Check out the thread below. The husband of a forum member build a neat little wooden "dock" over the skimmer to conceal it. I'm sure it removes or lifts for cleaning the skimmer, but it does an effective job of concealing it. There's does have the faux cover, but it wouldn't matter, since the "dock" covers the whole thing. Here is a link that might be useful: Skimmer dock

Thanks Squirlette and Mike for responding. Wasn't any condensation on the pipework today and I finished the decking over the pump box area yesterday. I did drill six 1/4" holes in the plywood on the middle section--it's over the skimmer valve and priming pot/leaf basket while building yesterday. This is turning out to be a complicated project. I ran the decking diagonally due to the angle of the pump box to the skimmer. Needless to say there have been some challenges! Because I don't want to get any sawdust in the pond (even though it's cedar decking) I've been carefully measuring, cutting and sanding in the garage. My knees are aching from all the bending but it's going to be wonderful not to have to step in between framing to do water changes and get to the other side of the pond. Will post pics when it's done. Thanks again for your help. Patti

Hi Mike, OK, Im glad I understood its the red one. Something right! Whoo To Mike, buyorsell888, and calamity_j, The kitties are totally stressed out right now, but I think they'll be OK. The one black cat seen in the pix above, had some teeth pulled, but he seemed almost fine the next day. His brother on the other hand - totally freaked out. The anesthesia didn't wear off, he was scared, and probably in pain all night, so I stayed up with him. Ever since, he's been sleeping in kitchen nightly, which is unusual for him. (The outside boys aren't allowed in any further than the kitchen - long story). The girls indoors - well the one with recurring cancer is acting very needy and wanted to be close *all the time* *every minute of the day*. I cant blame her, shes stressed. Shes had a several surgeries and doesnt like the vet much at all As you can imagine. The other girl had to have some tests, but after a few days, we found they all turned out all right. Shes still feeling a bit crabby with us about having been taken to, The Awful Place. (She holds a grudge, as many of you with kitties will probably know what I mean!) Thanks for asking and well wishing. :) Even though the girls are in their senior years now, theyre like my babies and I stop everything when they are ill. Its so hard that they are getting old! As to the pond, our plan is like something out of a slapstick movie, though we are hoping it might work anyway. Were going to hook up the hose, as Mike suggests, and weve got a tarp weve put a slit in and will place the fountain through, then duct tape, so that any runoff from inside the pipes and fountain gets funneled over the tarp and out to the trees not into the somewhat clean pond water. Its about 105-110 degrees out there today and neither of us are looking forward to working on it!

I don't know where you can get skimmer box covers, but there is a product I'm currently experimenting with called "Rock on a Roll". I'm making a rock floating island. I'll post pictures when I'm done. Here is a link that might be useful: Rock on a Roll