Pump?

[RachG75]

I have been reading threads about ponds, filters and pumps for the last 8 months and I am ready to pull the trigger on this project. I have read mentions of sump, submersible, external, Laguna Max Flo, Sunterra... Blogs, websites...Everyone has an opinion. My head is swimming! The thing is that you don't really hear back if these pumps did well after the years-old threads die down. So, one plea for help...anyone out there have any current advice on what kind of pump I need for a 170g pond that will use a 100g stock tank that I just bought on sale as a skippy filter? Any products and pitfalls I should avoid?

Off to look at buying lava rock and hog's hair...oh, and maybe a shishi odoshi!

 

[lomine]

Are you planning on having the pump on all the time or just using it for draining? If you are just looking to drain the water a sump pump is the way to go. I have had mine for about 2 years and it still works great. I use it on both my 50 gal stock tank and my 200 gal kiddie pool. I got it at Lowes and I think it was around $100. Well worth it compared to using buckets.

If you are looking for something to keep the water moving continuously you don't want to use a sump pump. They aren't designed to be turned on all the time. I have plans to build a large pond and have decided I will go with a "dirty water" pump. You want something that says it can handle solids. I haven't decided on which one I want to get yet since I don't yet know how big I'm going but hopefully that helps you narrow it down a bit.

 

[RachG75]

It does. Hopefully I won't be draining often; I want to move the water through a filter. I was hoping to just run it during the day and turn it off at night or vice versa. I will narrow down my search to "dirty water" pumps. Thanks so much!

 

[lomine]

Glad to help. Good luck.

 

[RachG75]

My husband says he already owns this pump...but it's probably not the right fit?
https://www.menards.com/main/plumbi...kler-pump/p-1446860305251-c-1489153238831.htm

Sorry to ask, but can you look at these pumps? Are these the kind you mean? I'd really appreciate it. Is this a better fit?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Wayne-1-2-HP-Non-Clogging-Vortex-Reinforced-Thermoplastic-Submersible-Utility-Pump-VIP50/100034817?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-VF-PLA-D26P-Plumbing|&gclid=Cj0KCQjw78vLBRCZARIsACr4cxxAkIBG0upR3_EhKr2SWvUR8_MQCewWLKWP-xN1XMJSYWtnptzwZxsaAoIIEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

or this?
https://www.amazon.com/Yescom-3432G...rd_wg=xZcs1&psc=1&refRID=X0BD3690H80GSSVK97W8

this?
http://www.sears.com/pentair-water-pentair-water-540122-stainless-steel-heavy/p-SPM10626160320?plpSellerId=Ron's Home And Hardware&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2

this may be a winner?
https://www.amazon.com/BACOENG-Ranch-Solar-Water-Submersible/dp/B016VX74IK/ref=sr_1_89?ie=UTF8&qid=1500756790&sr=8-89&keywords=submersible+pump+for+ponds&th=1

 

[RachG75]

Glad to help. Good luck.

thank you

 

[lomine]

I don't know about sprinkler pumps. I would assume they are like sump pumps and not designed to be on for long periods of time. But I think you'd have to look at the product info for that.

The first link from Home Depot is a sump pump. It's not meant to be left on for long hours day after day.

The Yescom from Amazon has an oil-cooled engine. You don't want to use that since if it ever leaked it could kill your ducks.

The last two look okay but I didn't see anything about them being able to handle solids in the descriptions so I'd do more research on their capabilities. But I guess it really boils down to your design for filtering on whether or not they would work for you.

Here's a decent little info page about the basics of a dirty water pump. https://www.velda.com/pond-supplies/pumps/dirty-water-pump/ The key is that the pump pulls out dirty water and then you can run that water into your filtration system. I plan to use an aquaponis style system to filter my future pond so I want it to pull out the dirty. Even if you are going with traditional carbon to filter the water it is so much easier to have the filter outside of your pond when it comes time to clean.

 

[RachG75]

you are the best lomine! Thanks!

 

[lomine]