0.12
Pros
Durable
Made for easy cleaning of the water surface
Cons
Pole not included
Pondh2o Pond Skimmer
The Pondh2o pond skimmer is a 40cm sludge/skimmer net made with a sturdy and durable rubberised mesh meaning this skimmer will last you years! It has a 25cm deep netting to remove leaves, insects and debris with ease and features a built in front protector to keep the pond skimmer in perfect condition for a longer amount of time. This product comes with a telescopic pole that can extend up to an impressive 3m. This is great if you cannot reach the other side of your pool and need to clean it whilst trying not to fall in! The pole is easy to attach thanks to the easy one click mechanism.
Key Features:
Rubberised mesh
Built in protector
One click easy attachment
Specification:
Brand
Pondh2o
Colour
Grey and blue
Pros
Built to last
Pole extends to 3m
Cons
Requires some manual work
ECHG Pond Skimmer
The ECHG pond skimmer frame is made using heavy duty plastic which is not easily damaged during the process of cleaning your pond or swimming pool, it is also durable and extremely lightweight so it is the perfect option to last you years. The mesh netting is made of a dense polypropylene which can clear leaves, insects and other debris on or under water with ease, keeping the pool looking crystal clear. This pond skimmer is easy to assemble thanks to its unique design – which means the poles can be easily mounted. This product can fit most standard poles, however we should note that a pole is not actually included with this pond skimmer. The easy glide operation of the ECHG pond skimmer means you can clean your pond or swimming pool with ease.
Key Features:
Durable
Excellent stitching
Lightweight
Specification:
Brand
ECHG
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
44.96 x 30 x 3.56cm
Weight (kg)
0.18
Pros
Heavy duty
Easy to assemble
Cons
Pole not included
XIRUI Pond Skimmer
The XIRUI pond skimmer has an extremely stable plastic frame and fine mesh. The net is very easy to handle when in the water and can stand strong against water pressure. It won’t bend, twist or break even under heavy pressure. The fine mesh net is designed to filter out the finest of particles that gather on the water’s surface. The pond skimmer is made with a strong and durable aluminium tube which is retractable and very simple to use, it also can be adjusted with just the push of a button. The net is securely fastened onto the wide frame with curved corners which are designed to stop any damage from occurring around the edge of the pool.
Key Features:
Durable
Stable
Safe design
Specification:
Brand
XIRUI
Colour
Blue
Dimensions (L x W x H)
43.4 x 29.7 x 4.5cm
Weight (kg)
0.28
Pros
Effective cleaning
Easy to install
Cons
Requires some manual work
Summary
So after all of those, we hope you’ve found a pond skimmer that’s taken your fancy! However, if you’re still unsure, we’ve listed some buyer considerations for you to make here. Just as we did in our expandable hose, storage bench, garden swing and electric screwdriver buyer guides!
Type
You can actually get both pump powered pond skimmers and manual skimmers, which is great if you’re not keen on one of the options. A pump powered pond skimmer will do all of the hard work for you automatically, but often cost more when compared to their manual counterparts.
Weight
As we mentioned above, it’s important to purchase a pond skimmer that is made from a lightweight material such as aluminium . This is because having a heavy pond skimmer would just make it that little bit harder to use it properly. Have a pond skimmer that’s lightweight will ensure you’ll be able to reach all of those harder to reach areas with ease. Another thing to note is that pond skimmers are multi-use items and can be used to clean debris out of larger bodies of water, like a swimming pool. This means that having a lightweight pole won’t add any extra weight to you when you’re cleaning, allowing you to keep you balance and clean more efficiently.
Net Mesh
You’ll be wanting to have a pond skimmer that has a net made from fine mesh. This will ensure that every piece of debris is removed, no matter how small. Having a fine gauze on the net will pick up everything unsightly and will leave your pond looking fresh and as good as new. It’s also good to look out for those with a sturdy mesh net, as it will need to be robust enough to withstand water pressure when you’re dragging it along the top of your water feature. If the net was too flimsy, it would not be able to pass through the water with ease and would probably end up breaking – leaving you in no better position than you started!
Design
It’s important to consider the overall design of the pond skimmer, as some will be made to ensure no damage occurs to your water feature. By choosing a skimmer that has been designed not to scratch or harm your pond or pool in anyway, you’ll have peace of mind when cleaning the debris. What good is a debris-free pond or pool if it has been scratched!
FAQ
How important is a pond skimmer?
A pond skimmer is a real necessity if you care about the overall appearance of your garden. If you’re wanting to keep your pond debris-free and looking fresh, we recommend getting yourself a pond skimmer… after-all, who wants leaves floating in their water feature?
Are pond skimmers expensive?
The pump powered pond skimmers tend to be more expensive than the manual options. However, a manual pond skimmer won’t set you back too much money and they’re made to last, too.
How do I install a pump-powered pond skimmer?
We’ve found a YouTube video for you here showing you exactly how it’s done!