Pump and filter selection

[miamicuse]

I have a pond I am guessing about 1000 gallons - 24" deep, located in south Florida. I recently cleaned out the entire pond, removed all the roots and mud/muck at the bottom of the pond.

I am now slowly putting things back together and would like some advice on pump and filter.

Here is a picture of the pond before the cleanout.

Here are pictures right now after the cleanout - I am in the process of rebuilding the wood bridge.

Previously the pump is an 1HP above ground pump (Pentair Sta-Rite Dyna-Glas/Dyna-Max series). I think it is a pool pump. It is on an analog Intermatic timer with a dial and you set a time to turn ON and OFF each day. Should I stay with this pump? I understand there are better (may be smaller and/or quieter and/or more energy efficient?) pumps? Any recommendations?
As you can see in one of the pictures the PVC pond intake and supply lines. I have removed some of the plumbing for now because I kept tripping on them while redoing the bridge. One of the local pond service companies told me I should just abandon those lines and just use a submersible pump instead, seems to me a submersible will be more difficult to service and I will have to run electrical wiring into the pond. What are some pros of submersible pumps?


Filters - previously I had no filter system at all. Should I add a filter after the pump before it returns to the waterfall feature? I kept hearing about bog filters, but with an existing pond I am not sure it is feasible without a major rework.


What about those submersible pump-filter-UV combo units? Should I even consider those?


Thanks in advance for any comment/advice.

 

[Lisak1]

Great work so far!

A pool pump is definitely not ideal. You want a pump that’s designed for the pond and runs 24/7. Submersible or external - just a preference but perhaps easier to stay with external in an existing pond.

As for a bog filter - you have a smallish pond. You could add a container filter that would be both pretty and useful. Think of a long planter box that you add plumbing and gravel with an outflow to the pond. Plant the top - voila! Filtration and a spot to grow more plants!

 

[miamicuse]

Is a BOG filter always run through a bottom pipe that pushes up through a bog pond then waterfalls down to the main pond?

I am trying to figure out if I can incorporate a bog into what I have, but my existing pond doesn't seem to have a way to do this. This shows where the pipe goes. The outlet pipe from the external pipe is 1.5", but it reduces to a 3/4" PVC line once it enters the pond, then the pressure line runs in the path as indicated in red, and the 3/4" pipe enters the bottom of a concrete boulder. Then water emerges at the top of the concrete boulder and runs down along the blue paths?

Here is a picture of the boulder from the front side.

The boulder does not have any access to access the plumbing inside. I guess the only way I can incorporate a bog filter is to break the top section of that boulder and make it a bog?

 

[fishlips]

A bog dose not need the full flow of the pump. Bogs actually work better with a slower flow. So there's no need to tear into the waterfall.

 

[GBBUDD]

It appears the pond was built around the big boulder or boulders?
I'd be weary about disturbing the seal around them as it can be quite tricky to make that waterproof.
As mentioned bog do not need all the flow from a larger pump they work best slowly moving water past the bacteria allowing g it to do its job and the gravel to clean out any particulates.

Bogs often are at the highest point so the energy to push the water to the bog is also used to create a waterfall or falls and maybe even a stream or two letting gravity help move the water down hill.

After 5 years with my pond I think I have only seen one person not like the bog but they HD some issues with their design.

If you do have a 1000 gallons the how you size a bog is by the surface of the pond not so much the gallons. That is unless you have a large and deep pond. For no fish keeping up on maintenance removing debris like leaves from the pond 15 percent is the average for heavy fish load 20 to 30 % you realy can have to much bog only the big plants will suffer . Not the clarity of the pond.

 

[Landman]

I would recommend a helix pond pump because they are very efficient pumps. https://theponddiggersupplies.com/products/helix-external-pump?_pos=8&_sid=ee5ad349f&_ss=r

 

[poconojoe]

I use a submersible pump.

I have schedule 40 flexible PVC hooked up to the pump. Its completely compatible with all standard ridgid PVC fittings, primer and glue.

I have a rope tied to the pump for easy retrieval. Whenever I need to service the pump I just pull it out with the rope.

The rope also helps keep the pump off the bottom so it won't pick up any debris that may collect down there.

And my bog plug....
Adding the bog was the best thing I did for my pond and me. Almost no maintenance and crystal clear water.
So, if you can add a bog it would be a big plus.

 

[addy1]

And my bog plug....
Adding the bog was the best thing I did for my pond and me. Almost no maintenance and crystal clear water.
So, if you can add a bog it would be a big plus.

Love mine! Only filter used since the pond was dug in 2010

 

[miamicuse]

very helpful input. I am tempted to do a BOG but have to figure out how to make it work since the waterfall outlet is fixed and cannot be changed. Also I am not exactly sure of the pond volume being 1000G.

 

[Jhn]

very helpful input. I am tempted to do a BOG but have to figure out how to make it work since the waterfall outlet is fixed and cannot be changed. Also I am not exactly sure of the pond volume being 1000G.

A couple ways to go about adding a bog, first it doesn’t need to replace your waterfall. You can put it anywhere around the pond and let it waterfall back in.
you can add a Y to the current plumbing where ever you can get at it and add a ball/gate valve to the line to control flow to the waterfall and the bog, or add a second pump so there is pumps dedicated to the waterfall and bog.

Lastly you don’t need to know your pond volume to build a bog, just a rough estimate of your surface area, the bog should be 30% of that.

My current main pond for example is around 55x17/18, around 18-19000 gallons it has a waterfall and 2 bogs at either end, along with some waterfeatures running occasionally in it. All of this has there own dedicated pumps, I prefer the redundancy of the extra pumps in case one craps out, as even though my pond is large it is heavily stocked with fish and turtles, I don’t want things to go wrong if I have a pump failure, as with anything in keeping aquaria or outdoor ponds the only things that happen fast aren’t good ones.

 

[miamicuse]

my pond surface area is about 172SF at the usual water surface level. So 30% of that is around 60SF.

 

[miamicuse]

Took a long time but I finally finished the pond bridge.

I am ready to fill the pond, add plants and fish...once I get a new pump.

Any suggestion for a pond pump?

My pond is 1600 gallons in volume, the return line runs 25' from the pump to the pond, then travels up 7 feet to the top of the boulder for the water feature. I have a dedicated 120V 20A circuit for the pump.

I think I need a pump that is self priming.

I don't know if I should get one with variable speeds.

Or should I need one with a prefilter basket.

 

[j.w]

Took a long time but I finally finished the pond bridge.

View attachment 159495

View attachment 159496

I am ready to fill the pond, add plants and fish...once I get a new pump.

Any suggestion for a pond pump?

My pond is 1600 gallons in volume, the return line runs 25' from the pump to the pond, then travels up 7 feet to the top of the boulder for the water feature. I have a dedicated 120V 20A circuit for the pump.

I think I need a pump that is self priming.

I don't know if I should get one with variable speeds.

Or should I need one with a prefilter basket.

Way cool bridge!
I like Laguna pumps as they use less electricity and last a long time. I have an internal one tho and sounds like you want external?

 

[miamicuse]

Way cool bridge!
I like Laguna pumps as they use less electricity and last a long time. I have an internal one tho and sounds like you want external?

Yes my existing piping suction and return all lead to an area with a concrete pad, and a timer already wired for the external pump. So I will be using the same system. It's not ideal because the return line is not optimum sized (it's reduced to 3/4") inside a concrete boulder that I can't get to. So yes an external pump recommendation would be greatly appreciated.

I am googling these pumps and I see $200 ones and $2000 ones and I can't tell why one is better than the other.

I know the run from the pump to the pond is about 25' long, and then from the pond it's 7' up to the top of the water feature so I think this all goes to the calculation of head pressure?

My pond is 1600 gallons, and I have a dedicated 120V 20A electric standing by.

I believe the pump being external and elevated I need self priming.

I see some pumps with a prefilter basket some without. I don't have any filtering yet, I want to add that later if I need it.

 

[j.w]

Yes my existing piping suction and return all lead to an area with a concrete pad, and a timer already wired for the external pump. So I will be using the same system. It's not ideal because the return line is not optimum sized (it's reduced to 3/4") inside a concrete boulder that I can't get to. So yes an external pump recommendation would be greatly appreciated.

I am googling these pumps and I see $200 ones and $2000 ones and I can't tell why one is better than the other.

I know the run from the pump to the pond is about 25' long, and then from the pond it's 7' up to the top of the water feature so I think this all goes to the calculation of head pressure?

My pond is 1600 gallons, and I have a dedicated 120V 20A electric standing by.

I believe the pump being external and elevated I need self priming.

I see some pumps with a prefilter basket some without. I don't have any filtering yet, I want to add that later if I need it.

I can't tell ya about the external ones but lots on here have them so hopefully soon you will get a reply.
I found this while you wait, I just did a search for external pumps on this forum: https://www.gardenpondforum.com/threads/question-about-pumps-and-physics.25305/
I have heard of Dragon and Sequence external mentioned here.