Pond Pumps

[Damon_11]

Well chaps, it's always great putting a question out there to the forum and see what comes back.

I have a 2000l rectangular pond with about 2 doz gold fish all living pretty happily, however I cannot crack my problem of getting a descent pond pump to last anywhere longer than a year. At approx $80 a pop, it's an expensive activity.

I also have a ultra violet light in the pipe work to kill the algae and an external barrel filter with all the right layers of filtration.

As my water flow gets less in the current pump and my pond gets greener, before I go for same again, does anyone have some suggestions on a better solution that will last a few years at least or a particular brand at a reasonable price to reccomend.

I have thought about buying a 1/2 hp garden pump.

Regards...DC

[johnc]

I have stuck with a pump larger then the size needed and choke it back a bit, I'm sure the logic is flawed but I get around five years from a continuosly runing pump, but I do clean the filters twice a month.

John.

[Wardy]

Hi Damon,like JohnC i run my pump continuously and they last for years. using plants that thrive in water also keeps down the growth of algie and keeps the water clean
cheers wardy

[savage]

I went to my local pool shop and asked them to see if they could get me a half decent secondhand pool pump and a cartridge filter, after a short time and several visits once a week they came through. I had to buy a new cartridge and re-arrange the pipe work a bit but it is in and has proved it's worth for 3 years now and still going strong.

To overcome the outlet pressure problem I made a waterfall and had a length of pipe running across the top with enough holes in it to effectivly reduce the water flow. Then I placed some flat sandstone over the pipe to hide it and also to stop the water "jetting" across the pond and flow down the fall.

[kiwigeo]

I have a submersible pump in my pond....1/2HP machine (Onga?) that puts out plenty of flow.

To control flow I have the flow out from the pump split between the line up to the waterfall and a by pass hose that discharges back into the pond. A plastic garden irrigation tap on the by pass line allows me to fine tune flow up to the waterfall.

[JDub]

I have stuck with a pump larger then the size needed and choke it back a bit, I'm sure the logic is flawed but I get around five years from a continuosly runing pump, but I do clean the filters twice a month.

John.


Generally restricting the outlets of the pumps to create LESS flow will shorten the pumps life by putting to much pressure on the motor..... (I said generally ;))

What brands are you using?, with pumps you get what you pay for!! (I have kept marine aquariums for a long time and use them for 'sump' return pumps)
You should take them apart a couple of times are year and clean the impeller etc to remove any algae/slim or foriegn bodies caught in the shaft/impeller housing

Good brands are Ehiem, Ocean Runner, Laguna.... You will expect to pay twice the price of a cheap 'pondmaster' brands though. Many online stores sell the above brands of pumps. Laguna will probably be your best bet (have a 3 year warranty).

Have a look here to get you started ;)
http://www.creativepumps.com.au/Pumps/feed_to_laguna_products.htm

HTH
Joel

[kiwigeo]

Do it my way and you dont restrict the pump output in any way...pump keeps on pumping at same rate regardless of the setting on the bypass hose.

Just checked my sump pump and its actually a Laguna..theyre good.

[Damon_11]

Just checked my sump pump and its actually a Laguna..theyre good.

Yes the Laguna was reccommended to me by the chap at Creative. At >200 a bit expensive, however gets a good review. I'll have to save up....Current pump is a Watermaster 3000. Have shortened the length of pipe to filter down and elevated the filter which seems to have improved the flow, however pond still green....

[chromis]

I worked in a public space with a massive pond, which had a reoccurring algae problem during summer.

We had an idea to hook up a couple of those plastic, green lawn soaker hoses to an air compressor which ran over night. Just 24 hours of running the air cleared up the algae issue.

We did that a couple of times over the summer, which kept the algae population down.

I have tried chemical dyes to limit light and therefore algae growth but they are not as affective as aeration.

I've also tried to use other more permanent material (on smaller ponds) to replace the soaker hoses such as aeration pipe they use for aquaculture tanks however they clog up too quickly. The common old soaker hose seemed to work the best.

Maybe you just wont get the aeration you need for your pond with just a pump...