Is there anyone else out there using the Oase AquaSkim gravity before a sieve on there pond and has tried removing the catch basket in the skimmer to improve flow ?

(Obviously fish size permitting)

Well I tried it this morning just as an experiment to see if it would improve the flow through the sieve to my 20000 litre pump after issues with pump starvation when running the pump at over 50% +

I can report it works a treat... I'm currently running at 80% with no pump starvation and the increased flow through to my bakki I wanted.

Looking at the manufacturers spec's below there shouldn't really be any issues with starvation with the basket in place with the pump up to 80%?


The min/max pump size specified for the Oase Gravity Aqua-skim is 8000/20000 l/p/h

The max flow rate specified for the Aqua-Sieve Midi is 18000 l/p/h


So I'm I thinking during the spring and summer months when there are no leaves flying around, the sieve can deal with everything just fine as long as I check it in the evening.

Then during the autumn when the leaves appear then I reduce the flow back down and put the basket back in?

I don't really think there is the possibility of a fish entering the skimmer due to the way the Oase skimmer works. The fish have now grown enough for it not to be an issue and they don't really hang around the skimmer anyway?

Although to be on the safe side I might look at buying a spare basket opening up the size of the mesh?