A PUMP QUESTION OR TWO

[Mmathis]

I'm looking to replace my pump. The one I'm using came from HOME DEPOT [whatever brand of pond pumps they carry]. It's been a good pump, BUT.... It apparently wasn't designed with versatility in mind, as the out-put end has a VERY short stub and it's hard to attach hoses other than "their" brand. And if I'm remembering right, there was no way to attach anything [like a leaf cage or other mech. pre-filter thingy....] on the in-take end except for the little basket that comes with the pump. I'm currently filtering via a 100 gal Skippy, and using that black corrugated 1 1/2" tubing, which is VERY HARD to "plumb" to anything!! The bog will be up & running in the spring, so decided now's a good time to switch over -- and I'd like to use flex PVC.

So, I'd like some recommendations for an economical [low energy usage] submersible brand that is easy to attach hoses to, in the 3600 gph or greater range, preferably solids-handling.

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Also, I've wondered how pumps handle it when you "dial back" [or even turn off] the amount of water going out to your other things like multiple filters, etc. Is that called back-pressure? Does it hurt the pump?

 

[sissy]

Mine is only 2150 gph but you need one with a longer hose connector and laguna does sell them Like that .I bought one but got a lemon so gave up on the laguna and fishmate did not have much head and it did not pump enough to fill one filter .It was 2250 gph and the laguna one was a 2900 gph and It barely filled both filters .My harbor freight one fills both filters and then over flow I just have on a hose in the pond
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[sissy]

I wish it was easier to find a good pump that uses less wattage .Hate to say I think the ones I have used that used less wattage did not pump as much out on a hose over 3 ft long .I wonder if it is the less wattage that makes that happen .Harbor freight one uses 155 watts .I wish they had a sight that rated pond pumps and tested them to give you a review on them .I do know the harbor freight one says not fish safe but that is because it is electric in water .But to be honest I have HF ones that are 11 years old that still work great .I only have 1 pump that is not an HF one and got it at lowes when they had there end of year sale and it was an open box so manager gave it to me for 25 dollars .It was a 2550 gph I think .

 

[Tula]

I have had good luck with my Pondmaster pumps, but they're not as big as what you want. I've a 950 for my pressurized filter and a 3000 for my water fall. i"ve had them for years. My 950 once needed the impeller replaced, easy fix. Kim

 

[koiguy1969]

LAGUNA....
powerjet pumps:

• Laguna Powerjet 400 - 19 Watt - Max lift 5'.7" - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 600 - 32 Watt - Max lift 5'.10" - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 900 - 65 Watt - Max lift 6'.4" - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 1300 - 72 Watt - Max lift 8'.6" - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 1500 - 100 Watt - Max lift 13'.5" - Electronic - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 2000 - 100 Watt - Max lift 12'.2" - Electronic - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 2400 - 100 Watt - Max lift 12'.2" - Electronic - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 16' cord
• Laguna Powerjet 2900 - 130 Watt - Max lift 14'.9" - Electronic - Inlets/Outlets: 3/4", 1", 1.25" - 25' cord

maxflo pumps:

• Laguna Max Flo 900 GPH Waterfall Pump - 65 Watts - Max lift 6'.4" - Ponds up to 1800 gals - 16' Cord - 1.5" Outlet
• Laguna Max Flo 1500 GPH Waterfall Pump - 100 Watts - Max lift 13'.5" - Ponds up to 3000 gals - 16' Cord - 1.5" Outlet
• Laguna Max Flo 2000 GPH Waterfall Pump- 100 Watts - Max lift 12'.2" - Ponds up to 4000 gals - 16' Cord - 1.5" Outlet
• Laguna Max Flo 2400 GPH Waterfall Pump - 100 Watts - Max lift 12'.2" - Ponds up to 4800 gals - 16' Cord - 1.5" Outlet
• Laguna Max Flo 2900 GPH Waterfall Pump- 130 Watts - Max lift 14'.9" - Ponds up to 5800 gals - 25' Cord - 1.5" Outlet
• Laguna Max Flo 4200 GPH Waterfall Pump- 170 Watts, Max Lift 14'.9" - Ponds up to 8400 gals - 25' Cord - 1.5" Outlet

 

[DrCase]

I have 4 Lagunas all work well,
cut the hose adapter off back to the largest hose size for the best flow

 

[JohnHuff]

I like Tetra myself. Inexpensive and versatile.

 

[Mmathis]

Since all I've ever used is the corrugated black hose, I'm kind of excited to be able to use flex PVC and use NORMAL fittings! Yeah! Tired of having to clamp & goop pieces together -- which sometimes worked, sometimes not. Will be glad to have sweeping curves and use less fittings!

So, 2 more questions:

1. Flex PVC pipe to pump -- how is that attached? Are there connectors? And is this universal? Would hate to order a new pump only to find that there was no practical way to connect it to the flex PVC -- I like to pull things out of the box [in the store] and look at them, and will usually take a piece of tubing or a fitting along to try, but not if I buy sight-unseen.

2. Currently have 1 1/2" tubing from the pump [it's what they said to use -- thinking the pump is 3600 gph, but could be wrong]. Was going to stay with that diameter, but was reading some info about using flex PVC, as well as some general articles about sizes, water resistance, etc. Most of what I read said that you should use a larger diameter tubing the higher your gph went. Looked up specs for several different pumps, and while they do recommend a larger tubing for higher gph, there was no consistent numbers between the brands. Then read about using reducers [for example, my pump that only accepts 1 1/2", could use a 1 1/2" to 2" reducer and still use 2" tubing]. Not really sure this is a question, but more looking for advice. What size tubing would be best for, say, a 4800 gph pump?

 

[koiguy1969]

I like Tetra myself. Inexpensive and versatile.

i like my 4 tetrapond pumps too. but i gotta go with laguna. i like my laguna.
i also like my fishmate too. hard to beat their power consumption...1000gph is 44 watts.

 

[Dave 54]

A word of warning about flexi PVC pipework they have a habit of going brittle faster than normal PVC pipework and as such should be cheked periodically, especially if exposed in anyway to U/V light .
A good koi keeping friend of mine some years ago found this to his cost when his sprang a leak that emptied his pond overnight .
Thankfully there was just enough in the way of water to protect his koi from dying, so chek it from time to time

Dave

 

[Mmathis]

A word of warning about flexi PVC pipework they have a habit of going brittle faster than normal PVC pipework and as such should be cheked periodically, especially if exposed in anyway to U/V light .A good koi keeping friend of mine some years ago found this to his cost when his sprang a leak that emptied his pond overnight .Thankfully there was just enough in the way of water to protect his koi from dying, so chek it from time to timeDave

Dave, are you sure it's the same thing we're talking about? All the research I've done has said that the standard [schd 40] "hard" PVC is what is more likely to become brittle, not the flex PVC.

Now, the stuff I'm using right now -- not sure what it's made of, plastic, vinyl??? -- is a corrugated-type tubing, and that stuff I've heard can break & split. It's made with some sort of stiff, hard "wire" that spirals throughout the tubing.

 

[sissy]

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:42777]I went to sump pump hose over 3 years ago 10 dollars and the pics show why .This corragated hose did not even last 1 year
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[BlueOrca]

This is the one I used on my new pond, http://www.amazon.com/Alpine-PAL520...s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1385913607&sr=1-125.

Put it in my new pond, end of April and removed last week, never cleaned it once, impeller had minimal debris on it, used only factory screen. Just giving you options, comes in 3100, 5200, 6500 GPH models, similar to the Beckett pumps on Amazon......

 

[sissy]

It does not say how much energy actually used looked it up and 250 to 300 watts of power

 

[sissy]

webbs has it cheaper 4100 gph is 188 dollars but that is a lot of watts of power