Pond Talk

Pond Advice For Small And Large Ponds

pond pump

Pond Pumps And Quick Fixes To Keep Them Running

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If you want moving water in a pond, which basically means things like an active waterfall or an effective filtration system, a key component in all of this is the pond pump. Nothing really moves without a good pump.

Unfortunately like any mechanical thing, a pond pump can fail, become damaged or broken, or just not operate very well at times. Sometimes they may need to be replaced or upgraded. But before you go and toss your current hard working pond pump, make sure it’s really on it’s last leg. If the problem is minor one, or the pump just needs some simple cleaning and maintenance, you may be able to get get by with your current installation without spending any more money.

Let’s cover a few quick and easy fixes for a problematic pond pump.

Give The Pump A Good Cleaning

Pond pumps have just about everything go through them at some point in the cycle of water circulation. This includes debris such as leaves, algae, dirt, and anything else that might end up in the pond. All of this gunk can take it’s toll and end up blocking or plugging up part of the pump inlet. If this isn’t clear, you won’t be able to get the full volume of water running through the pump and your flow rate will drop.

A simple solution if things aren’t working quite right is to make sure the pump is clean and free of obstructions. To clean a pond pump you’ll want to unplug the device from the power supply, remove it from the pond (if it’s internal) and take the various pieces apart while checking for blockages in the intake or any part of the assembly. To clean it, simply use your existing pond water. Avoid using any harsh chemicals. Clean any pre-filter if one is included, and then put everything back together.

Pond pumps will vary somewhat in their construction so be sure to use the owners manual as a reference and follow their additional recommandations for cleaning and maintenance.

Check Your Water Level

Pumps of all kinds need a reasonable amount of water to work right. All pumps are rated for GPH or gallons per hour flow rate, and one of the common reasons that they may not work well is if the water level in the pond becomes too low or in short supply. If you have a skimmer in place and the water level falls much below this intake, you’ll never get enough water to keep the system operating normally and this isn’t good for the pond pump. One early warning is when the pump is emitting some odd noises or excess noise.

Be sure to check your water levels, particular in the hot summer months when evaporation can increase and regular topping off of the water level will need to be maintained with more frequency. Some pond owners use an automatic system for keeping the water level constant.

Listen For Odd Noises From Your Pond Pump

It isn’t always going to be a low water level that causes some odd noises to be emitted from your pump. But these sounds can be the first indicator that something is not quite right. Many pumps will vibrate a bit while in operation and if you find that these vibrations are causing some rubbing or bumping against the skimmer box, or basin, you can always cushion these with some rubber matting.

Once again the owner or operational manual for the pump is the best resource for troubleshooting or the suggested steps for routine maintenance and often times, a quick review of that literature will uncover ways to keep the pump running more quietly and efficiently.

Storing Your Pond Pump In The Winter

This won’t apply to everyone of course but in climates where the pond may freeze over in the winter, it’s often suggested to turn the pump off and actually remove it. This applies to submersible pumps in particular. Storage should be maintained in a warmer setting with the pump submerged in a water bucket, which keeps all the gaskets and seals in good shape.

Editor’s Note: As always, be sure to contact the pump’s manufacturer on what they recommend for off season storage. Some pumps are best submerged while others may not need to be.

Why would you want to remove it during cold weather? Well the truth is, that during the colder months sometimes it’s best not to circulate the water too much in a small pond. Fish will often find the warmer bottom water to be more comfortable and the added circulation from the pump will hinder that somewhat. Also should a pond pump ever freeze up, a great deal of damage can occur internally and you may never get it working right again.

If you do decide to keep the pond open and operational during the winter months you’ll want to continue to monitor and clean the pump as needed, despite the cold weather.

Choosing A Pond Pump

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An artificial, man-made, backyard pond simply can’t operate without a good pump. But what constitutes a good pond pump?

In simple terms, when choosing the correct pond pump one needs to know how much water will be flowing through their watergarden system. If you have a waterfall, a more powerful pump may be needed. If your waterfalls are up hill from the pump, it should be stronger. Pumps are made to pump a certain amount of water at a certain amount of feet with a certain amount of pressure. The volume of water that you want coming out of your fountain and waterfall will help you decide on the size of the pump you need. To small of a pump and you will only get a trickle of water. To large of a pump and you will have water shooting out everywhere.
[Read more…] about Choosing A Pond Pump

A Fish Pond For Koi – The Basics

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A fish pond in the backyard is something that many people dream of owning. Yet for all of the relaxing benefits of a small pond, they can also be a source of many headaches if they’re not built or set up right with the proper equipment. In the article that follow’s we’ll cover some of the basic materials that will be useful in any type of fish pond.

If you are looking to construct a fish pond for koi, it is important to follow some basic steps to ensure the success of the pond and the heartiness of your precious koi. Where to construct the pond and what shape to design it in are two fundamental elements that should be decided upon first. It is best to locate the pond where you can access it easily while keeping it protected from the natural predators that will look for your fish. The shape of the pond also is important, not only to increase the pond’s aesthetic value but also to increase the chances of bringing your fish to their full potential.

There are a few supplies than one cannot do without when introducing a koi pond into the landscape of their backyard. These include pumps and filters as well as drains and skimmers. There are also lighting considerations for illumination and controlling algae. The easiest of these to attain is the skimmer, which serves the same purpose as the large scoops that you would use to clean the surface of a swimming pool. The skimmer will be used to collect leaves and other debris that may fall into the pond in order that the pond be kept clean and so that the fish remain healthy and free of disease.

A number of different filtration systems can be implemented in order to ensure a thriving pond. The primary one is the biological filter, which serves the purpose of converting the nitrogenous waste of the fish. This is known as the nitrogen cycle. It is of the utmost importance that the biological filter be kept immaculately clean so take extra care in choosing one. Be certain it is easy to service and that you will be capable of doing so. An unclean biological filter is the undoing of many a backyard fish pond. Bio-filters come in two distinct types, the aerated and the non-aerated. Examples of aerated filters include the Moving bed type as well as the trickle or bakki shower filter. Examples of the non-aerated kind include the Cross flow and the Sand filter.

Many types of algae can be kept in check with a good working biofilter but there are others where a different type of technology may be needed. In order to control and discourage the growth of planktonic algae you may need a source of ultra-violet or UV light. The UV light is used to prevent a condition that can afflict an unhealthy pond known as green water. This occurs when the filtration system is incapable of filtering out all of the naturally occurring nutrients that the algae feed upon and even the single cell algae itself.

A second type of filter that you may need is called the mechanical filter. The primary purpose of this system is to get rid of solid waste that could clog the Bio-filter. This filter must be kept very clean, so it should be place in an area where it can be cleaned and checked often. Sometimes referred to as a settlement chamber, this system can often be accomplished using gravel, sand or a sieve screen. Also many of the new biofilter designs have a sort of pre-filtering mechanical component in them as well.

Finally, you will have to choose a form of liner to protect the base of the pond and to line the walls. Leave room in the liner to cut out a bottom drain, so you will be able to give the entire unit a thorough cleaning.

As you can see, there are several key considerations on equipment and pond supplies that will be useful for fish pond construction and management. And while it may seem to be complicated, the layout of a fish pond is fairly simple and particularly when you understand the basics of what each piece of equipment will do and why it’s important.