First question would be how large of a pond? I'm assuming if its a preform we're talking 8 X 6 or less? Especially on smaller gph pumps rubber couplers will work as well or better on plumbing and will give you a little more wiggle room on fitting sizes. As far as what type of skimmer to put in is going to be a big issue. I've seen 'little ditty' skimmers that may work if the pump is small enough, but unless I'm confused a 2" intake on the pump we're talking about a pump that wouldn't fit in any preform friendly skimmer I know of. If its a small preform with a large pump you're in pretty tough shape. I'd suggest trying a Matala Barrel Pre-filter first, I've had little to no luck with standard laying on the bottom prefilters. Honestly I would suggest ripping out the preform, laying EPDM liner, and putting in a compact skimmer. Probably not an option or what you wanted to hear. A little more info on the pump and pond, there could be much easier suggestions.

I've done it without any problems but with much smaller preforms. 130 gallons is going to be quite a bit of water weight so you'll have to make sure the unit has some good support. For several years I had a kidney shaped unit sitting on the concrete pad outside my front door. I had the shelf area propped up with a cinder block and bricks and I had bricks stacked around the outside of it to hid the unit as well as help with support. The others I have were round units with a fairly flat bottom and 3 small shelves. I had bricks under the shelves and my husband cut some 1x4 pieces to fit snugly on end under the lip of the unit to help with support and then I had bricks surrounding the unit. The kidney shaped one bowed a little bit but the round units have held up the best. I had one of the round ones sitting out in the yard last summer with no support whatsoever with extra plants that I was selling and it did fine. I think you just need to pick the unit you use carefully and provide some support and you'll be fine. As already mentioned you can also build a box unit for it or a raised bed and bury it.

I think I have a handle on my skimmer problem but would like some advice. Much of the work here is mine but some was completed by another person--double trouble In digging around I discovered/remembered the skimmer was installed with lots of good gravel all around. This picture shows some of the problems. The skimmer is surrounded by the end of a concrete retaining wall, heavy stone wall and two suction lines on the left, and a dock post in 18" of concrete, suction line, and overflow on the right. The right front corner has sunk almost an inch. The material that was under the skimmer there has collapsed and made a big bulge or two in the liner. Disturbed material from digging out for skimmer and overflow is all that was behind the liner, nothing in front. Thus the slumping and developing bulges. Then the liner is locked in place by thick mortared stone. In the fall, when the fish are in their winter home, I will empty the pond, unfasten the liner on the skimmer for the little slack I can have, and try to remove all the collapsed material from the bulges. I think I can level and shore the skimmer without a lot of digging (maybe) but I need help finding a way to stop the slumping, a way to get something rigid inside the liner at this location to hold back the material--treated planks, some other rigid bulkhead/sheathing. I see no reason to remove the skimmer and put in more gravel or concrete--what is there is working fine if it stays in place. With a picture and description of conditions, along with the culprit process at work, any advice on approaching the problem, materials to use is most welcome. It seems pretty straight-forward; it is all the constraints that stymie me. Thanks as always - Mike

I finally finished this project and would like to share a few lessons learned, if anyone is interested: 1. Looking back, I decided to go with a deck mud shower pan instead of the preformed Laticrete one. It was pretty much a cost consideration at the time. I am a bit of a perfectionist and the biggest hangup I have with the job I did is how the shower pan turned out. I struggled getting it right and in the end, it just seems like I have too much slope in most areas and not enough in some. The preformed pan would have helped me there. Given the cost of the overall project, the extra cost for the Hydro Ban shower pan would have been nothing to even think about. 2. I spent much of my life over the last two months after work on this project and grew in appreciation for you pros who do it everyday. Not only is it a very physical job, I could never make money at it without charging crazy money. My hat's off to you folks. 3. Much appreciation is sent to the pros that give us DIYers the confidence we need to get over what would stop most. Your input is invaluable. I will attach a pic of the finished product so that Mongo can take a little credit for helping me get through this one. Thanks for the help! Jeff