Fish Pond Pump Selection Advice And Tips | FAQ & Answers Part 4
Welcome to part 4 of my frequently asked pond keeping questions and answers news letters. Today I would like to answer some common questions relating to fish pond pumps and what to look out for ...
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What Does Pond Pump Maximum Head Mean?
This is a fancy term used to describe the amount of pressure the pump can deliver i.e. how high it can pump water.
This bit of information can be misleading and should be used as a guide to get an idea of exactly how high a specific pump model is capable of pumping to.
The reason that I say misleading is because at maximum head there is no flow. So if a pump says that Max Pump Head is 3ft then at 3ft the pump runs out of power and there will be no water flow.
It is important to be aware of how much water the particular pump model can handle at various practical heads or height differences between the water surface and the inlet of a waterfall or fountain.
Head is the difference in height between the pond surface and the inlet of a waterfall or fountain for example.
If the outlet pipe from a pump was lifted 50 cm above the pond surface then x amount of water would flow out of the pipe. As you increase the amount of lift needed (height required) there is a reduction in the water flow until a point is reached where there is no water coming out of the pipe. This is the Maximum Head of the pump.
Choice Of Fish Pond Pump Is Very Important
The majority of retailers selling pumps sell their range usually on the cost of the pump, often misleading buyers into going for a cheap pump in the belief that they are saving money.
This is false advertising as the major factor when choosing any garden pond pump is its power consumption. This factor is far more important than its purchase cost.
What you need to remember is that a pond pump needs to run 24/7/365 and a bad choice can be expensive in terms of running costs.
When choosing a pump make sure to look at the power consumption and try where ever possible to compare this against other pump models to see which is the most economical.
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How Much Water Does A Pump Need To Be Able To Pump?
As a general guideline the choice of pond pump needs to be able to turn over the volume of water in your pond every 2 hours.
This ensures that the pond water is circulated 12 times a day. This provides an ideal balance for the needs of your aquatic plants, pond filter and fish.
You may be thinking that this sounds okay but what if you want an impressive waterfall display. The simple answer here is to use a different pump to supply the waterfall or fountain, leaving your main pump to concentrate solely on circulating the pond water continually 24/7. Using 2 Pond Pumps Saves Money ...
This allows you to switch off the pump supplying the waterfall at night or when you are on holiday for example without a detrimental effect upon the nitrifying bacteria living in the pond filter.
A pump with a flow rate of between 2,000 and 4,000 litres per hour is more than ideal for a pond with a volume of 5,000 litres.
A flow rate between 700 litres and 1,600 litres per hour is ideal for a smaller pond with a total volume of 2000 litres.
Ideally you are looking for a pump that can provide a flow rate that is between 1/3 and 2/3 of the pond volume.
This is assuming that you don't intend to incorporate a large waterfall and use a single pump to supply the biofilter and waterfall.
As stated above use 2 pumps. It will save you money in the long term because of electricity savings.
The real point I'm trying to make is that if you have a fairly small pond that is 1000 litres in volume then you don't need a pump designed for a 5,000 litre pond. This is excessive and a waste of money.
Click here to take a look at the Economical Pond Pump models reviewed on this site ...
How Do I Know If The Pump Is A Good Pond Pump?
Fish pond pumps have to withstand some pretty rough treatment in a pond system. They have to circulate dirty water containing debris for example.
This debris will often find its way into the moving parts of the pump and may cause damage, particularly to the impellor if the pump hasn't been designed to be used as a pond pump.
By law outdoor pumps need to be supplied with at least 10 metres of 3 core cable attached.
The packaging should indicate if the pump is for indoor or outdoor use (a small sign showing picture of house with an arrow pointing into the house indicates that the pump is for indoor use only).
A good pond pump will come with at least a 2 year warranty. Some models with with 3 years or more. My advice is to ignore anything with a warranty with less than 2 years.
Should I Use A Sump Pump In My Pond?
In a word "NO". These powerful pumps are not only power consumers but have been designed to empty ponds, cellars, basements etc.
They are capable of pumping large volumes of water but have also been designed for intermittent operation. When used in a pond environment on a 24/7/265 basis they soon become unreliable and break down.
You can identify a Sump Pump by its design. They are upright pumps with the suction inlet at the base of the unit.
Why Is The Pump Guarantee So Critical?
A guarantee of 2 years or more in 99% of cases implies that the particular model is reliable, designed for use in a pond and that the manufacturer has sufficiently tested the pump for the purpose it is intended.
Should I Use A Sump Pump In My Pond?
In a word "NO". These powerful pumps are not only power consumers but have been designed to empty ponds, cellars, basements etc.
They are capable of pumping large volumes of water but have also been designed for intermittent operation. When used in a pond environment on a 24/7/265 basis they soon become unreliable and break down.
You can identify a sump pump by its design. They are upright pumps with the suction inlet at the base of the unit.
What Does Maximum Flow Mean?
This is yet another misleading term as it is used to describe the maximum amount of water the particular model is able to pump.
The figures quoted by all manufacturers however are based on the pump without pond hose connected. When you connect hose there are certain flow restrictions that come into play.
You should use this information for comparison purposes only. It is important to know how much water the pump can handle at different pumping heights.
What Pump Do I Need If I Want A Fountain Display In My Pond?
Incorporating a fountain into a pond is quite common and there are a myriad of pond pumps out there that have been designed specifically for this purpose. The pumps are normally sold with some fittings included.
It is possible to buy the fittings separately but the cost is usually higher.
Fountain pumps are easily identified by the design. They will have a nozzle sticking out of the top of the unit, to which a fountain nozzle is connected. This allows for different spray patterns.
A fountain pump must include a sponge in the suction inlet so as to
prevent debris from blocking the holes in the fountain.
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