What kind of pump?

[MariaTeresa]

I've been using solar power to run a bilge pump in the pond. The first bilge pump lasted the winter and kept a hole open in the ice. It died and the new one was hooked up to run the waterfall. It lasted a week. It seems that bilge pumps just can't do what I need, so I've decided to run electricity down to the pond and use an ac pump. (The solar system will still run the aerator.)

From your experience, what pump would you recommend? My pond is about 1000 gallons and the pump would connect to the waterfall. I need a 1000gph pump, right? Or would a 500gph be enough? I'd like to run the whole volume through in an hour, but I'd prefer a more gentle waterfall.

 

[tbendl]

I think it depends on how much lift and distance you have to cover from where the pump is to where the waterfall is. As far as brands, in my research it seems like Laguna is the best for electricity use for submersibles and I don't know about above ground pumps. What GPH pump were you running to the waterfall before?

 

[MariaTeresa]

I was running a 500gph attwood bilge pump. The waterfall is 4ft above where the pump would rest (at the bottom of 3ft deep pond) and I used around 10ft of tubing.

 

[tbendl]

If you are wanting to turn your pond over at a faster rate and have less water going to your waterfall, you're going to have to run a splitter. I think the rule of thumb is turning over your pond once every 2 hours. I think those who keep Koi may up those numbers. So depending on fish load 500 gph may be enough. Each pump has a different rating for max head height though. I'm a little hazy though, are you wanting to pump more water and have less flow over your waterfall?

 

[JBtheExplorer]

My own personal preference is that the gph should be at least the same amount of the pond, but I have no idea what the minimum acceptable number actually is. I've been running a 650gph pump in my 800 gallon pond for the last year and it has worked just fine, though I have a 1000gph pump on the way.

 

[sissy]

look for one that uses the least amount of energy and head is how far from where the house comes out of the water to where the end is and how far up it has to travel in height .The same amount or more because some want a stronger flow or run spitters .But if you like the 650 gph you may be ok but like JB said a pump the same size as pond or bigger you could always put a splitter on the pump to just let the extra water go into the bottom of the pond .Pond stores that sell pumps will list head and even how to check as it can also depend on the size hose you are using ..I bought laguna because of warranty and energy use .I checked and my 2900 gph size it uses 100 watts but it has hit it's sweet spot at 79 watts

 

[MariaTeresa]

I'm assuming that I'd get either the same or more waterfall flow as the 500gph I had been using. I can't see how a 1000gph pump could possibly do less. I'm looking at the TetraPond 1000gph (70 watts) and the Jebao 1000gph (85 watts). I was looking at the Danner 950 because they sell replacement impellers....but then I got to thinking that if the impellers break so often that they sell replacements maybe I don't want that one! The Jebao has 600gph at 5ft lift, and the TetraPond doesn't say (but TetraPond does have a 3 yr warranty!). It is hard when you read reviews on amazon that a pump only lasted a month for one person but 6 years for another!

If these pumps use less than 100watts does that mean that their energy consumption won't cost anymore than leaving a 100watt lightbulb on 24/7?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Ideally, you want to turn over the volume of a pond 1 - 2 times per hour, so a 2000 gph pump would really be a better overall choice. With a 2000 gph pump you could eliminate the aerator.

 

[sissy]

I had PSEG when I lived in NJ and my son still lives there and I know he complains how expensive there rates are .100 watts is the same as a 100 watt bulb .But I try to find less energy use than that with a good warranty .Most of them only give 30 days .Mine came with 4 years .A laguna 900 gph uses 65 watts which when it hits it's sweet spot could be maybe 40 or 45 watts .It depends on the says hose you use .I have never known tetra to give a 3 year warranty unless it is something new .

 

[MariaTeresa]

Sissy, I don't understand what you mean by 'sweet spot'. If it uses 65 watts how does it end up using 40 or 45?

Amazon says the Tetra pump has a 3 year limited warranty.... but doesn't explain the 'limited' part. Tetra's website doesn't list a warranty, though. Laguna is more expensive but that 3 year warranty looks very nice.

 

[sissy]

It means that the pump can use less energy than stated but because they have to state energy use to promote there pumps they say 65 watts .I know on you tube the explain it .I found the bigger the hose I used the less energy the pump used .I went from a 1 1/4 inch hose to a 1 1/2 inch hose and it went down to 79 watts and i found when the water is cooler it was using less for awhile .I got the bonus 4 year warranty and bought 2 pumps this way one every goes out in the heat of the summer I will not be stuck .I also bought a 1000 gph pump from them and a stick got stuck in the impeller and broke it and they sent me a new one and no charge and no questions .It was a skimmer pump so it had no cage .I bought a cage for it and it is in my 300 gallon stock tank working happily

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Sissy, I don't understand what you mean by 'sweet spot'. If it uses 65 watts how does it end up using 40 or 45?

Amazon says the Tetra pump has a 3 year limited warranty.... but doesn't explain the 'limited' part. Tetra's website doesn't list a warranty, though. Laguna is more expensive but that 3 year warranty looks very nice.

All pump warranties are 'limited'.

 

[sissy]

yeh some it is like an escape clause .I was surprised laguna sent me the part

 

[MitchM]

Ideally, you want to turn over the volume of a pond 1 - 2 times per hour, so a 2000 gph pump would really be a better overall choice. With a 2000 gph pump you could eliminate the aerator.

Meyer, is there any basis for this turnover rate?
I would think that turnover would be dependent on fish load and the total pond water circulation in general.
I imagine there are a number of factors to take into consideration.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Meyer, is there any basis for this turnover rate?
I would think that turnover would be dependent on fish load and the total pond water circulation in general.
I imagine there are a number of factors to take into consideration.

Same logic as filtration. Does one set up biolfilration on what they need at the present time or what they believe will be the maximum that they will need in the future? The wise one does the latter.
Turnover is dependent on total biomass of which fish load is the largest part. Knowing how people overstock their ponds in relatively short time, it only makes sense to initially buy the appropriate size pump than be in the position of having to purchase a larger one in a couple of years which may also require completely changing and up-sizing the plumbing.
Intensive aquaculture facilities utilize the 2X turnover. Any higher rate will impart a continuous current high enough to ultimately severely stress the fish.