I am in the process of expanding my pond to approx 6-10,000 gals and needed to buy new equipment. I bought a Laguna skimmer and a waterfall filter. I am now in a quandry as to how to hide the lids once they are partially buried at the sides of the pond. The lids are approx 22" X 34" each. The water filter will be at the far side of the pond with the skimmer on the near side.
How do you hide the lids, yet keep them accessible for cleaning? I wish to make the pond as natural looking as possible. I already have a grown-size Japanese Black Pine, a medium to large-size weeping cherry and a thread-leaf Japanese maple that will be on the side of the pond, but not necessarily where the waterfall will be. (I guess I can move this one if necessary). The skimmer will be most likely be on the near side and currently will be most visible. I was hoping to make this like a beach area on the viewing side.
How have you overcome this challenge? Do you have any creative ideas to share? Any photos that show how you worked with this barrier to make yours into a natural looking environment? Any ideas in general?
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas. It is appreciated.
RatherBDigging
HOW DO YOU HIDE YOUR LID TO YOUR FILTER OR YOUR SKIMMER?
Hey RBDIG,
I have a cover over my skimmer that looks like a piece of river rock, i got it from my local nursury that carries a lot of pond stuff, also I know someone that took that foam insulation in a can and sprayed on the top of the lid let it dry and then painted it like a rock, I thoguht that was cool and cheap!!!! I hope that was some help?...
That is a great idea...That way I could experiment with different color paints to try and simulate the ones around that are the real thing. I haven't seen anything in the local pond places just yet like the one you have. I have to believe that many others wish to keep their equipment lids from standing out while trying to make it all look natural.
Anyone else that can offer what they have done? Thank you Mysticsunshine!
RatherB
I do not know if your set up is similar to ours. This is what we have done with the outlet and skimmer. The gray rock off to the left of the cover is usually over the cover. I have a cast on my hand, so for now it is more conveniently left off to make cleaning easier. The rock is cumbersome to move each time.
We added rock partially in the water in part of some of the skimmer also.
The artifical rock you can buy is lighter I would think to move.
This is where the water comes out. We used the same gray stone to cover the covers at this end and added the long piece of rock to cover the plastic where the water actually comes out.
Thank you, Epazota.
Yes, I love how you put the large rocks on either side of the skimmer to help it blend in. You really have accomplished a natural looking setup. If I cannot manufacture a rock out of foam that would be lighter, that is what I think I will need to do, and cover with a large rock or two. Mine has a larger lid, so will need a really big rock. I love what you did. I will refer to yours in planning mine. The photos really helped.
Anyone else with photos to share? I have gotten great ideas so far, but I would love to hear more.
RatherB
RatherB
pond.
Good luck with your endeavor
It would be fun to see what you end up doing.
Ep
Mine is out of foam. painted
It does not hold up to the sunshine then begins to crumble.
Buy the rock cover they sell for them. Ted
Thanks, Ted. Did you use the waterfall foam or other? How long did it take to breakdown?
Ep, I will post some photos as we get going...in the meantime, we are digging out a mature Hanoki cypress that I hope we can save and replant. I had it smack in the middle of the new pond area! (hint for others with smaller ponds...always consider you may expand later on...otherwise I would not have planted the weeping cherry as close either!) Other than that, it is just the impression of the preformed one left behind. I thought I would just start digging the next weekend, but decided to take my time and plan alittle while longer before going forward any further. Hope the neighbors don't mind...usually I am quite neat!
Any other ideas, anyone? I am really appreciating the advice from everyone.
RatherB
Hi RatherB --
Here's a guard turtle on top of our lower filter-box. Another "working turtle", nearby, holds a small geranium. It's not a totally natural look, of course, but it sure makes for easy maintenance (and in this heat, that's important!)
jo
Jo:
How very dear! It does help to allow it to blend in a little more and it is very unique.
I love how your rocks are around the perimeter too. You have them stacked in a very naturalistic way that I like very much.
Thanks for sharing your idea with me. it is appreciated. Before we dig (or redig in my case since I took out the smaller one) I want to have ideas on camoflaging the equipment.
RatherB
Some skimmer covers are designed to look like a flat rock. I don't know if you already have your skimmer, but if not that might be an option. As for the waterfall filter, you can grow plants directly in the filter, bareroot. They will take over and cascade down over the sides, completely camouflaging the filter.
I use as 150 gallon biological filter as my "waterfall filter", but the idea is the same. This picture was taken a while ago - now you can't even see the rim of the filter.
(The pipes are usually hidden with a mossy log and rocks - but I removed them for the picture)
This message was edited Aug 21, 2007 1:03 PM
Here's the skimmer
Dear Songs:
How gorgeous your pond is! I just love it! Thanks for the photos and the ideas!
I do have the filter and skimmer. They are Laguna. I am pleased with them, but the down side is that lids are fairly large. I may go with a rock or two over the skimmer, but never having a skimmer before on the pond when it was smaller, I understand that I will need to gain frequent access to this one. Is yours of natural rock or a lighter-weight one?
I just love your pond! Is that your potting shed in the photo?
RatherB
Hi RatherB,
My skimmer cover is light-weight - some sort of plastic made to look like a rock. It's a reasonable facsimile, but I can definitely tell the difference so I like to try to hide mine too. I find the pickerell plant directly in front does a nice job of taking the attention away from the skimmer. It doesn't hide it completely, but sometimes all you need is a different focal point to take the attention away from what you don't want seen.
Thanks for the comments on my pond. The shed houses my pump and two 55 gallon barrell filters are sitting in the "basement". I currently don't use it for anything other than storing tools, but I would love to organize it a bit so that I can use it as a potting shed as well.