Aquascape PRO-Fit General Maintenance - Manual (Page 2)

Skimmers, in a nutshell, are me-
chanical filters designed to sweep the
surface of the water so that it is free
from debris. Generally, the skimmer is
designed with different filter stages
where different types of debris get
filtered out.
Debris Net (or Basket)
The net inside the skimmer is the
first filter stage of the skimmer (See
fig. 1). The net (or basket) will collect
leaves, twigs, seeds, and other pond
debris. It takes approximately two to
three minutes every week during the
summer to empty the debris net (or
basket). More frequent changes will
be required during the fall and spring
because of the quantity of leaves
falling off the surrounding trees. It is
a good habit during your first season
with the pond to periodically lift the
skimmer lid and check the quantity
of debris in the net. This is especially
true in the fall. Keep a mental note as
to how often your net (or basket) has
to be emptied. It’s important that the
debris net (or basket) is not allowed to
become too full – too much debris can
reduce the water flow to the pump,
and may eventually damage it.
Filter Mats
(or Filter Brush)
The filter mats (or brushes)
are the second stage of the skimmer
filter (See fig. ). The filter mats (or
brushes) are designed to handle
any debris that finds its way past
the debris net. The filter mats (or
brushes) will not need maintenance
as frequently, since the net will
remove the majority of the debris in
the water. Remove and rinse the filter
mats (or brushes) when you notice
the flow being restricted to the pump
or an excessive build-up of debris.
Place filters into position
The Aquascape Ecosystem
Fine wines get better with age ... the
same can be said about your new
water feature! Be patient with the
new addition to your landscape - it’s
going to look better and be easier
to maintain with every season. The
filter system is designed around the
foundation of a balanced ecosystem.
The ultimate goal is to have nature
do the work ... not you! It won’t hap-
pen overnight, but it will happen.
Don’t be surprised if your new water
garden begins to grow algae. In
general, it can take anywhere from
4-6 weeks for the ecosystem to be-
gin to develop. Aquascape produces
a complete line of water treatment
products specifically designed
to help you maintain the water
quality in your water garden and
help reduce maintenance. See your
Aquascape supplier for information
on the complete line of Aquascape
water treatment products.
The Skimmer
Fig. 1 Inside the skimmer.
Fig. Filter mat.
One of the greatest features of the
MicroPondless ™ filter is that there is
very little maintenance. The system
can be run several hours a day or can
be turned off and on when desired.
Don’t forget to periodically check
that there is enough water in the
MicroPondless ™ basin to properly
operate the waterfalls. When you hear
the pump “gurgling” or sucking air
you know it is time to add water.
The Pondless ® Waterfall Vault
The water reaching the pump should
be relatively free of any large debris,
thanks to the fact that the water has
to pass through layers of gravel in
the MicroPondless ™ basin. Occasion-
ally, you may notice a reduction in
the amount of water coming over
your waterfall – this signals that it
may be time to clean the filter screen.
This process should take no longer
than five minutes. Simply unplug and
remove the pump from the skim-
mer or MicroPondless ™ Vault and
physically remove any debris found
on the intake of the pump. You may
also want to physically remove any
debris with your hands that may have
found its way to the bottom of the
MicroPondless ™ Vault, where the
pump sits.
The Pump