Pon pump covers

[NancyMc]

Last summer we reworked our pond ands put in a couple of new pumps. Over the summer I lost many of my adult fish and virtually all of my fry. I am wondering if they were getting sucked in to the pumps. Are there ways to prevent this from happening?

 

[j.w]

I wrapped some of that netting stuff that you get onions in around mine a few swirls and it still lets the water in and doesn't plug up and helps keep the fish from getting sucked in. Did you find your fish sucked up in the pump? Hard to tell if that caused the problem or if they died and then they just naturally get pulled towards the pump. Some take plastic milk crates or something similar and put their pumps in those and put a top over so the pump hose can fit out of it and that way the bigger fish can't get sucked in. Little ones still might tho as they would fit through the spaces but you could do both the netting and the crates. Maybe overkill but give you some peace of mind.

 

[addy1]

I doubt the adult fish would get sucked in unless you had a wide open pipe. Are you sure you are not being visited by a heron or some other fish eating critter. Do you have a submersible pump or external?

 

[pecan]

I pulled a lot of dead fry off my pump last year but don't think the pump killed them as many, many survived. I thought it was probably that a certain amount of fry die and pump pulled them in after they were dead. I have watched my fish large and small and seem to like the pump. They nibble on it and the container it sits in.

I like the onion sack idea though.

 

[sissy]

They have those vaults they use for sprinkler systems and you can get them really cheap at lowes and home depot .You may need to drill more holes in it .I used one on my neighbors pond and it works great as all her fish are babies from my pond .

 

[j.w]

A vault eh sissy? I'll have to check that out. Are they just a box w/ holes and you slip the pump into it and then the fish can't get near the suction area?

 

[pond new1]

Well I asked the same question a couple of days ago in the form of a pump sock and the great suggestion was a collasable hamper. I did have to add a small square ( about 6" square) container with a lot of holes at the intake of the pump to keep the material from clogging the intake but it is a very inexpensive solution. Bed and bath and beyond has a set of 2 for less than $16.

 

[j.w]

Yep I saw that reply pond new and thought this was some kind of a different idea but I'm thinking now that maybe this vault thing is for the wires or something to go in, not sure tho. I tried to look it up on the net but was a whole different meaning that showed up.

 

[mrsclem]

Here are some pics of the popup hampers I use to put my pumps in. Dollar store- $1-3.