My Savio Skimmer is eating my fish

[Patty davenport]

Go to a home improvement store and look for a piece of plastic (sometimes referred to as egg crate) and put that in front of the skimmer opening to block them from getting in. I know someone who uses the plastic grating that you see in flourescent light fixtures. You can probably find gutter guard plastic too.

We tried chicken wire,but it got clogged with everything,and slowed the water flow. Gotta find something.

 

[Lisak1]

Very old thread @Patty davenport -

 

[dstnwst]

I have had this problem before, but not with the larger gold fish and Koi. It has only been the smaller, 2"-4" that get in there. The wier door floats when the skimmer pump is turned off, so I don't think the fish could escape without water flowing over it. Usually the fish can swim over it, but we had some pretty stiff winds that knocked a lot of leaves out of the trees and into the pond yesterday. Our smallest Koi got in there and was buried with leaves in the basket and died. Problem is, everything I think of to keep the fish out will also keep the leaves out, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

 

[j.w]

and welcome @dstnwst

 

[GBBUDD]

I just renovated my 23 year old pond and added a Savio skimmer. My water is beautiful and I love the job the filter is doing ,but I have noticed fish missing and find them dead in the filter. It makes no sense since they should be able to just swim back out of the front of the filter. The clerk at my local pond store seemed to think they probably died and were sucked into the filter..I doubt that because my fish all appear very healthy, the pond is balanced and the fish have been in there for over a month. Does anyone know if the water level can cause fish to be trapped in the filter? We have had heavy rains and the pond is very high. The water is above the level marked on the front the filter. To me that would make it easier for the fish to go back and forth, but so far I have lost 3 large beautiful fancy tail goldfish inside of the filter since the water level has gone up...:icon_sad:

I did not have the savior but I had the Helix floating weir. But what happened was too much draw the pump was pulling harder than the unit realy should have had. Don't get me wrong the weir took the draw ok but along the edge where it had the paper thin space it was too strong and the fishes fins got sucked in and the fish got held in place and drowned if you can believe it

 

[GBBUDD]

I have had this problem before, but not with the larger gold fish and Koi. It has only been the smaller, 2"-4" that get in there. The wier door floats when the skimmer pump is turned off, so I don't think the fish could escape without water flowing over it. Usually the fish can swim over it, but we had some pretty stiff winds that knocked a lot of leaves out of the trees and into the pond yesterday. Our smallest Koi got in there and was buried with leaves in the basket and died. Problem is, everything I think of to keep the fish out will also keep the leaves out, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

This post is like way old it's from 2009. Don't expect a reply from the authors

 

[Mmathis]

@dstnwst Please go over to our “introductions“ topic and tell us a little about yourself.

 

[WaterGardener]

@dstnwst, we use a piece of plastic coated shelving across the opening of our Savio skimmer. If it's put in horizontally, leaves and other debris can pass through it.