Ways to avoid your pond from emptying

[nc0gnet0]

Float switchs are an option, but over time even they are prone to getting stuck and not functioning correctly.

 

[newday3000]

floats switches are sealed water tight units. They are for a sump pump in a house and switch on or off alot everyday. In a pond application, they (hopefully) never switch off since the water level is constant not moving up and down like a sump in a house. I don't see wear being an issue at all.

 

[DrDave]

Float switchs are an option, but over time even they are prone to getting stuck and not functioning correctly.

Float switches can be used to also fill ponds. My comment addresses this application.

I had water hyacinth cause a float switch to stick years ago. Unfortionatley, the tap water that it controlled, was stuck on all day and I lost a pond full of fish.

So my preference is to have 2 in series and away from floating plants. If both have to be activated, then a single failure won't cause a problem.

 

[Ian]

So my preference is to have 2 in series and away from floating plants. If both have to be activated, then a single failure won't cause a problem.

Very good idea. I worked in the aerospace industry where everything is duplex/triplex or even quadruplex, so I'm used to having backup measures. As float switches are particularly vulnerable, having 2 in series (spaced out) is a good idea as it only costs a tiny bit extra but prevents mishaps. :regular_waving_emot

 

[nc0gnet0]

Whenever your design depends on one particulat component to avoid catastrophe, it not a particularly good design. Two float switched in series is likely to be 10x safer than a single one.

By the same token using two liners over one is a significant improvement. I myself have been playing around trying to decide if I want to go with a bottom drain system like C&J has or 4 independent 30 gallon drums (skippy style) tied to there own individual pumps and let them actually sit in the pond. Functionally this design would be foolproof as it concerned leakeage, but it's the astetics that is a challenge.

I stumbled upon this idea when troubleshooting a small leak that my current pond had developed. I knew it (the leak) was either in the liner, or in the hose that fed my waterfall that was buried underneath my waterfall. By being able to shut down the bi-falls and still keep filtration I ws able to determine the source of the leak was indeed the hose that fed the bio-falls.

 

[koikeepr]

waterfalls are notorious areas for leaks. If you've got a fall, it's generally the first place you should look for sure.

I think 2 floats is definitely the ultimate back up idea. There's two particular floats on the market for ponds, I would buy one of each instead of two of the same, too.

 

[jason081180]

what are these two floats and where would you buy them?

 

[koiguy1969]

sump pump control floats..you may have one if you have a basement.. if you have a sump pump when the water level in the sump basin rises to a set level it turns on the pump and turns it off when the water level gets down far enough. you can get one at any home improvement store..Lowes..Home Depot..etc..

 

[DrDave]

Sump pumps generally have them attached directly to them. We were discussing a seperate one that switches a pump or soleniod to either shut off a pump or turn on/off water.

I would Google sources for electronic switches. I have ones supplied to laboratories for control systems. They are very precise and can be easily integrated into PVC fittings.

 

[koikeepr]

here's one brand that has a shut off that is commonly used. And there's another one that looks slightly different and is a different brand I think you see at the local home improvement shops that has a bit of a different design, but they function the same.

 

[newday3000]

for less money and no shipping costs. Homedepot has this. Nothing special about a float switch for ponds versus a sump.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[koikeepr]

that's exactly the other one I was thinking of. Yep, you throw the word "pond" on a product and 20% is automatically added to the price even though they may do the same thing.

If you wanted the super duper backup that all of us have just been talking about, you buy one of each. I bet you might be able to find 'em even cheaper on ebay.

 

[DrCase]

I think i am having a flash back
some were back in my head the first thing i am looking for when i first look out to the pond is water,,once that's past ,i look to see whats going on..
Like every ponder will experience..Water will get out given the chance
Most of my rare but happen pump outs are when i let to much ice build in the pond ,before i shut it down..
Or some cats get on top of my filters and move the hoses around...tying the hoses in place fixed this problem

 

[spangs]

keep dogs out of it one of mine got into it and decided that the rocks needed to be moved around and it made the waterfall hose flip over the side and was pouring all the water out and I when over to look at it and saw the hole thing empty but a couple of inches it was raining a ton and filled the pond back up by the afternoon got lucky that time