This is the best skimmer on the market. I've had mine for 3 years and NEVER did I loose a fish to it. And Eric is a rock star. I had a problem completely unrelated to his equipment but he was kind enough to provide me the benefit of his knowledge and a problem I have had for 3 years I fixed in less than 10 minutes thanks to him. Its why I'm back to buy his bio mechanical waterfall filter because this is a company you can rely on.
Yes ABSOLUTELY! We have Helix Contractor in Minnesota and he ran his skimmer longer than he ever has this year because he is installing Helix. I can certainly give you details of his wintering procedures. One thing most people are not aware of is you can remove the floating weir and the skimmer still has a nice surface draw and collects debris while remaining fish friendly. Something you will want to do in the winter! Thanks for your interest!
Yes a bulkhead fitting can be installed in the side panel of the skimmer. When water increases in the pond due to rain, excess water can be directed away from the pond.
How small of a pond are you talking about? We just installed The Helix Pond Skimmer on a 200 gallon pond the other day. The client is doing backflips. No disappointment there. It's all about your perspective. The Skimmer is stacked tall and looks big but when you install it underground you have less than 20" x 20" of footprint to conceal under a small piece of flagstone or slate. You'd be surprised just how amazing The Helix fits on a VERY small pond.
Great to hear your feeback! Thank you for that! We are ready to film the installation process of all The Helix Products and explaining pond construction in great detail. Stay Tuned!
There is only a short window each season where frogs and toads are at risk of getting pulled into the skimmer. (any skimmer) The Helix Pond Skimmer is unique because you can remove the floating weir, insert an additional blue matala filter pad and still have good surface tension and collection during breeding season. Once breeding season is over and the frogs and toads are no longer at risk you can put the skimmer back to normal operation.
You are correct. We don't have a kit per say because we customize equipment set ups for each pond we are working on. 15 years with DIY equipment is impressive! We would love to help you step up your equipment, Let's do this!
Gotcha, now that I've watched your other videos, I'm guessing a settling tank would be the better choice for the bottom drain. Any kits available with the skimmer, settling tank, and waterfall filter? I would love to retro a system with all 3 into my pond to replace my homemade filtration that had served me well for 15 years but looking to make maintenance easier.
If you have a small pond and have the max flow running into the skimmer you could have mosquito fish make it into the vortex of the Helix Pond Skimmer, However we have large ponds with moderate flow rates in the Helix Skimmer and don't find mosquito fish in danger. Good Question!
Pretty cool design. I like the idea of not having a door where fish could get trapped. Honestly for the longest time through this video I thought this was a waterfall weir. Looks very similar to them. Now I understand. Very cool product. Will you be providing some more video of it in action installed in someone's pond? Thanks.
I installed a Helix pond skimmer, and every few minutes I see and here a bubble coming to the top of the skimmer. I am also losing water from the pond. From your experience, do you think my leak is somewhere in the skimmer?
+Michelle Edwards The bubbles in the skimmer are normal as it burps out excess air from below the basket plate from the natural vacuum that is occurring from the helical suction. It does not mean you have a leak from the skimmer. Have you watched our trouble shooting leaks videos? ruclips.net/video/xhskPDxsVtc/видео.html Good luck!
I am in the process of making my Koi pond larger and want to make sure I add a full filtration system with a skimmer, bottom filter ect. I had a smaller exterior pump but I need a new system now that I am going larger. Can you tell me exactly what I should be set up for? I have watched many of your videos and I want this pond to be as maintenance free as I can get. My daughter and I have decided to make this project together so help is needed. We have started to dig...Any assistance is appreciated. I hope to have it finished by September.
ThePondDigger Hi I abssolutly love all your shows. I live in Denmark in Europe, how can we buy the Helix Pond skimmer? Are there any retailers in Europe? :-)
Hello pond expert I need your help I am trying to build a pond behind a retaining wall which holds soil and plants. I have removed around 2 tones of soil but I and confused in what to do. I have build a pond for koi fish. I have just constructed a rectangle pond about 3 feet deep a metre wide by about 1.5 metre long. I was going to stick with that and have a pond with a pre-made waterfall. I then watched many videos on youtube with rocked in ponds and decided to build a second pond with a small water fall but I have a dilemma my original plan was to link both ponds with water falls but found I had a problem the koi pond is about 1-2 inch lower than the small pond and in order to get water to go from the small pond is casing me issues as you probably know to get water to flow from one upper pond to a lower one requires a incline both ponds are almost level. The reason I can not build the upper pond up is because the retaining wall would need to be level with both ponds so its difficult to put in writing what I am trying to do. I have made a video to explain in the link below please watch it if you can. As I see it I have another option and that is to cue some of the breeze blocks and build a water wall from the side of the small pond into the koi pond or knock a side section of the breeze blocks and exstand the koi pond into the wildlife pond would you advise this or not would having 2 separate ponds be better than having one large koi pond please advise what I should do thanks. My youtube video which I made can be seen here. ruclips.net/video/alMRMubWd2A/видео.html
You should be able to use a target flow rate of 3500 gph in a 1100 gallon pond and have no worries about mosquito fish going into the helical swirl of The Helix Pond Skimmer.
Hello- There was a question about saving amphibians from drowning; is that just a matter of making sure the flow is low enough? I wouldn't mind attaching a secondary pump just for the skimmer if that's all it took...
Hey DeMe in our area we have a short season where the frogs and toads are breeding like crazy in the spring and then of course we have the grow out season of the tadpoles. There are a few ways you can work around making the skimmer more friendly for these amazing creatures during the seasonal spike.
Hello I'm new to ponds. building an aprox 3500-4000 gallon set up. starting with one skimmer. to a settling chamber, to a mechanical chamber with filter sponge/floss. I have a sand filter for the final stage. I used to use sand filters/ fluidized filter bed on aquariums. with great success. will this set up translate? to the pond world. Michigan climate. 7' at the deep end 3' and 2' shelves. and is collecting rain water from the roof a good or bad ideal for make up water. Thanks in advance, Muz
Eric: I'm a DIY pond builder and am constructing a 4800 gallon pond. I plan on plumbing a 4 " bottom drain and a 3 inch skimmer line to a 95 gallon home made prefilter/settling tank. My pump will draw suction from that tank. A few questions... will the skimmer function normally with this configuration and is it beneficial to use a 3Inch line from the skimmer or will a 2 Inch line work fine? Thanks for your insight. I enjoy your videos.
MrEODDiver I would suggest running a 3" line or even 4" liner from the skimmer if you are running a gravity flow system. Typically we will run direct suction from the skimmer since it is dealing with primarily large debris that will get captured in the debris basket. I would run the bottom drain to the 95 gallon tank and use a three way valve on your pump with one run pulling from the 95 gallon tanks and one run pulling from the skimmer. 4" line from drain to 95 gallon tank and 2" lines running from the 95 gallon to the three way, 2" line running from skimmer to three way.
Eric: I will go with your suggestion to draw from both the skimmer and the tank using a three way valve to control the suction on each one. Thanks for your quick response.
You are very welcome! Are you following us on Facebook and instagram? I frequently post pond drawing with schematics! I just posted one today on instagram that you might find helpful. I have two IG accounts.@helix_nation and @theponddigger. On Facebook find Eric Triplett and we have The Pond Digger fan page on FB too! I seriously think the schematics would be helpful to you. Check em out!
Hi. I want to get a Helix skimmer here in Colorado. the floating weir may freeze up during the harsh winter months. Our fish stay year round outside and have a skimmer box that flows during winter. Can we still retro fit a Helix skimmer here?
Hi Eric, tell me please what to do in case, if is spring, and the koi fish have a lot of babies, they are so minuscule, and I think that the skimmer will catch them all and they all will die...How to be in this case??? PS: I like what you do, your business, You're the best!!! And believe me what I'm saying is true :) cause I'm a biologist and a specialist in ichthyology and all the things about the ponds and aquariums :) Thx for all man!!! :)
Vlad Balan Vlad thank you so much for the compliment! The Helix Pond Skimmer can be adjusted easy enough during spawning periods to protect eggs and small fry. Also if you have a serious koi keeper that wants to grow out the fry, they will make special accommodations for the baby koi.
Im living in Las vegas. I love Helix products. How deep when i buils the koi pond in Las vegas. how can I oder hold set for Koi pond and water fall sai 12 X 8 foods ?
I installed this filter last year and I am needing to replace the pump this season. I have a 5,000 gallon pond with 30' between pump and 5' waterfall. What pump would you recommend. I am using a tidal wave submersible pump right now but the height of it is too tall. Any suggestions?
Hey Sandra! Thanks for checking in with us and thank you for supporting Helix! We just released a line of Helix External and Stainless Steel Submersible Pumps! We would love to point you in that direction. However, the Helix Skimmer can handle a wide variety of submersible pumps with a selection of specialty fittings, including the Tidal Wave Pump. Our network of Authorized Helix Retailers just left our Summit meeting here in California with all this new information. Feel free to call our headquarters to be directed to the nearest Helix Life Support Retailer for the fastest turn around time. 8 0 0 - 5 2 2 - 5 0 4 3
Sorry if these questions sound stupid, do skimmers act as a filtration? So if I install a helix pond skimmer, do I need to add another filtration system?
I would really like to see your buisness expand into Europe. I'm from Sweden and here we don't really have that kind of technology like you have with your pond company. I'd really love to have your pond technology but the shipment and import fees are too expensive. I love your work and have learned much from your channel! Take care! /Jacob
Nino we work with DIY homeowners all the time customizing a koi pond kit that is specific to your needs. Koi pond kits on line are so general anymore! Let us know what you want to do and we will tailor a kit customized to your design and budget. Hit me up! Eric@theponddigger.com
can this skimmer work using an external pump or is a submersible pump a must? If external pump can be used then can more matala matting be used in the submersible pump area?
Ninh Nguyen Yes this skimmer works great with external pumps. In fact part of the design is based on the usage of external pumps! You can certainly add more matala filters if needed in addition to the fact we have 16" deep and 24" deep debris baskets!!!
Can you sell the debris busker and the floating wear only? I live in china and If I buy the whole thing from you it will cost too much on transportation and customs. If yes how much it would be cause I didn't find it online. Thanks
Why don't we have skimmers like these in the pool industry? Yeah, we have them as separate components but why not have one of these for pools? It would be amazing.
I wanted to reply to this question because I think it's important to understanding one drawback to the Helix skimmer. The reason the pool industry doesn't use this kind of skimmer is because of the minimum throughput necessary to make it work. It is recommended that you use a 3600 gph pump to maintain the Helix skimmer and from my experience, that's no joke. You need that much throughput to make it work at all. That 3600 gph recommendation is more like a minimum requirement than a maximum. In my koi pond system, I have a 3hp, 3-phase pump connected to a variable frequency device (VFD) that allows me to vary the pump speed. I normally run the pump at around 1 hp and 4000 gph to turn my 7000 gallon pond over every 1.5 hours. Then I use the 3hp setting when I backwash my bead and sinking bed filters. When I first bought the Helix skimmer to replace my old skimmer, it was my intention to valve off a portion of my 4000 gph filter pump to operate the Helix skimmer. After doing the installation, I quickly found I had to shut off all of my bottom drains on my 4000 gph pump just to get the Helix to work at all. This was a disappointment to me. So I had to buy a extra external 3600 gph pump just to run the skimmer. In short, the Helix skimmer doesn't have the capability to skim "just a little bit" and at a lower throughput from your pump; it's 3600 gph... or nothing. The reason for this is simple when you look at the Helix weir design. The weir is 8" in diameter, so in order to create the vortex at the top that does such a magnificent job at creating surface tension, you have to pull a lot of water down through that 8" opening in the weir (about .6 gallons/sec). That's a LOT of throughput just to skim, but again... that's what it takes to run a floating weir Helix skimmer. Now, back to your question about why this technology isn't seen in the swimming pool industry. It's really quite simple. The skimmers you see in a swimming pool have weir door technology in play. The disadvantages of this technology as compared to the Helix is they cannot create the surface tension that the Helix can (i.e.: they cannot skim nearly as well), BUT... their main advantage is they can skim a little or a lot depending on how you operate your 3-way valves drawing from them. Most of the swimming pools in my area have a bottom drain and at least two skimmers. They usually are set up to use a 240 VAC, 1hp pump to operate these drain and skimmer inputs to the filter system. These pumps range from 4000-12000 gph, depending on the size of the pool. So if you had two Helix skimmers operating in your swimming pool and each required 3600 gph, you would need more than 7000 gph just to run your two skimmers. This means a lion share of your pump's throughput would be dedicated just to skimming and not to your bottom drains and there's no way to adjust the throughput to these skimmer below 3600 gph, because they just won't work. For a swimming pool, this is not practical. It's much better to share the filter pump's throughput with the skimmers (albeit with lesser surface tension) using a weir door that allows a lower skimmer setting to work. I hope this is helpful.
Hello Eric, Sorry for my poor english. Would you please tell me if there is any possibility to ship your product in Europe? I live in Switzerland and i need your product im my pond, specially your skimmer and waterfall filter. Thank you for your answer..
I thought about creating a solid basket to replace the weir and leaf basket with a vacuum attachment set in the bottom. So when you wanted to vacuum, you would simply pull out your lief basket and weir, drop in the solid basket, slip your hose into the bottom connection in the bottom of the basket and off you go.
Hey m8, I live in the UK and wanted to know if it is possible to put a European Submersible Pump the Helix Pond skimmer? If yes could you tell the the diameters of the pump section. Thanks
![GEEK TIMË [OFFICIAL AUDIO]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/ry-6RvkH880/mqdefault.jpg)
This is the best skimmer on the market. I've had mine for 3 years and NEVER did I loose a fish to it. And Eric is a rock star. I had a problem completely unrelated to his equipment but he was kind enough to provide me the benefit of his knowledge and a problem I have had for 3 years I fixed in less than 10 minutes thanks to him. Its why I'm back to buy his bio mechanical waterfall filter because this is a company you can rely on.
Awesome technology!!! We have two Helix skimmers installed on our pond and they work exactly as you described.
Yes ABSOLUTELY! We have Helix Contractor in Minnesota and he ran his skimmer longer than he ever has this year because he is installing Helix. I can certainly give you details of his wintering procedures. One thing most people are not aware of is you can remove the floating weir and the skimmer still has a nice surface draw and collects debris while remaining fish friendly. Something you will want to do in the winter! Thanks for your interest!
Yes a bulkhead fitting can be installed in the side panel of the skimmer. When water increases in the pond due to rain, excess water can be directed away from the pond.
How small of a pond are you talking about? We just installed The Helix Pond Skimmer on a 200 gallon pond the other day. The client is doing backflips. No disappointment there. It's all about your perspective.
The Skimmer is stacked tall and looks big but when you install it underground you have less than 20" x 20" of footprint to conceal under a small piece of flagstone or slate.
You'd be surprised just how amazing The Helix fits on a VERY small pond.
Great to hear your feeback! Thank you for that!
We are ready to film the installation process of all The Helix Products and explaining pond construction in great detail. Stay Tuned!
There is only a short window each season where frogs and toads are at risk of getting pulled into the skimmer. (any skimmer) The Helix Pond Skimmer is unique because you can remove the floating weir, insert an additional blue matala filter pad and still have good surface tension and collection during breeding season. Once breeding season is over and the frogs and toads are no longer at risk you can put the skimmer back to normal operation.
Yes the flat spot in the back can handle a three in fitting for bottom drain installation.
You are correct. We don't have a kit per say because we customize equipment set ups for each pond we are working on. 15 years with DIY equipment is impressive! We would love to help you step up your equipment, Let's do this!
Thanks Again Cazee for your ongoing support of The Helix Life Support Pond Filtration Systems!
Gotcha, now that I've watched your other videos, I'm guessing a settling tank would be the better choice for the bottom drain. Any kits available with the skimmer, settling tank, and waterfall filter? I would love to retro a system with all 3 into my pond to replace my homemade filtration that had served me well for 15 years but looking to make maintenance easier.
Looks like a nice product. Could you pipe a bottom drain into the back of this on the flat spot you described for bulkheads?
Thank you for the feedback!!!!
Looks like they thought of everything. Awesome product.
If you have a small pond and have the max flow running into the skimmer you could have mosquito fish make it into the vortex of the Helix Pond Skimmer, However we have large ponds with moderate flow rates in the Helix Skimmer and don't find mosquito fish in danger. Good Question!
Pretty cool design. I like the idea of not having a door where fish could get trapped. Honestly for the longest time through this video I thought this was a waterfall weir. Looks very similar to them. Now I understand. Very cool product. Will you be providing some more video of it in action installed in someone's pond? Thanks.
That's because you installed exactly as prescribed! Cazee Designs Rocks!
It would have to be a large aquarium but it certainly could be done!
hey Eric any plans for a nano version of the Helix Skimmer and Waterfall?
IM GETTING ONE THIS SPRING....(my dad and I are completely redoing our pond into a dedicated koi pond)
I installed a Helix pond skimmer, and every few minutes I see and here a bubble coming to the top of the skimmer. I am also losing water from the pond. From your experience, do you think my leak is somewhere in the skimmer?
+Michelle Edwards The bubbles in the skimmer are normal as it burps out excess air from below the basket plate from the natural vacuum that is occurring from the helical suction. It does not mean you have a leak from the skimmer.
Have you watched our trouble shooting leaks videos? ruclips.net/video/xhskPDxsVtc/видео.html
Good luck!
I am in the process of making my Koi pond larger and want to make sure I add a full filtration system with a skimmer, bottom filter ect. I had a smaller exterior pump but I need a new system now that I am going larger. Can you tell me exactly what I should be set up for? I have watched many of your videos and I want this pond to be as maintenance free as I can get. My daughter and I have decided to make this project together so help is needed. We have started to dig...Any assistance is appreciated. I hope to have it finished by September.
ThePondDigger Hi I abssolutly love all your shows.
I live in Denmark in Europe, how can we buy the Helix Pond skimmer?
Are there any retailers in Europe? :-)
Hello pond expert
I need your help I am trying to build a pond behind a retaining wall which holds soil and plants. I have removed around 2 tones of soil but I and confused in what to do. I have build a pond for koi fish. I have just constructed a rectangle pond about 3 feet deep a metre wide by about 1.5 metre long. I was going to stick with that and have a pond with a pre-made waterfall. I then watched many videos on youtube with rocked in ponds and decided to build a second pond with a small water fall but I have a dilemma my original plan was to link both ponds with water falls but found I had a problem the koi pond is about 1-2 inch lower than the small pond and in order to get water to go from the small pond is casing me issues as you probably know to get water to flow from one upper pond to a lower one requires a incline both ponds are almost level. The reason I can not build the upper pond up is because the retaining wall would need to be level with both ponds so its difficult to put in writing what I am trying to do. I have made a video to explain in the link below please watch it if you can. As I see it I have another option and that is to cue some of the breeze blocks and build a water wall from the side of the small pond into the koi pond or knock a side section of the breeze blocks and exstand the koi pond into the wildlife pond would you advise this or not would having 2 separate ponds be better than having one large koi pond please advise what I should do thanks.
My youtube video which I made can be seen here. ruclips.net/video/alMRMubWd2A/видео.html
You should be able to use a target flow rate of 3500 gph in a 1100 gallon pond and have no worries about mosquito fish going into the helical swirl of The Helix Pond Skimmer.
Hello-
There was a question about saving amphibians from drowning; is that just a matter of making sure the flow is low enough? I wouldn't mind attaching a secondary pump just for the skimmer if that's all it took...
Hey DeMe in our area we have a short season where the frogs and toads are breeding like crazy in the spring and then of course we have the grow out season of the tadpoles. There are a few ways you can work around making the skimmer more friendly for these amazing creatures during the seasonal spike.
Does helix make a pond skimmer that goes directly in the pond without digging? Model number?
Hey Eric, very nice system! But how can I get one system in the Netherlands, because I cannot find it.
Hello I'm new to ponds. building an aprox 3500-4000 gallon set up. starting with one skimmer. to a settling chamber, to a mechanical chamber with filter sponge/floss. I have a sand filter for the final stage. I used to use sand filters/ fluidized filter bed on aquariums. with great success. will this set up translate? to the pond world. Michigan climate. 7' at the deep end 3' and 2' shelves. and is collecting rain water from the roof a good or bad ideal for make up water. Thanks in advance, Muz
Eric: I'm a DIY pond builder and am constructing a 4800 gallon pond. I plan on plumbing a 4 " bottom drain and a 3 inch skimmer line to a 95 gallon home made prefilter/settling tank. My pump will draw suction from that tank. A few questions... will the skimmer function normally with this configuration and is it beneficial to use a 3Inch line from the skimmer or will a 2 Inch line work fine? Thanks for your insight. I enjoy your videos.
MrEODDiver I would suggest running a 3" line or even 4" liner from the skimmer if you are running a gravity flow system. Typically we will run direct suction from the skimmer since it is dealing with primarily large debris that will get captured in the debris basket. I would run the bottom drain to the 95 gallon tank and use a three way valve on your pump with one run pulling from the 95 gallon tanks and one run pulling from the skimmer. 4" line from drain to 95 gallon tank and 2" lines running from the 95 gallon to the three way, 2" line running from skimmer to three way.
Eric: I will go with your suggestion to draw from both the skimmer and the tank using a three way valve to control the suction on each one. Thanks for your quick response.
You are very welcome! Are you following us on Facebook and instagram? I frequently post pond drawing with schematics! I just posted one today on instagram that you might find helpful. I have two IG accounts.@helix_nation and @theponddigger. On Facebook find Eric Triplett and we have The Pond Digger fan page on FB too! I seriously think the schematics would be helpful to you. Check em out!
Hello Eric, How do you keep frogs and toads from being sucked into the skimmer?
Hi. I want to get a Helix skimmer here in Colorado.
the floating weir may freeze up during the harsh winter months. Our fish stay year round outside and have a skimmer box that flows during winter. Can we still retro fit a Helix skimmer here?
Hi Eric, tell me please what to do in case, if is spring, and the koi fish have a lot of babies, they are so minuscule, and I think that the skimmer will catch them all and they all will die...How to be in this case???
PS: I like what you do, your business, You're the best!!! And believe me what I'm saying is true :) cause I'm a biologist and a specialist in ichthyology and all the things about the ponds and aquariums :) Thx for all man!!! :)
Vlad Balan Vlad thank you so much for the compliment! The Helix Pond Skimmer can be adjusted easy enough during spawning periods to protect eggs and small fry. Also if you have a serious koi keeper that wants to grow out the fry, they will make special accommodations for the baby koi.
OK, thanks a lot Eric!!!
Im living in Las vegas. I love Helix products. How deep when i buils the koi pond in Las vegas. how can I oder hold set for Koi pond and water fall sai 12 X 8 foods ?
I installed this filter last year and I am needing to replace the pump this season. I have a 5,000 gallon pond with 30' between pump and 5' waterfall. What pump would you recommend. I am using a tidal wave submersible pump right now but the height of it is too tall. Any suggestions?
Hey Sandra! Thanks for checking in with us and thank you for supporting Helix! We just released a line of Helix External and Stainless Steel Submersible Pumps! We would love to point you in that direction. However, the Helix Skimmer can handle a wide variety of submersible pumps with a selection of specialty fittings, including the Tidal Wave Pump. Our network of Authorized Helix Retailers just left our Summit meeting here in California with all this new information. Feel free to call our headquarters to be directed to the nearest Helix Life Support Retailer for the fastest turn around time. 8 0 0 - 5 2 2 - 5 0 4 3
can I use bioballs in the pump chamber if I'm using an external pump?
I live in Australia, where can i purchase the helix pond skimmer?
Sorry if these questions sound stupid, do skimmers act as a filtration? So if I install a helix pond skimmer, do I need to add another filtration system?
The skimmer is a pre-filter before your bio-filter. Yes you need another.
+ThePondDigger can I use the output of the bottom drain into the skimmer so I won't have to buy a settlement tank ?
I would really like to see your buisness expand into Europe. I'm from Sweden and here we don't really have that kind of technology like you have with your pond company. I'd really love to have your pond technology but the shipment and import fees are too expensive. I love your work and have learned much from your channel! Take care!
/Jacob
Do you recommend a koi pond kit for those of us trying to build a pond at home?
Nino we work with DIY homeowners all the time customizing a koi pond kit that is specific to your needs. Koi pond kits on line are so general anymore! Let us know what you want to do and we will tailor a kit customized to your design and budget. Hit me up!
Eric@theponddigger.com
Thank you Eric! I will email the details to you.
What GPH is the skimmer shown in this video running at? I just purchased the kit from you guys on amazon with the 6500 GPH submersible pump.
I want one do you have any distributors in Mass?
can this skimmer work using an external pump or is a submersible pump a must? If external pump can be used then can more matala matting be used in the submersible pump area?
Ninh Nguyen Yes this skimmer works great with external pumps. In fact part of the design is based on the usage of external pumps! You can certainly add more matala filters if needed in addition to the fact we have 16" deep and 24" deep debris baskets!!!
ThePondDigger thank you
Yes but sometimes I think it owns me!
Can you sell the debris busker and the floating wear only?
I live in china and If I buy the whole thing from you it will cost too much on transportation and customs.
If yes how much it would be cause I didn't find it online. Thanks
i had no idea that California had 300 million pools
Can you put one of these filter on a aquarium?
currently a couple thousand gallons, digging currently digging another foot or so deeper and a few feet wider
Why don't we have skimmers like these in the pool industry? Yeah, we have them as separate components but why not have one of these for pools? It would be amazing.
I wanted to reply to this question because I think it's important to understanding one drawback to the Helix skimmer. The reason the pool industry doesn't use this kind of skimmer is because of the minimum throughput necessary to make it work. It is recommended that you use a 3600 gph pump to maintain the Helix skimmer and from my experience, that's no joke. You need that much throughput to make it work at all. That 3600 gph recommendation is more like a minimum requirement than a maximum. In my koi pond system, I have a 3hp, 3-phase pump connected to a variable frequency device (VFD) that allows me to vary the pump speed. I normally run the pump at around 1 hp and 4000 gph to turn my 7000 gallon pond over every 1.5 hours. Then I use the 3hp setting when I backwash my bead and sinking bed filters. When I first bought the Helix skimmer to replace my old skimmer, it was my intention to valve off a portion of my 4000 gph filter pump to operate the Helix skimmer. After doing the installation, I quickly found I had to shut off all of my bottom drains on my 4000 gph pump just to get the Helix to work at all. This was a disappointment to me. So I had to buy a extra external 3600 gph pump just to run the skimmer. In short, the Helix skimmer doesn't have the capability to skim "just a little bit" and at a lower throughput from your pump; it's 3600 gph... or nothing. The reason for this is simple when you look at the Helix weir design. The weir is 8" in diameter, so in order to create the vortex at the top that does such a magnificent job at creating surface tension, you have to pull a lot of water down through that 8" opening in the weir (about .6 gallons/sec). That's a LOT of throughput just to skim, but again... that's what it takes to run a floating weir Helix skimmer. Now, back to your question about why this technology isn't seen in the swimming pool industry. It's really quite simple. The skimmers you see in a swimming pool have weir door technology in play. The disadvantages of this technology as compared to the Helix is they cannot create the surface tension that the Helix can (i.e.: they cannot skim nearly as well), BUT... their main advantage is they can skim a little or a lot depending on how you operate your 3-way valves drawing from them. Most of the swimming pools in my area have a bottom drain and at least two skimmers. They usually are set up to use a 240 VAC, 1hp pump to operate these drain and skimmer inputs to the filter system. These pumps range from 4000-12000 gph, depending on the size of the pool. So if you had two Helix skimmers operating in your swimming pool and each required 3600 gph, you would need more than 7000 gph just to run your two skimmers. This means a lion share of your pump's throughput would be dedicated just to skimming and not to your bottom drains and there's no way to adjust the throughput to these skimmer below 3600 gph, because they just won't work. For a swimming pool, this is not practical. It's much better to share the filter pump's throughput with the skimmers (albeit with lesser surface tension) using a weir door that allows a lower skimmer setting to work. I hope this is helpful.
Hello Eric, Sorry for my poor english. Would you please tell me if there is any possibility to ship your product in Europe? I live in Switzerland and i need your product im my pond, specially your skimmer and waterfall filter. Thank you for your answer..
Georges Besson Hey Georges! Thank you for your request. At this time we are not shipping out of country. I sorry to say.
Is this still the case?
Can I buy your equipment in Ireland or the UK
Can you design a vacuum attachment? We have a natural swimming pond with a Helix and want to vacuum it similar to how you would vacuum a pool.
I thought about creating a solid basket to replace the weir and leaf basket with a vacuum attachment set in the bottom. So when you wanted to vacuum, you would simply pull out your lief basket and weir, drop in the solid basket, slip your hose into the bottom connection in the bottom of the basket and off you go.
whats the largest one
When you buy a skimmer it's come with the pump
300 million pools in California? A state with a population of 39 million?
Matthew Herrington..... exactly.
Matthew Herrington apparently this guy quit RUclips a couple years ago. It's kind of sad when trying to find information on The subject.
so like that's skimmer can used in RAS system?
again looks like nothing for the smaller ponds. big disappointment.
Hey m8,
I live in the UK and wanted to know if it is possible to put a European Submersible Pump the Helix Pond skimmer?
If yes could you tell the the diameters of the pump section.
Thanks
+GAVIN JAMES Higgins We do not have distribution in the UK at this time.
+ThePondDigger I know m8, I hav family out there which could send me the skimmer. I just needed 2 know if a UK pump would fit in it? Thanks