Savio Pond Products
Guide & FAQ
How to choose the right Savio pond products
- 3 min overview
- Types, sizing & setup
- 5 common questions
Why pond owners add this equipment
A pond without skimming, filtration, and the right pump tends to collect leaves and pollen, then green water and sludge at the bottom. Each Savio component handles one part of that problem, from pulling debris off the surface to growing beneficial bacteria in moving water.
Used together, these parts can help keep water clearer and cut down on the manual cleaning a pond needs. They suit backyard ecosystem ponds, koi ponds, pondless waterfalls, and smaller patio water features.
The main types, and when to choose each
The line covers five jobs: containment, skimming, biological filtration, pumping, and UV clarification. Most ponds need more than one, and the kits bundle the matched parts.
Complete kits
Choose a Savio Pond Kit when you are building a pond from scratch and want the major components sized to work together. Choose a Pondless Waterfall Kit Package when you want a waterfall without an open pond, since the reservoir is an excavated basin instead.
Skimmerfilters
Choose a Compact SkimmerFilter for a pond or water feature up to 700 gallons. Choose the Standard Skimmerfilter for a full-sized pond, where the skimmer basket and filter stages have more work to do.
Waterfall filters
Choose the Livingponds Waterfall Filter 100 when you want biological filtration and a visible waterfall from the same unit. Its circular design lets heavy debris settle before it reaches the filter media, and it returns water through a 22-inch sheet.
Pumps
Choose a WaterMaster Solids pump when debris can reach the pump intake, since it is built to pass solids up to 1 inch. Choose a WaterMaster Clear pump when the water arrives pre-filtered and you need pressure to lift it to a tall waterfall or spillway.
UV clarifiers
Choose the UVinex System when green water from free-floating algae is the main complaint. UV treats suspended algae specifically, so it does not take the place of skimming or biological filtration.
If the goal is surface movement and oxygen for the pond rather than a filtration loop, our pond aerators are the better fit. If you mainly want a decorative spray display, compare our pond fountains.
How to choose the right size or model
Four details decide most of this.
- Project scope. A new build usually starts with a kit. Replacing one failed part usually means buying the pump, skimmer, or filter on its own.
- Pond size. Skimmer choice follows pond volume: the Compact SkimmerFilter is designed up to 700 gallons, the Standard Skimmerfilter for larger ponds.
- Water at the pump intake. Unscreened debris points to a solids-handling pump. Clean, filtered water in a skimmer chamber points to a clear-water pump built for waterfalls and spillways.
- Green water. Suspended algae that clouds the whole pond calls for UV on top of the filtration loop.
Placement, power, and what each part needs
Skimmerfilters usually sit embedded and level in the pond edge, at the water line. The Livingponds waterfall filter needs a stable base at the top of the waterfall or stream.
A pondless waterfall needs an excavated basin for the Waterfall Well instead of an open pond, so plan the dig before you order. Submersible pumps and UV clarifiers need power at the pond, and an outdoor GFCI outlet within reach is the usual setup.
What comes in the kits
The Savio Pond Kit brings together the major parts of an open pond, including the liner, skimmer, and waterfall filter. The liner in the kit is 45-mil EPDM.
The Pondless Waterfall Kit Package includes liner, underlayment, FilterWeir, Waterfall Well, and step-by-step instructions. You supply the rocks and plants.
Pumps, skimmerfilters, the waterfall filter, and UV clarifiers are sold as single components, so check the Savio collection product pages for what is in each box.
Not sure which one you need?
Send PondHaven your pond size, average depth, and whether power is available at the site. If you are starting from bare ground, tell us that too, and we can point you to the kit or the set of parts that fits the build.
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Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions about our savio pond products.
Do I need both a skimmer and a waterfall filter, or does one do both jobs?
Most ponds do better with both, because they handle different jobs. The skimmer pulls leaves and floating debris off the surface before it sinks and hides the pump, while the Livingponds waterfall filter handles biological filtration at the top of the falls.
Can I add UV clarification to a Savio skimmerfilter?
Yes. Both the Compact SkimmerFilter and the Standard Skimmerfilter are built around skimming, mechanical, and biological stages with optional UV filtration in the same unit. For green water on an existing pond, the Savio UVinex System is the standalone clarifier.
When should I pick a WaterMaster Solids pump over a WaterMaster Clear pump?
Pick WaterMaster Solids when debris can reach the intake, since it handles solids up to 1 inch. Pick WaterMaster Clear when the water is already filtered and you need the pressure to push it up to a tall waterfall or spillway.
What comes in the Savio Pond Kit versus the Pondless Waterfall Kit?
The Pond Kit includes the liner, skimmer, and waterfall filter that form an open pond. The Pondless Waterfall Kit Package includes liner, underlayment, FilterWeir, and Waterfall Well for a reservoir basin, with rocks and plants added by you.
Is the Savio Compact SkimmerFilter large enough for a koi pond?
It is designed for ponds and water features up to 700 gallons. Koi produce more waste than most fish, so for a larger pond or a heavier fish load, the Standard Skimmerfilter is the better fit.
Need expert help finding the right setup?
Contact Pond Haven Support